Cara Cara 2 backward blade flex

W

Wowarning

Joined
Feb 1, 2015
Messages
31
Other than the slight waviness in the blade, I've been enjoying the Cara Cara 2 - until yesterday. It was the first time I put any real pressure on the blade (cutting through a bumper cover) and much to my surprise the blade moved backward disengaging the lock. Apparently the strength of the spring and the locking mechanism is what is holding the blade is place versus a legitimate stop pin. I don't think it would be a safety issue since I can't imagine how you could shift direction quickly enough to have the blade close on you hand before the lock engaged again, but the movement of the blade is unacceptable when you're trying to go through something tough. I didn't see this mentioned in any reviews of the blade, so thought I would share the info here.
DSC02422%20%28Medium%29.JPG
 
SOP for lockbacks. Triad or powerlock solves this problem with the addition of a stop pin.
 
Lockbacks don't use a stop pin. I'm not sure what you're describing. Did you push on the button and accidentally disengage the lock?
 
I had this problem with a buck 110, but none of my spyderco mid back locks. Perhaps yours was a little off from the factory, or you really just put on a load of pressure...
 
AF said:
Lockbacks don't use a stop pin. I'm not sure what you're describing. Did you push on the button and accidentally disengage the lock?
Click to expand...

The picture attached shows exactly what I'm describing. When applying force to the blade it pivots backwards and pushes the lockbar up. I did not press the lock release with my hand.
 
kniferbro said:
SOP for lockbacks. Triad or powerlock solves this problem with the addition of a stop pin.
Click to expand...

I didn't realize this was par for the course on lockbacks, all my other knives are pretty much every other type of locking mechanism. That's why I love this forum - I'm always learning. Thanks for the info. (btw -I don't see a lot of lockbacks in my future, lol)
 
I have owned dozens of lock back and mid lock knives. This is not supposed to happen to the extent shown in the picture...
 
Not ok. A little wiggle is all I would tolerate.

Enough to disengage the lock is way beyond normal.
 
Hmmmm.... I guess the next question would be - is this normal for the Cara Cara? It seems silly to have a $25 knife serviced, but it does diminish it's usability. I would never grab it to bring to work again.
 
Yeah. Sounds like a lemon. I have two in FRN that don't do this. Nor do the meadowlark or robin in g10. Honestly though, In any case, try a Spyderco mid lock before you swear them off. I was very anti back lock before I handled a few quality examples. I enjoy the slimness that the mid or back lock affords from time to time.
 
My Cara Cara flexes too, but never disengages. When pressure is off, does it automatically lock again, i.e. the lock snaps back in place?
I'm curious too if you have any debris/lint stuck in the tang cut out where the lock goes in?

Lastly, send it to Spyderco for inspection. Sal would love to see why it failed as such, also they will make it up for you.
 
While a minute amount of vertical movement when pressure is applied to the blade is common in midlocks, having the blade move far enough to disengage the lock most certainly is not. Your Cara Cara is defective and needs to be returned to Spyderco.
 
Yep, not okay. The play in a lockback under cutting pressure should be felt as a slight wiggle and bump as the lockbar and blade re-engage. My salt 1 and endura lockbars move less than .5mm, the amount of play yours shows is a sign of a defective lock.

(Is it possible you're depressing the lock bar when your hand when you put pressure on it to cut? That still shouldn't happen but everyone's hands and grips are different, sometimes certain locks just don't work for some folks)
 
As far as I know the cara cara is a delica 4 with liners and G10 scales, the construction is identical to the delica down to the lock bar and lock cut out. Just one is made in China with 8cr blade. I like the choil on the cars cara and wish my delica 4 has it. Anyways, that's a defective knife, I would take it back to where you bought it from and have them send it in to Spyderco for you. I'd you bought it online then pack it and send it to Spyderco.

I'm guessing it's a quality control issue; maybe by applying too much pressure you rounded the lock bar contact area off and it now slip out, again this should not happen.
 
blade man said:
You are incorrect. A little movement is normal, what's shown in the picture is not.
Click to expand...

I did not see the picture when I posted. I stand by what I said. Any design with out a stop pin (anything that stops the blade in its arc) will have positive force transferred into the other components of the knife, in this case the lock. Whether that's flex, a zing, a pop, or a fizzle.
 
kniferbro said:
I did not see the picture when I posted. I stand by what I said. Any design with out a stop pin (anything that stops the blade in its arc) will have positive force transferred into the other components of the knife, in this case the lock. Whether that's flex, a zing, a pop, or a fizzle.
Click to expand...
And you are still wrong. I own hundreds of Spyderco midlocks and, while some most definitely do have a very slight amount of vertical play that occurs when pressure is put on the edge while cutting, some have absolutely no vertical play no matter how hard I press down during cutting. As for stop pins, you assume they are immovable objects, which they are not.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top