Cold Steel Spartan - fatal flaw for me

[Muaddib1116]

I read about that. But there's no such thing as a free lunch. And I believe that applies to steel too.

I mean you're not opening it or closing it to "wear it in," right? So what is happening? I think you're somehow weakening the steel by stressing it.

I didn't want a weakened or stressed lock. I wanted one with a good, correct fit. And I didn't get one.

Leaving it open doesn't do anything to the strength of the lock, what it does do is slightly (very slightly) weaken the spring that keeps the lockbar engaged.

I don't see how the Scorpion is really different from a traditional back lock, except being harder to unlock. The advantage of the Triad is that the stop pin also prevents the lock bar from being pulled off its pivot or being pushed into it. The Scorpion is just a huge back lock with no reinforcement near the blade pivot.

That's pretty much how I see it also. Also, the pin on the Scorpion lock is both the lock (via tension on the bar) and the stop pin (via compression). It does seem like it has the self-adjusting feature of the Triad lock, because the Scorpion lock has a round pin slotted into a very slightly tapered cutout in the blade tang. The only other thing that really differentiates it from a super overbuilt back lock is the ability to lock/wedge the lockbar open with the secondary lock. Overall, as far as a mechanical design, I think it is not as innovative or elegant as the Triad lock. It will be interesting to see if CS adopts it and if they do, how they do it.

 

[crom]

I've had 3 Triad knives so far only one was difficult to unlock but got easier as time passed. It does sound like you got a lemon.

 

[RX-79G]

I wonder if a little polishing compound would work in the surfaces more quickly. Flitz or something like that.

 

[mykem]

I've had 3 Triad knives so far only one was difficult to unlock but got easier as time passed. It does sound like you got a lemon.

Yeah, it sure did have that "lemony fresh" odor about it. My best guess is there was a bad misalignment somewhere.

I really did open and close it 200 times a night for 14 nights. That's 2,800 cycles.No BS there. I really did that.

It was a tedious and arduous process. I couldn't really watch TV and do it. Too dangerous. So i listened to NPR or just put CDs on our multiple disc player. And after the two weeks it was not noticably easier to close.

And yes, i was doing it correctly, no simaltaneous pressure on the blade as i depressed the spring. After about 60 - 75 openings and closings i had to keep a cloth over the spring as i pushed it in. It hurt too much not to.

The knife just wasn't worth the hassle. I briefly did consider giving Cold Steel a chance to make it right. But then i realized, even if they did fix it, i'd never be happy carrying it.

Silly as it sounds, i already had developed a grudge against the knife. It had to go.

 

[James Y]

Jim,

Your accident interests me and I'd like to read more about it. Surely you posted more about it in the forum when it happened?

I searched and searched and couldn't find it. Would you be gracious enough to provide me with a link if you don't mind my learning from your experience?

Thanks.

Hi, mykem.

I didn't post about it for quite some time until maybe a couple months ago in another thread...I think it was a Code 4 vs. Sebenza thread or something. Then I also mentioned it in a thread on the Cold Steel forum. I really didn't say much more about it than I did in this thread. It was completely due to my negligence. I hadn't expected the blade action to have loosened to the degree that it did. Frankly speaking, the Triad locks are not designed for one-handed closing, and I wouldn't recommend trying if you value your fingers. Sometimes it is easy to become complacent when we own and handle so many knives, to become a bit absent-minded when closing a knife. I'll only say that I have learned my lesson. The injury I got severely lacerated the extensor tendon in my right index finger. It's mostly OK now, but there is still some stiffness in the finger. The physical therapist said that it could take up to a year from the accident for the finger to return to normal. But I'm thankful, because it could have been much worse.

Jim

 

[mykem]

Hi, mykem.

I didn't post about it for quite some time until maybe a couple months ago in another thread...I think it was a Code 4 vs. Sebenza thread or something. Then I also mentioned it in a thread on the Cold Steel forum. I really didn't say much more about it than I did in this thread. It was completely due to my negligence. I hadn't expected the blade action to have loosened to the degree that it did. Frankly speaking, the Triad locks are not designed for one-handed closing, and I wouldn't recommend trying if you value your fingers. Sometimes it is easy to become complacent when we own and handle so many knives, to become a bit absent-minded when closing a knife. I'll only say that I have learned my lesson. The injury I got severely lacerated the extensor tendon in my right index finger. It's mostly OK now, but there is still some stiffness in the finger. The physical therapist said that it could take up to a year from the accident for the finger to return to normal. But I'm thankful, because it could have been much worse.

Jim

Jim,

Whew! Tough thing. I'm glad it's getting better.

And you're so right. We should all remember to be careful when handling our blades.

That's why i shut the television off when i was doing all that cycling of the Spartan.

I knew it would be boring and my first inclination was to watch the tube when i was doing it.

Then i thought about it again and the tv remained off. It would have been far too dangerous.