Compression Lock Stick between US and Taiwan made Spydercos?

jsp

jsp

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I was just curious. I own a few Spydercos with the compression lock (A couple PM2s, Bodacious, Yojimbo 2, and Shaman), which are all made in Golden, Colorado, USA. How are the other Spydercos with the compression lock that are made in Taiwan? Is there any lock stick with the Taiwanese-made Spydercos?
 
I’m sure there’s some stick from every factory that puts out a compression lock model! That being said the many Taichung models (Smock, Caribbean, Kapara, Sage 5, etc) in my collection seem to have better lock geometry “tuned” from the factory. Of course this is completely anecdotal. Also my Golden to Taichung model ratio is probably 6 to 1, or higher. Which would skew my opinion based on sample size alone!
 
I don't feel any stick on these two recent Taiwan knives. I feel a mechanical connection when I release the locks but there's not stick/resistance/ pop of release finally.

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I've really only handled two PM2's, a Para 3 LW and a Bodacious from Golden, and two Sage 5 LWs from Taichung, and imho the Taichungs come a tiny, tiny bit nicer from the factory than the Golden ones, but it really is miniscule.

My Bodacious e.g. had a bit of a "rougher" lock than the Sage 5, but it broke in really nice after two days or so and is now completely equal.
 
May I ask what it is you think of when writing "lock-stick"? I've only had Spyderco folding knives ever since I really got into folders (and one Benchmade, but that's buried in it's box at the bottom of my closet because I don't like it), so maybe I've never experienced lock-stick before ^^
 
Lock-stick is where the face of a liner, frame, or compression lock gets stuck in the tang or lock interface at the rear of the blade. You have to press hard to release it.
 
ricklikesknives said:
In my experience, lock-stick on Spyderco compression lock knives, regardless of manufacture location, has been non-existent to very minimal and remedied by a short break-in period.. with most knives leaning towards non-existent..
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It's weird because sometimes, it comes and goes. I have a 13 year-old PM2 that does it. I have a newer PM2 that doesn't have lock stick. I picked up a new Bodacious last year that still hasn't broken in and sticks a majority of the time. I picked a Shaman around the same time last year but I haven't experienced any lock-stick with it. The only annoying thing is the nub that hits the tip of your index finger when releasing the lock if you don't move it out of the way fast enough.
 
Ikhnaton said:
May I ask what it is you think of when writing "lock-stick"? I've only had Spyderco folding knives ever since I really got into folders (and one Benchmade, but that's buried in it's box at the bottom of my closet because I don't like it), so maybe I've never experienced lock-stick before ^^
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Not the best example…but first vid I found. On some models a lot of pressure and Audible “click” when it disengages!
 
I don't think I've had that with my small sample of compression locks. Overall, it seems like it only happens with any consistency when I open a knife way too fast, causing high impact and possibly bounce at the stop pin before the lock spring has had time to properly set...if that makes any sense. There is a Buck and a Case I can think of, both frame lock flippers, that I have to consciously not wrist flick or otherwise flip "hard", or I'll have to fight with the friction at the lock face to close them. Maybe the difference is bearings vs. washers? I haven't modded any of my Spyders to switch to bearings.
 
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DA170 said:
Not the best example…but first vid I found. On some models a lot of pressure and Audible “click” when it disengages!
Click to expand...
Thanks, so okay, then my Bodacious had a tiny bit of lock-stick when I first got it. Thanks again for clearing that up!

But, as said, it didn't take long for it to develop incredible action :)
 
I own quite a few "compression lock" Spydies. Not going to go thru all of then to determine which were US vs Taiwan made but "lock stick" has not been an issue for me with any of them.

Not so for certain Spydie "frame lock" Ti models. 🤷
 
I like a little "pop" when closing comp locks 😅

Maybe I just got used to it on my first PM2 but I've never had one where it was enough to actually make closing difficult. Makes me feel like nothing is going to jostle or slip lose. Most of the time as they wear in it mostly goes away, anyway.

For newer comp locks I've acquired it's minimal on a 15V Military 2, non-existent on a Sage 5 except in really exaggerated, hard, wrist-flicking openings, and middling noticeable on a Bodacious when flicking open in a normal manner - about like where my PM2 started 15 years ago.
 
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