Compression Lock Question

Tyrkon Lawson

Tyrkon Lawson

Joined
Oct 31, 2003
Messages
8,583
I have a Lil Temp. I absolutely love how it feels in the hand. I have always been partial to Ti Frame locks. But I have heard excellent things about the compression lock from Spyderco. Has anyone ever had one fail, especially on a Lil Temp? If so, under what conditions?

The reason I as is that I have to sell a few knives to fund another. :D So naturally I want to make sure I am keeping the most secure folder.

Thanks guys.
 
i have had a few with the compression lock (ie SS ATR, ti ATR and gunting) and the 1st SS ATR i had had some detent problems (ie the blade would open in your pocket, never a good thing lol) but i sent it in/they sent me another and no probs w/the new one or any of the others, i like the lock myself as well as a frame lock i suppose,
 
I've never had a compression lock fail, but I have had them develop some vertical blade play.
 
Ditto what EZ said, actually all of mine developed vertical play, but they where the very earliest models out.
 
DaveH said:
Ditto what EZ said, actually all of mine developed vertical play, but they where the very earliest models out.
Click to expand...

That is unacceptable. Imagine that all of your liner locks develop vertical blade play. Obviously, either CompLock is not mature enough or the engineering is poor. A poor engineering is, unfortunately, very often in knife industry although the companies pretend to have high-end, high tech products.

Franco
 
My Para-Military developed some vertical play but it was easy to fix by dismantling the knife (a piece of cake!) and bending the lock side spring out a bit further. I have not had any more blade play since. Besides, with the design of the comp. lock vertical play makes no difference to the security of the lock-up.
 
I carried a Titanium Salsa (compression framelock) for over 3 years and used it quite a bit, it didn't develop any play. The only thing that bothered me a bit is this: I think the compression lock was better suited for a lefty, I would have preferd it on the other side (top right instead of top left).
 
Lostification said:
Franco G,

Perhaps you missed the bolded statement.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, I didn't. There are a certain number of reports about a vertical blade play by ParaMillie, etc., which are rather recent.

In the post of carrot, it sounds as a poor QC (he was able to fix it).

A lot of people here takes a masochistic approach, something like 'I can live with it, it is normal, etc.'.
Wrong.

Franco
 
both my Ti ATR's have a little verticle blade play but its minimal, it just BARELY moves, maybe 1/32" or so.

imho not anywhere near enough to worry about................
 
Some can have some play but it is a very reliable lock even on the ones that do have some play. You gotta hand it to Sal on the lock design here. The lock is strong, very strong actually and in all likelihood its up there with the ball lock, and heavy duty lockback in strength.

I would bet that other parts of the system like the screws or stop being forced out of the handle would be the areas of defeat before the lock in deadweight tests on the thicker models. Its a much more reliable lock than the other style liner lock version though and for all I know even a model with blade play would still hold enough weight to make other parts of the system fail. When speaking of any lock where you can combine both supreme reliability with supreme strength you have to respect and admire it for what it is.

I'd like to see the frame lock version take over as the only one they make to increase the wear of the contact and probably reduce the play noted by many. I'd like to see a frame lock version in stainless on the ParaMilitary personally or even better a titanium one with a hardened 420HC or 440A insert to make the contact. You know, something replaceable if it wore out or the blade developed vertical play where all you had to do was order another hardened contact for the lock and screw it down on the lock bar for a brand new lock that would be refreshed like new.

Most of the new Para Military models I've had come my way for low riders have zero vertical play in them. My own newer one is flawless. I have always loved this knife and its taken me some bit of forcing myself to carry it due to the lock but the handle and the blade are so nice how can you not want to carry it? The lock will probably never be my favorite but I admire the design enough to look at it and say, darn, I wish I'd thought of that. :D

STR
 
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