Early lock up (practically non existent)

[miso2]

The OP wrote in THAT thread, so we know who the maker is and that he bought it directly from the maker recently.

josh yu
Would you try to put Sharpie on the blade tang and see if it helps?
You mentioned that you can push the lock bar to 30% lockup. This may mean that small bumps on the blade tang or the lock bar surface prevent the bar to fully engage. If so, it might break in.

 

[The Aflac Duck]

The OP wrote in THAT thread, so we know who the maker is and that he bought it directly from the maker recently.

josh yu
Would you try to put Sharpie on the blade tang and see if it helps?
You mentioned that you can push the lock bar to 30% lockup. This may mean that small bumps on the blade tang or the lock bar surface prevent the bar to fully engage. If so, it might break in.

Unfortunately, I suspect that the lockbar is in a position where there isn't any room for improvement. If the OP let's the lockbar "settle", it will only cause more problems.

The maker has sold the consumer a product that isn't satisfactory. It is as simple as that

 

[stuff_things]

Unfortunately, I suspect that the lockbar is in a position where there isn't any room for improvement. If the OP let's the lockbar "settle", it will only cause more problems.

The maker has sold the consumer a product that isn't satisfactory. It is as simple as that

And if it's the maker we're thinking it is, the gentleman has such a large IG following and fan club that repeating issues like this one are overshadowed by constant lust and admiration for small batch releases -- in this case for a custom product that is virtually ineffective.

@OP: Talk to the maker and demand a refund. It's probably going to be an uphill battle but you spent good money man, you deserve a good piece!

Also, DON'T try to fix it. Think you're screwed now, just wait till the lockup is at 110%.

 

[miso2]

One of my factory frame lock had early lock up and lock stick at the beginning, but Sharpie application remedied it quickly, presumably by accelerating break-in. Now, it has quite nice lock up without stickiness.

With that said, I do think that the right action would be to return the defective knife to the maker for repair or refund. However, the maker in this case has a bad history, and I understand the OP’s reservation to deal with the maker. Nevertheless, the OP seems to be waiting for the maker to reply. So we will see.

OP, take my advice as an alternative after every other means fail. Sharpie would not make things worse nor hurt the knife. Just open and close normally after the application and DO NOT force the lock bar to sink in. If the lock up doesn't become any better after tens of operations, then the issue is probably beyond simple break-in. I now realize that the OP mentioned 20 lbs force to move the bar, not ounce, so it may not work anyway.

I also wonder if other makers or service providers like REK can fix it, as the last resort.

Good luck to the OP.

 

[spyderg]

I’ve had a couple knives with super early lock up, usually after some aggressive flicking and actual use it will settle in to a more comfortable lock position. Some knives can be adjusted slightly by loosening the screws, torquing the scales slightly and tighten while torqued but that can mess up centering.

 

[josh yu]

Pretty sure there is some information missing here.

Did you buy it new from the maker??
How long have you had the knife???
Do you want to keep it??
I know you don't want to name the maker, but would you have to pay shipping to South Africa???
Can you get in touch with the maker......in other words, does he answer you in a timely manner??

DO NOT attempt fixing it yourself till all other avenues are dead ends.
Joe

1. Yes, new straight from the maker: here's the post https://www.instagram.com/p/BZY9Tgwn7Kf/?taken-by=garethbullknives
2. three days
3. If he can fix it in a timely matter maybe. NOT if it take 9 months. my sister just made a human being in less time than that (first niece born 2 week ago )
cat's out of the bag, below is a gif of the knife and how EXTREMELY defective the knife is. this isn't some benchmade blade play QC level stuff, this is straight up a danger to my fingers defective.
4. i've reached out to him via email and instagram, and he's read the message and chosen not to respond (instagram shows when the message is read)
*i i paid goods and services via paypal, and amex gold card is also very helpful. hopefully anyone in their right mind (paypal employees or amex employees) can see my video an realize that's not how knives work....

https://gfycat.com/PointlessCrispBee

to those of you chiming in with constructive advice THANK YOU SO MUCH! to those of you kicking me while i'm down, not sure if you're getting enjoyment out of it, but oh well

 

[miso2]

I just watched the video. Wow.....
Opening the blade that fast did not make the lock engage. You can still try the Sharpie method, but I now do not think it would work on that knife.

Just out of curiosity, what kind of scuff do you see on the blade tang?

 

[josh yu]

I just watched the video. Wow.....
Opening the blade that fast did not make the lock engage. You can still try the Sharpie method, but I now do not think it would work on that knife.

Just out of curiosity, what kind of scuff do you see on the blade tang?

best shot i can get

 

[115Italian]

I would try to open the blade 1/4 the way and the use a very hard arm/ wrist action to open it all the way. Do that a few times to accelerate break in. If that doesn’t work then weigh your options.

 

[miso2]

Thanks. Can you take a pic of the tang in the closed position, like below.

It would show where the actual lock up is.

The lock up of my only custom knife is kinda like that by look. The scuff shows that the lock up is around 10%, even if it looks like 5% outside. The lock is solid on mine, and the maker does a scary spine whack test before shipping out his.

 

[Sonnydaze]

return. defective geometry. bending or pushing lock bar inward is a temp fix, wont fix defective geometry.

YES, by all means send it back. You paid for a knife that works correctly.

 

[josh yu]

Thanks. Can you take a pic of the tang in the closed position, like below.


It would show where the actual lock up is.

The lock up of my only custom knife is kinda like that by look. The scuff shows that the lock up is around 10%, even if it looks like 5% outside. The lock is solid on mine, and the maker does a scary spine whack test before shipping out his.

really appreciate the help. i've never owned a knife that failed a spine wack test... or had any lock failure at that. i can't believe this is happening with the 3rd most expensive knife i've ever bought

*posting the gif on all my replies to keep people up to speed... https://gfycat.com/PointlessCrispBee

 

[miso2]

I don't see any scuff by the lock bar......

