Gerber Savvy Safety Problem

[OPSEC-C-C]

Anyone with a Gerber Savvy, I hope your knife is not as dangerous as mine. I feel it needs a safety to lock the blade in the closed position. The issue stems from the knife opening while in my right thigh pocket and cutting through my pants. Thankfully it cut away from me, as if it had cut toward me it would have cut into my thigh. The Savvy has a pivot lock, but no other locking mechanism. Not having another to compare, I don't know if mine is defective, or they all are this way. I can hold the knife with the blades ability to open away from my hand by pinching the scales without touching the blade or pivot lock (added pics). While holding the knife this way, if I thrust the knife away from me the blade opens. I was pretty active with the knife in my pants pocket, and it opened without me touching it with my hands, or knowing that it opened. When I squatted down, the blade went right through the pants. Anyone with this knife, have you have a similar experience? I did a review on Gerber's website, and they responded stating the knife has a "Friction Lock". This is exactly what the said- (The Savvy’s design includes a friction lock, but it sounds like it didn’t perform as expected in your case.) If you believe it is a manufacturing flaw, let me know so I can send it back with the warranty. All I know, is I am lucky.

 

[Dadpool]

Most crossbar locks have a pretty weak/light detent that doesn't take much force to overcome. Every Benchmade I've ever owned could be flicked out without touching the lock or blade, for example.

IMO this is operating as intended, but probably not a good candidate for carrying tip-up in that pocket. In my RFP, against the seam, where they can't wiggle around, I've had zero issues with crossbar locks.

 

[knarfeng]

Most crossbar locks have a pretty weak/light detent that doesn't take much force to overcome. Every Benchmade I've ever owned could be flicked out without touching the lock or blade, for example.

IMO this is operating as intended, but probably not a good candidate for carrying tip-up in that pocket. In my RFP, against the seam, where they can't wiggle around, I've had zero issues with crossbar locks.

Not sure there's an option to carry that knife tip down.
But I have several knives with weak detents which I prefer to carry tip down for that reason.

If I understand the lock correctly, the detent effect on a crossbar (Axis) lock is due to a cam type movement of the lock bar on the tang of the knife as it moves. So a stronger spring would increase the strength of the detent; but it would also increase the amount of pressure needed in order to cycle the lock. I'm guessing that's why so many crossbar locks have a weak detent.

 

[Wowbagger]

Nice looking knife !
That said I am assuming this is not an assisted , spring opening, knife , right ?
I don't have THAT particular knife but have a bucket of cross bar locks , a Benchmade Mini Griptillian that I carry as back up every single day I am at work.
Never had a hint of that self opening in the pocket business .

On the bright side it is possible to put in stronger Omega Springs that would hold the knife closed with more force ; would be a touch harder to unlock to close . A couple of my nonbenchmades are a touch on the hard to close / release the lock side .

Did the knife come with any "spare" springs . Some cross bar locks do these days and there is a chance those spare springs are also a higher spring rate just for this purpose .

 

[Wowbagger]

Not sure there's an option to carry that knife tip down.
But I have several knives with weak detents which I prefer to carry tip down for that reason.

If I understand the lock correctly, the detent effect on a crossbar (Axis) lock is due to a cam type movement of the lock bar on the tang of the knife as it moves. So a stronger spring would increase the strength of the detent; but it would also increase the amount of pressure needed in order to cycle the lock. I'm guessing that's why so many crossbar locks have a weak detent.

don't you hate when someone says all over again what you just typed ?
we must have been hammmering away at the same time .

 

[Wowbagger]

PS : I just tried flailing my Min Grip without touching lock or blade ; was able to get it to swing open half way over and over.
Then I tried one of my ~$50 cheepy cross bar locks , has carbon fiber scales too , it has the stronger springs as it came from the factory.
The latter was MUCH more resistant to my flailing ; only opened once in about ten flails .