Commander warning

F

Fred

Joined
Oct 3, 1998
Messages
140
I was watching TV Sunday and practicing opening my Commander (with wave). I guess the repeated opening caused the screw to loosen, because I noticed that the blade would fully open and then close again (almost on me). Everything is fine now that I've tightened the screw.

If you have a Commander (and what red blooded American doesn't?) keep an eye on whether it needs tightening, before you get cut.

-Fred
 
Fred,
Loc-tite will keep that from happening again. Blue loc-tite (not the red). You can get a tube from Wal-Mart for about $3.
Just follow the instructions, and tighten the pivot down to where there's no blade play, but the blade still opens smoothly, and let it set up.
I've loc-tited my Commander and BM Axis locks-it works.
 
Loctite doesn't "set" instantly, so you have a little time to adjust and get it where you want it.
Of course, blade tension is a VERY personal choice and probably no two knife knuts would want it exactly the same, but my choice is enough tension that it takes a little effort to open the Commander with the thumb stud. This gives you a nice hard SNAP when you use the wave.


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Tráceme no sin la razón, envoltura mi no sin honor
Usual Suspect
 
...or some heavy duty tools.
just don't use black.
Red will lock it up good-but it tends to be a bit more runny than blue, which means if you get it in the action, you won't exactly have a smooth opening, or maybe not an opening at all.
I use it on 1911a1 front sights that are poorly staked on.
cheers,
Derek
 
Also, put the Loc-tite, just a few drops, into the female have of the pivot pin, instead of the threads of the male half. This will help keep it from running into the bushings and liners. I made this mistake the first time, and it felt like there were rocks between the blade and liners because of the crud on the bushing. Also, before I applied it, I set the tension how I liked it, then placed a small piece of tape across have the pivot head, then onto the scale, then cut it at the screw scale juncture. Counted the number of turns to take it apart, then tightened it back oup the same number and lined up the two pieces of tape, VOILA!, perfect. Well, maybe not perfect, but really close!

-Scott

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Usual Suspect, Junior Grade
 
I work with this stuff all day use the blue loctite put a small drop on the screw let it sit a few hours it will get sticky that way it won,t run into the knife making it gum up if you use red it will be very hard to move the screw with out causing damage to the face or worse yet the screw driver might slip and bite ya ??

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I am just a worthless liar....... I am just an Imbecile ...... I will only complicate you ..... Trust in me and fall as well .... I will find a center in you ... I will chew it up and leave .. I will work to elevate you just enough to bring you down
 
I used to use the red loctite to attach front sights to 12 guage Mossberg 590 shotguns in the Marine Corps. Nothing else, just red loctite. Never EVER had one shoot loose.

CAUTION!!!

Red loctite WILL NOT release until you heat the screw you wish to loosen to 450 F.
Yeah, I suppose if you get medival on the screw it'll come loose, but you'll ruin the screw head. Use the blue.


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Tráceme no sin la razón, envoltura mi no sin honor
Usual Suspect
 
I had to put a little blue loctite on my commander last night i was breaking it it and noticed the blade started to have play sure enough the screw came loose i really don,t think it is a problem at all i am kinda happy that the knife is made to come apart easy in the field if needed

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I am just a worthless liar....... I am just an Imbecile ...... I will only complicate you ..... Trust in me and fall as well .... I will find a center in you ... I will chew it up and leave .. I will work to elevate you just enough to bring you down
 
Ok, I have to ask. What is black loctite?

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Usual Suspect
http://www.freeyellow.com/members8/arkhamdrifter/index.html
 
black loctite is made by loctite but marketed under the name "BlackMax"
Use that on stuff you don't ever want to move again (Wilson's Combat uses it on staked on sights)
I believe there is also purple loctite that is close to the strength of blue, but I'm not sure.
I spend alot of time in Brownell's catalog if you have not noticed....
cheers,
Derek
Birmingham, AL
 
Something else that will help is to clean the male & female threads with alchol (etc.)before applying the blue loctite. I've found that pipe cleaners are great for cleaning the grease or oil out of the female threads.
wink.gif


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Ray Carr
 
This is why I like Torx screws for knife assembly. On the pivot screw, it won't matter what kind of screw it is if it's not threadlocked, because they all come loose. How often are you taking your knife apart in the field? And if you have a flat head and phillips, why not carry a torx? Victorinox makes a model called the Cybertool that comes with torx drivers in it (although I'm not sure they're the right size!) and Benchmade makes that cool little toolkit. Derek and I have discussed this many times, but neither of us has swayed the other!

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Thought for the day: Judges 4:21. This could happen to you if you don't hide new purchases from the wife.
 
How about dimples around the circumference of the main screw with a small set screw to hold it the desired location? Many fastening circumstances that require a certain torque setting that is not so tight so as to benefit for the tension of the fastener have used this simple, time honored method with success.

[This message has been edited by Nimrod (edited 03-15-2001).]
 
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