Cpm-m4 556 - Update - Broken Spring.

I've toyed with having my m4 blades salt bath nitride treated. This gives a black appearance, but is very corrosion resistant and does not scratch easily (or at all).

For guys wanting different grips that utilize a full spine for protection, you should really look into Allen putmans aluminum grips. I put them on both my 551 and 556 m4 blades. They are much more economical than cuscadi or Wilkins grips as well at around $60 opposed to $150+.
 
Thanks for the pic of those grips! Very nice!

Also, regarding the comment about trying to force a patina on the laser etch... I also had no luck. I degreased and tried all the typical ways that worked for me and nothing. It will rust daily but I could not force a patina. So that kind of baffled me.

Thanks for the idea of the more affordable grips too! The nitride treatment does sound great! One note is that the carpet was also scratching into the CPM-M4, so considering that I would say the coating did alright :)

Kevin
 
A long day out boating even getting stuck on the island in awful storms made for a fun day. What was not fun was realizing how sand can really mess up an Axis lock. That is all for the adventures of this knife for now.

Kevin
 
richstag said:
Thanks for the pic of those grips! Very nice!

Also, regarding the comment about trying to force a patina on the laser etch... I also had no luck. I degreased and tried all the typical ways that worked for me and nothing. It will rust daily but I could not force a patina. So that kind of baffled me.

Kevin
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Yeah, I'm just not understanding what is going on there...
 
I thought a few may be interested to see this knife next to a real carpet knife. In a typical day that blade will be replaced up to 20 times.





Not being an installer and just a project manager I think the 556 should be enough in the long run, yet that razor blade is a special design that flooring guys need.

Kevin
 
richstag said:
A long day out boating even getting stuck on the island in awful storms made for a fun day. What was not fun was realizing how sand can really mess up an Axis lock. That is all for the adventures of this knife for now.

Kevin
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FWIW, there have been a lot of wonky results shown when people try to induce corrosion, I mean "force a patina" ;) on CPM-M4. For whatever reason, it doesn't take it very well and it's often very uneven. Not sure why, may be some effect of the CPM process?
 
I think the kerahaw tilt would be a fine replacement for a flooring guy. Cheap too. Haha
 
richstag said:
A long day out boating even getting stuck on the island in awful storms made for a fun day. What was not fun was realizing how sand can really mess up an Axis lock. That is all for the adventures of this knife for now.

Kevin
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I take apart every axis lock knife I get as soon as I get it to polish washers and make adjustments. Once taken apart, the axis lock is a quite simple mechanism to understand and clean out. I've enjoyed reading this thread, if you don't feel like doing it yourself, I'd be happy to clean/polish the internals for you.
 
richstag said:
A long day out boating even getting stuck on the island in awful storms made for a fun day. What was not fun was realizing how sand can really mess up an Axis lock. That is all for the adventures of this knife for now.

Kevin
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Speaking of sand.

I carried a full size Grip in Iraq for a year. I didn't have any problems. I think the lack of humidity and the fact the sand there is very fine, we called it moon dust, were factors.

I can see how wet, sticky, course sand could gum up the works.
A quick rinse with water will fix it. Just let it air dry or use a hair dryer.
 
Thanks for the info on corrosion. 9 out of 10 people just don't de-grease properly but this seems different.

Thanks also for the info on the simplicity. I got it cleaned out at home very easily it's just out in the field it surprised me. Being used to friction folders, slipjoint, frame/liner locks I never ran into that problem. Sand is the first problem out so far for me.

Always appreciate the info, thanks so much.

Kevin
 
Thanks for that info. I used to do DOD testing and blowing sand was one test. I know what you mean about the fine types of sand.

As for my troubles it was nasty bud, the lock would not move and rinsing was not really cutting it either. It really had to be cleaned out.

aquaman67 said:
Speaking of sand.

I carried a full size Grip in Iraq for a year. I didn't have any problems. I think the lack of humidity and the fact the sand there is very fine, we called it moon dust, were factors.

I can see how wet, sticky, course sand could gum up the works.
A quick rinse with water will fix it. Just let it air dry or use a hair dryer.
Click to expand...
 