There are scratches on the tang (which itself is bizarre), even where the lock bar would hit. If the lock engages at all, the scratches near that side should be wiped off by the lock bar at least to some extent. But they are not, meaning that the engagement is very very shallow or almost none.

I agree with you that the knife is a defect. To me, it looks like the maker messed up the blade tang at some point and did not care.

I hope you hear back from the maker with some positive words......

 

[josh yu]

I don't see any scuff by the lock bar......

There are scratches on the tang (which itself is bizarre), even where the lock bar would hit. If the lock engages at all, the scratches near that side should be wiped off by the lock bar at least to some extent. But they are not, meaning that the engagement is very very shallow or almost none.

I agree with you that the knife is a defect. To me, it looks like the maker messed up the blade tang at some point and did not care.

I hope you hear back from the maker with some positive words......

yea, the more i examine this, no amount of sharpie or breaking in will ever fix this one. here is my game plan

1. wait and give the maker a chance to respond
2. reach out to paypal and amex
3. if i lose the dispute, then i will look into finding a professional to fix it (i guess this is the last option)

 

[miso2]

I would do the same.
I hope you get a functional knife or refund at the end.

 

[SpySmasher]

It doesn't really help but the lockup looks to be about 35-40% on my Shamwari.

 

[longbow]

Depending on how long you have owned it PP will take a while with you trying to work it out with the maker. My wife and I use AmEx for everything and they are hugely accommodating. My opinion is send it back to the maker via USPS Priority Insured with signature confirmation if you think that is necessary. Then call the 800 for AmEx and speak to a CSR. Give them the tracking and they will put a credit on you card immediately and they will monitor as to when it is delivered. The they will wait 6 wks looking for a response from the seller. If he fixes it and returns it within that time frame you are golden. If not they try and collect the funds from the maker and you are in the clear with your refund. keepem sharp

 

[midnight flyer]

yea, the more i examine this, no amount of sharpie or breaking in will ever fix this one. here is my game plan

1. wait and give the maker a chance to respond
2. reach out to paypal and amex
3. if i lose the dispute, then i will look into finding a professional to fix it (i guess this is the last option)

I think now you are on to something. As a sidebar, I am always amazed that folks would tell you to repair a defective product yourself or accept a product that is clearly defective and does not operate properly. I am a service provider myself, and I WISH my clients were so tolerant. If I did an $800 repair and it didn't work (or even work well) there is little doubt I wouldn't be paid. Actually, none.

Anyway, I think you should contact AMEX and let them work their magic. I buy nothing online anymore, regardless of the vendor and their reputation if they don't take AMEX. I use it in my construction business to buy anything from tools to office equipment and they have helped me countless times.

I have tried to get MasterCard to help me with disputes (wrong product shipped to me) and they were worthless. When a vendor wouldn't stand by their warranty, MC was of no help at all.

I have had my AMEX card for almost 35 years and take it from me they are much more aggressive. Over the years, all I had to do to get them involved was to provide written proof (all they way back to snail mail!) or emails showing I made an honest attempt to allow the vendor to remedy the situation. They wanted two attempts, each one giving the vendor enough time to reply and offer a solution. If no solution was at hand, then AMEX contacted the vendor on my behalf and gave them one chance to make their case and remedy the problem. Usually, that works.

One time though, it did not. The vendor ignored AMEX's demand to repair or replace my defective item. They gave him 5 banking days. Then they pulled all the money I spent with the vendor out of his bank (directly) and credited my account. AMEX's only caveat was to record me saying that if the vendor sent me an RMA authorization and a prepaid shipping tag that I would send it back.

He called me a few days later and literally screamed at me on the phone. I told him to put his thoughts in writing to me and mail them. He called back one more time and screamed some more and called me all kinds of names. He never sent me anything else. A year later I repaired the defective product and put it in service and kept all the money.

You have some tools at your disposal. AMEX can guide you through this, and let them know what you have had to do so far. Don't take this kind of arrogant disregard lying down.

Robert

 

[miso2]

Wow. I should get an AMEX card.

 

[palonej]

Thanks for the response Josh!!
Yeah, the knife has major issues brother. Don't try fixing anything!!
Give him a few more days, if no answer, get on the phone with your CC company!!
He's not known for such great CS, most of the time. I remember Nich Shabazz said he got help from him pretty quickly, maybe you'll get lucky too???
Personally, I would prefer a new knife from him. I don't think it's fair to you to accept that one back after a major repair. And it looks like that's what it needs.....some major repair!!
I'm actually amazed he shipped that one to you with that issue.
Good luck brother!!
Joe

1. Yes, new straight from the maker: here's the post https://www.instagram.com/p/BZY9Tgwn7Kf/?taken-by=garethbullknives
2. three days
3. If he can fix it in a timely matter maybe. NOT if it take 9 months. my sister just made a human being in less time than that (first niece born 2 week ago )
cat's out of the bag, below is a gif of the knife and how EXTREMELY defective the knife is. this isn't some benchmade blade play QC level stuff, this is straight up a danger to my fingers defective.
4. i've reached out to him via email and instagram, and he's read the message and chosen not to respond (instagram shows when the message is read)
*i i paid goods and services via paypal, and amex gold card is also very helpful. hopefully anyone in their right mind (paypal employees or amex employees) can see my video an realize that's not how knives work....

https://gfycat.com/PointlessCrispBee

to those of you chiming in with constructive advice THANK YOU SO MUCH! to those of you kicking me while i'm down, not sure if you're getting enjoyment out of it, but oh well