Ever had this problem with a SAK?

C

Carbon12

Joined
Oct 8, 2013
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74
For the past couple of months I have enjoyed carrying my new SAK recruit. A couple of nights ago I noticed the first 1/4" or so of the edge on the tip of the large blade was becoming dull and looked blunted under bright light. It also makes a little bit of a louder than normal snap when shutting. I think while closing the large blade or while in my pocket next to my phone the blade is contacting the steel shim on the end of the knife where the metal ring attaches. I also have a Recruit gifted to me back in 2002 that does the same thing only worse.

Has anyone else had a similar experience with this model or others? I wonder if this is common to the 3.25" size and the 3.5" as well?
 
That happens with all of my 84, 91 and 93mm models if I let them slam shut. At first I would dremel the liner down but that's a pain, now I just guide them closed.
 
Over time, as you sharpen the blade out, the kick will hit the liner first and solve this problem. Guiding the blade shut and that will limit the problem as well.
 
Just like SAKsRCool said, I use a dremel cut off wheel and grind where it is making contact. If you shine a light into the handle you will see a shiny spot where the tip is making contact. Joe.
 
Thanks for the replies. I actually was thinking the dremel tool would take care if it as well, but wanted to see if I could just go with a different model rather than taking a chance modding this one. Looks like I will try grinding it down a little this weekend.

Not to bash SAKs (because I love them), but I can't imagine victorinox is unaware of this problem. It seems a shame they haven't corrected it. I dug out my old Huntsman from back in the late 80's/early 90's and could see it could easily have the same problem, so I think this has had the potential to cause problems for many years. It should be easy for them to correct so I just have trouble understanding it not being corrected.

Oh well. I will fix this one and get many years of use from it anyways.
 
Out of all my SAKs, only my Recruit, purchased circa 1998, has ever had that issue. The rest of my SAKs I can see, if I look very closely, that the tips don't touch the liner when closed, only that one. It doesn't really dull mine, but the edge rolls a bit at the contact point. It's not my favorite knife, though, since I have so many others, and so I've never used it enough to sharpen the contact point away from the liner.

Jim
 
Yes, my 84mm alox Bantams (Banta? Bantae?) can have the problem. Using the combo tool can shift the position of the spacer that sits at the tip of the large blade. If the spacer is in one position, nothing touches, and everything is fine. If the spacer is pushed up, it can contact the tip of the blade when closed.

A little sharpening of the blade tip helps keep it clear of the spacer. And try not to let the closed blade get pushed sideways (when the combo tool is deployed, for example), as it will scrape along the spacer doing real damage to the edge.
 
My guess is that even though the tolerances on SAKs is very good, there has to be a bit of give somewhere. I've owned several folders that impact the inside of the handle on most of the edge, so a little tap right at the tip isn't that big a deal on the grand scheme. I'd rather have the blade bed a bit deeper into the handle than have the tip in a position to catch. I have an old soldier that I "restored" that has been sharpened down, so only 2/3rds of the blade is left. This left the tip exposed from the scale. I trimmed the kick down, and that solved it. Pretty good to have the spring still under enough tension to pull the blade further in than is normal.
Looking at my huntsman (recent generation with the hook) the kick of the blade rests on the spring shared with the corkscrew. When the corkscrew is pulled out, that pushes the blade out a little. So there is a very delicate trade off between leverage and the tension in the corkscrew and main blade springs. Given that I think its pretty incredible that they are able to get that close of a tolerance at the price they do. To my mind, contact on the liners like that is just a part of the break in process.
 
Out of 100+ traditional pocket knives from numerous manufacturers, the SAKs are the only ones I have with this problem. I am still a little taken aback by Vic letting it happen. It won't be happening after this weekend when I get out the dremel tool
 
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