Does Spyderco Loctite the pivot screws?

[Billy The Hungry]

Hi gang!

Got my Para 3 yesterday. Awesome little knife, I love this thing!

Only one issue though. One pivot screw came mangled. I put my torx bit in it just to see if my bit would bite. It seems too. I didn't apply torque.
My knife is perfectly centered. I'm just concerned that if the pivot loosens up I won't be able to adjust it on that side. If, however, it's loctited in, I know I won't have to make any adjustments for a long time.

The screw has a sharp raised area that you can feel. Whoever put this screw in should have backed it out and put a fresh screw in place. I've had off days too though, haha

I love the knife!!!

 

[Retired UPS Driver]

Was it brand new from a dealer, or possibly used and/or off the secondary market? If brand new from a dealer and you are the first owner, then that’s unacceptable. Your Loctite question I can’t answer with certainty.

 

[Billy The Hungry]

Was it brand new from a dealer, or possibly used and/or off the secondary market? If brand new from a dealer and you are the first owner, then that’s unacceptable. Your Loctite question I can’t answer with certainty.

Bought brand new from Blade HQ, my friend.

If it still bites my Torx Bit well enough to apply necessary torque, I can live with it. I'm not sure it won't slip, as it is.

Everything else on the knife is perfect.

Always glad to "see" you, sir! Thanks for the two cents.

 

[hhmoore]

They used to red loctite the pivots; but that practice has supposedly been stopped. Whether it was before, or after, your knife was produced, I can't say (Time is a blur; and the PM3 isn't a knife to which I've paid much attention - bought one for a friend...he didn't like it, I didn't want it; so I turned it loose).
Ask for an exchange, since you received it that way; or contact Spyderco and have them deal with it. If you want to deal with it yourself, treat it as if it has red loctite.

 

[ferider]

Yeah, looks like somebody used an oversized Torx driver on it, that's why your T10 might still work. Unacceptable for a new knife. These screws are hard to find in the open market (100 degree cones), at the minimum, Spyderco should send you a new one.

Most Spydercos I've handled had blue loctite on the Pivot screws.

 

[Billy The Hungry]

Yeah, looks like somebody used an oversized Torx driver on it, that's why your T10 might still work. Unacceptable for a new knife. These screws are hard to find in the open market (100 degree cones), at the minimum, Spyderco should send you a new one.

Most Spydercos I've handled had blue loctite on the Pivot screws.

Hey ferider!

Thanks for the reply. Next question: If Spyderco isn't using Red, are they using any type of Loctite? Edit: Sorry, just seen you mentioned they use blue. Thank you!!

I'm honestly not trying to make a big deal about it. As long as it doesn't cause problems, it's just an ugly screw. But I do agree, it shouldn't have left the worker's bench like that. I paid full price for this knife, and for me, it's a lot of money right now.

I suppose I'll find out on my own, if the pivot loosens with use. I know my PM2 didn't have any loctite. But honestly I always suspected my PM2 was a clone, so I wasn't sure what the norm is, regarding Loctite. (Had ordered the PM2 from Amazon and I've had weird issues with it, but that's irrelevant, and not Spyderco's fault I believe).

 

[vercro]

As others have said, that should never have left Spyderco's factory or been sold publicly with a screw like that. Locktite or not, it's horrible looking and unacceptable. I would return it immediately to the place of purchase.
For the record, all my recent Spyderco purchases have used what appears to be extremely weak locktite on the pivot which takes very little force to break free. These have all new been new-ish models, including a Para3 S110, Para3 Maxamet recent production, Para3 SPY27, Manix 2 DLC M390 edition, and the Shaman Z-Wear I received two days ago.

 

[Billy The Hungry]

As others have said, that should never have left Spyderco's factory or been sold publicly with a screw like that. Locktite or not, it's horrible looking and unacceptable. I would return it immediately to the place of purchase.
For the record, all my recent Spyderco purchases have used what appears to be extremely weak locktite on the pivot which takes very little force to break free. These have all new been new-ish models, including a Para3 S110, Para3 Maxamet recent production, Para3 SPY27, Manix 2 DLC M390 edition, and the Shaman Z-Wear I received two days ago.

