Have faith 055X owners... it will smooth up :D

EZ Bake

EZ Bake

Joined
Mar 5, 2009
Messages
1,752
When I got my 0551, it would just about break my thumb to get it deployed (it seriously tore some skin off of my thumb several times and put a nice bruise on it). It was well stiffer than even my 0561 (even when foregoing the flipper and using thumb-studs).

I flipped it constantly for a couple of days before pulling it apart for cleaning/lube (and to change to the red Frag Scale that came in). It was still seriously stiff and I was starting to think that it wasn't going to ever be a quick-deploying knife (or reliably deployable knife since I couldn't always conjure up that much muscle in my thumb when flicking).

Then it started to smooth up - a freaking lot! It flies out now (still has a good stiff detent) faster than any other thumb-stud model knife I own. I just adjusted the pivot again thinking that it must have backed out or something - nope... the knife is just buttery smooth now.

This has got to be one of my favorite knives (and I'm a flipper-nut, but this one kicks the 0561 out of the pocket a lot now that I can deploy it easily).

So... have no fear, it will definitely loosen up and start to fly out with authority.

Very happy with this knife.
 
this mirrors my experience with my 0550 exactly. it seemed very hard to open at first, but the combination of learning to keep pressure off the lock bar and a little break in has made mine extremely enjoyable to flip. i even have the pivot tightened slightly to the Ti side and it is still buttery smooth and faster than almost all of my SpeedSafe models. i don't have a 056X to compare it to yet, but i can't wait to see what adding KVT and a flipper to the same basic design can do when i finally get my hands on one.
 
Last edited:
Kinda weird I've owned at least 7, and have never had a problem with deployment/smoothness not even on the 2 blems I owned.
 
espnazi said:
Kinda weird I've owned at least 7, and have never had a problem with deployment/smoothness not even on the 2 blems I owned.
Click to expand...

I'm no thumb-stud wuss, and would never complain about it or anything, but it was pretty friggin stiff. Mine has a 1538 serial number (and I have no idea if the earlier non-laser-cut lockbar models were as stiff), but when everyone else was complaining about the 056X detent, I just thought "I don't have any issues - it's a little stiff to deploy with thumb-studs alone, but it's possible".

This 0551 was waaaaaaay more stiff than that.
 
My 0551 is brutal sometimes to open; I may need to do a tear down and clean and lube the beast. :D

I'll be interested to see what the 0560 is like when I receive it...

Honestly, my thumb is killing me from trying to break in the action on my 0551 and I'm used to folders with strong detents/actions.
 
Mine wasnt too bad but it came to me used. Once i got used to the knife it became lightening fast. I thi k most knives have a learning curve when they are new. Gotta develope a hand positioning memory or something.
 
Mine could have been called a little stiff right out of the box. But it smoothed up satisfactorily within about 10 openings. Works for me.
What was bothersome was the clip. I would have had a serious problem with this knife if the clip had not been reversible to tip-down. It was very irritating when opening OR closing the knife. Now with it on the other end, it even carries better in the pocket that way.
 
rockspyder said:
Mine could have been called a little stiff right out of the box. But it smoothed up satisfactorily within about 10 openings. Works for me.
What was bothersome was the clip. I would have had a serious problem with this knife if the clip had not been reversible to tip-down. It was very irritating when opening OR closing the knife. Now with it on the other end, it even carries better in the pocket that way.
Click to expand...

x1000 on the clip position. it is so much more comfortable to hold with the clip mounted for tip down carry and i feel my thumb falls more naturally on to the stud when i remove it from my pocket that way. having the clip at the top also helps keep pressure off the lockbar while opening. i have often wondered why it didn't come from the factory that way, there seem to be so many advantages to flipping it.
 
I worked out a trade on a 0550 about two weeks ago. When it arrived, I almost sent it in for repair it was so stiff. It literally could not be opened one handed. Didn't matter how it was held. I've opened and closed it probably 1000 + times since I got it. Totally different knife now. Detent is still strong but blade can be deployed easily and is smooth as butter. I agree it is worth the effort to break it in. Just love it now.
 
Why don't you guys adjust the tension on the pivot if it was too stiff? I adjusted mine and it's perfect. Mine was about a half turn too loose for my liking.
 
jimmyjohnjohn said:
Why don't you guys adjust the tension on the pivot if it was too stiff? I adjusted mine and it's perfect. Mine was about a half turn too loose for my liking.
Click to expand...

It's about the detent, not the pivot-tension (at least with mine). Also, I don't like an overly-loose pivot on a frame-lock knife (and adjusting the pivot didn't really help mine).
 
Mine is stiff everywhere, pivot and detent. Heck.., especially the detent. I could not flip open the blade when there's a finger rest anywhere on the upper half of lock bar.

I like the blade hanging freely on its own weight. But in order to do that, I need to back out pivot screw a bit and that makes the blade end up not being centered.

Funny thing is the detent didn't act that way before. When I first got it pivot point was stronger than detent pressure. Now after couple of thousand flips and bruised fingers later, the detent is impossible to over come.. I sent it back yesterday, still waiting for their findings. :(
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top