Kevin, a few years back? there was a video (I think the guy spoke German) where he buried his Grip in the sand repeatedly and would proceed to dig out and flick the knife open/closed with no issues.

It actually blew me away and was the main reason I bought a full size #551 Grip. I also remember his dog was in the video as well trying as hard as his master to dig the knife out. I just scoured the web to no avail and can not find said video.

If anyone has a link or remembers this video---please provide a link so I know Alzheimer's is not sneaking up on me :o

For what it's worth I didn't think the Axis Lock would function as well as it did.

Paul
 
Hey Paul!!! So glad to see you over here! I would love to see that video, although it would not change my results. Picture 3 hours in a crazy downpoor, lightning crashing all around, quite a few beers and running around on and Island in Maryland on the Chesapeake bay. So the mix is brackish water, disgusting bay mud, dirt, sand of all shapes and sizes. It DID impede the function of the lock big time. I have had zero issues with the lock otherwise and it has gotten very dirty respectively.

I asked my father, who is a lubrication specialist for something dry, he gave me this..



Gave it a try and its smoother than wet lube surprisingly and should not attract extra junk.

Again, glad to see you !

Kevin


paulhilborn said:
Kevin, a few years back? there was a video (I think the guy spoke German) where he buried his Grip in the sand repeatedly and would proceed to dig out and flick the knife open/closed with no issues.

It actually blew me away and was the main reason I bought a full size #551 Grip. I also remember his dog was in the video as well trying as hard as his master to dig the knife out. I just scoured the web to no avail and can not find said video.

If anyone has a link or remembers this video---please provide a link so I know Alzheimer's is not sneaking up on me :o

For what it's worth I didn't think the Axis Lock would function as well as it did.

Paul
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richstag said:
Hey Paul!!! So glad to see you over here! I would love to see that video, although it would not change my results. Picture 3 hours in a crazy downpoor, lightning crashing all around, quite a few beers and running around on and Island in Maryland on the Chesapeake bay. So the mix is brackish water, disgusting bay mud, dirt, sand of all shapes and sizes. It DID impede the function of the lock big time. I have had zero issues with the lock otherwise and it has gotten very dirty respectively.

I asked my father, who is a lubrication specialist for something dry, he gave me this..



Gave it a try and its smoother than wet lube surprisingly and should not attract extra junk.

Again, glad to see you !

Kevin
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Hey, wait, you're on the Bay?! I'm on the Bay. Down by Patuxent River NAS.
 
Yeah bud! My friend lives on middle river right across from Hart-Miller Island. If you saw the storm Sunday that is what I am referring too. Got stuck out there for a long cold while!

rockspyder said:
Hey, wait, you're on the Bay?! I'm on the Bay. Down by Patuxent River NAS.
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YIKES! Yeah, I saw that storm. It came up through here first, IIRC. Although the worst of it went up east of us, I think. Uh... yeah... I bet that was a LOT of fun!
 
Sand can be a b!tch. Circumstances permitting, sloshing/flushing with diesel works very well. In a pinch, well, personal pressure-washing is a last-ditch personal field expedient. :o
 
Does anyone know what temperature CPM-M4 has to reach before the heat treat is ruined?
 
richstag said:
Hey Paul!!! So glad to see you over here! I would love to see that video, although it would not change my results. Picture 3 hours in a crazy downpoor, lightning crashing all around, quite a few beers and running around on and Island in Maryland on the Chesapeake bay. So the mix is brackish water, disgusting bay mud, dirt, sand of all shapes and sizes. It DID impede the function of the lock big time. I have had zero issues with the lock otherwise and it has gotten very dirty respectively.

I asked my father, who is a lubrication specialist for something dry, he gave me this..



Gave it a try and its smoother than wet lube surprisingly and should not attract extra junk.

Again, glad to see you !

Kevin
Click to expand...

Kevin, nice to see you here as well my friend. I like you haven't been much (if at all) a modern knife carrier for sometime but with my left hands scar tissue issue and carpel tunnel in the right hand the Axis is a joy to use. I totally understand where your coming from in regards to the "gunk" affecting the lock---that video I made reference to just blew my mind when I saw it.

Just a note: I'll always carry my "Charlow" ;)

Paul
 
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