Thanks, vercro, appreciate the info

 

[The_Knife_Man]

I haven't bought one in maybe a few years, things might have changed. But my experience has been they used blue loctite. If that was new from the factory, I would send it back asap. Especially coming brand new from that dealer and paying full price. You'll eventually have to break it down to clean it, stripped screws can sometimes be a PITA. If you stripped it, that's on you, ask the factory for screws.

 

[ferider]

Hey ferider!

Thanks for the reply. Next question: If Spyderco isn't using Red, are they using any type of Loctite? Edit: Sorry, just seen you mentioned they use blue. Thank you!!

I'm honestly not trying to make a big deal about it. As long as it doesn't cause problems, it's just an ugly screw. But I do agree, it shouldn't have left the worker's bench like that. I paid full price for this knife, and for me, it's a lot of money right now.

I suppose I'll find out on my own, if the pivot loosens with use. I know my PM2 didn't have any loctite. But honestly I always suspected my PM2 was a clone, so I wasn't sure what the norm is, regarding Loctite. (Had ordered the PM2 from Amazon and I've had weird issues with it, but that's irrelevant, and not Spyderco's fault I believe).

Hi Billy,

like I said, these days, it's mostly blue loctite. In the old days (years ago), it was red. In any case, a good Wiha driver will open the Pivot even with red loctite, so have no fear.

You can tell if the screw is too loose via blade alignment. If the blade is centered or leans towards the lock-side, the Pivot is tight enough. That's how I do it anyways.

Roland.

 

[Evany]

If it was mine I'd send it back or see about a replacement screw. But... if they won't take it back you could remove the screw, place some 320 or 400 grit wet or dry sandpaper (wet) on a very flat surface and sand the screw flat again. It would probably clean up very nicely.

 

[sharp_edge]

OP - obviously you are one of the easiest customers to deal with That mangled pivot screw alone would not make me happy with the knife; it does not matter how great other aspects are. I'd ask for a replacement from BHQ.

 

[Billy The Hungry]

Hi Billy,

like I said, these days, it's mostly blue loctite. In the old days (years ago), it was red. In any case, a good Wiha driver will open the Pivot even with red loctite, so have no fear.

You can tell if the screw is too loose via blade alignment. If the blade is centered or leans towards the lock-side, the Pivot is tight enough. That's how I do it anyways.

Roland.

Thanks Roland!

If it was mine I'd send it back or see about a replacement screw. But... if they won't take it back you could remove the screw, place some 320 or 400 grit wet or dry sandpaper (wet) on a very flat surface and sand the screw flat again. It would probably clean up very nicely.

If I have issues adjusting with that screw, I'll for sure give Spyderco a call. They have awesome cs, so I'm not too worried about it. I just don't want to have to send a knife back that I've waited so long to get, honestly.

Thanks for the reply!

OP - obviously you are one of the easiest customers to deal with That mangled pivot screw alone would not make me happy with the knife; it does not matter how great other aspects are. I'd ask for a replacement from BHQ.

Haha! I'm actually very easy going. I understand that man made things aren't always going to be perfect. My knives are users, so they won't look flawless for long, either way.

 

[Mossyhorn]

It sounds like someone returned that para 3 after mangling the pivot screw. If done at the factory, they would've had plenty of screws on hand to replace it with. It doesn't matter if it's going to be a user or not. You could've purchased a user much cheaper on the secondary market.

 

[Billy The Hungry]

It sounds like someone returned that para 3 after mangling the pivot screw. If done at the factory, they would've had plenty of screws on hand to replace it with. It doesn't matter if it's going to be a user or not. You could've purchased a user much cheaper on the secondary market.

Ha, that's why I ordered from Blade HQ, to avoid that. But I bet you're right.

I can tell why it happened now. The knife developed blade play today. I loctited the pivot screws in. If there was any type of loc tite on them, I couldn't see it. I couldn't get the play out of the knife without making the action too tight. So I'm guessing some kid cranked down on the torx screw in frustration trying to get the adjustment just right.

I may just return this one. I seem to have bad luck with the Para family. Lol