Heh, try the simple things first....

[MacTech]

Over the weekend i picked up a Kershaw Vapor II, my first "non mainstream" knife* (i.e., not a Buck, Gerber, Victorinox/etc....) and overall, i really like it, nice smooth action, a little stiff, to the point that using the thumbstud was a little painful (yes, i've been flicking it open/closed constantly, is that so wrong? ), i was actually contemplating returning it due to the overly stiff action.....

then, today at work, i was looking at the back of the knife, and found a Torx head screw going thru the center pivot of the blade.....

i wonder...

a couple half-turns of the Torx later, and the action is nice and smooth, no resistance, easy to thumbflick open, yet still has a "bias towards closed", the thumbstud no longer digs into my thumb, all it took was a fraction of a turn to loosen up the blade a little, just enough to make opening easier, and no slop in the blade has been introduced

i really like the fact that the Vapor is user-adjustable, and field-strippable with a jewelers Phillips and Torx 10

to think, i was ready to return the Kershaw for a problem that was fixed with a half-turn of a screw....


*followed no less than 24 hours later by a used, but in excellent condition Spyderco Endura

 

[Hair]

Most folders have an adjustable pivot. It is nothing unique. Once you find a setting you like, consider lock-tite. Also, if the action is too tight, instead of loosening the pivot, try some lube.

Also, I think most people here would consider Kershaw very mainstream. It is one of the 4 or 5 most popular brands and readily available at Wal*Mart.

 

[MacTech]

Well, i guess that shows how sheltered a knife-user i've been, until last weekend, i had *never* heard of Kershaw, since i personally avoid shopping at wally-world if i can help it (not a fan of their predatory/anticompetitive techniques, but that's the subject of a different rant thread...) it makes sense that i never encountered Kershaw before, and *none* of my lockback knives had user-adjustable anything....

i've aways known about the Spideys, but they were always "too expensive" for me, i currently can't see spending more than $50 for a knife, but i know that'll change as i become addicted, it did with my flashaholism, never thought i'd spend more than $25 for a flashlight, until i encountered SureFires, now spending $60 for a 6P is a non-issue....

so, when i had a chance to buy a used, but excellent condition Endura (a little cosmetic wear on the pocket clip and lanyard hole paint, but that'll happen anyway) for $35, i jumped at the chance, glad i did, as i now understand the attraction of the "scary sharp" Spideys......

 

[Psychopomp]

You've got a good start there. The Vapor II is a great little knife. I carried one as a beater for about a year, but quit after the weight became an issue (I was carrying about a pound of crap in my pockets).

The only problem with the Vapor is the edge grind (at least on mine) was so obtuse that it was very difficult to sharpen. I had to reprofile the cutting edge down to something a little more acceptable (for my tastes anyway). It took a lot of work too. Kershaw's AUS-6 seems to be pretty hard, but it's the only knife I own in AUS-6 so I don't really have a comparasion. The only other Kershaw I have is in ATS-55, and it sharpens easily.

You'll enjoy that Spyderco, and VG-10 is excellent steel (my favorite).

 

[toto]

so, when i had a chance to buy a used, but excellent condition Endura (a little cosmetic wear on the pocket clip and lanyard hole paint, but that'll happen anyway) for $35, i jumped at the chance, glad i did, as i now understand the attraction of the "scary sharp" Spideys......

You'll really like the Endura. Next to the Calypso Jr. it's my favorite Spydie, but they're 2 completely different knives. I just have a real love for Spyderco knives. I've found their designs, steels and customer service to be first rate in every respect. Not that I have anything anything against Kershaw, mind you. I have a fair number of Kershaw knives, too.

 

[MacTech]

Well, i ran into a little snag on the Vapor, after i loosened it up, it made a sort of "scrape-y" noise when i stowed the blade back in the body, sure enough i inspected it, and the blade was rubbing on the right hand side of the frame, when i squeezed the top of the knife, the blade moved to center, so i tightened it back up to center the blade....

looks like i'll have to build up some calluses on my "flickin' Thumb"

or find a way to put some form of soft silicone compound on top of the thumbstud

oh well, it's a learning experience....

 

[Woodsy]

Try lubricant,I use break free ,wall mart carries it among others,alot of knife manufactores recommend it.After a spray of that work it in buy opening and closeing the knife several times and I gurantee you will get it to open smoother,and faster.

 

[JPD1998]

Well, i ran into a little snag on the Vapor, after i loosened it up, it made a sort of "scrape-y" noise when i stowed the blade back in the body, sure enough i inspected it, and the blade was rubbing on the right hand side of the frame, when i squeezed the top of the knife, the blade moved to center, so i tightened it back up to center the blade....

looks like i'll have to build up some calluses on my "flickin' Thumb"

or find a way to put some form of soft silicone compound on top of the thumbstud

oh well, it's a learning experience....

I had a similar experience with a Benchmade Snipe I got last week. It too needed a lot of pressure to open. I found that a slight adjustment was all I could make or the blade would rub the liner as I applied thumb pressure. So I was only able to loosen the screw less than a 16th of a turn and as Woodsy recommended above , I used a quality lube ( I use Militec-1 ). It's much better and no rubbing...
BTW , try a Kershaw assisted knife like the Leek, Scallion or Chive, they're fun to play with. You can get a Scallion or a Chive for about $30.00.

 

[Hair]

*none* of my lockback knives had user-adjustable anything....

That makes sense. Lackbacks tend to use pressed, unadjustable rivets. Even many Spydercos and other higher-end lockbacks. But they are the exception rather than the rule. You'll see a lot more adjustable pivots (even in low-end knives), if you get more into liner and frame locks.

i've aways known about the Spideys, but they were always "too expensive" for me, i currently can't see spending more than $50 for a knife, but i know that'll change as i become addicted, it did with my flashaholism, never thought i'd spend more than $25 for a flashlight, until i encountered SureFires, now spending $60 for a 6P is a non-issue....

The Spyderco Native is 40 bucks and a great bargain. Buy it if you want to get addicted. Stay away if you don't. If you don't want to get the Native at Wal*Mart, New Graham Knives also sells them for around 40 bucks. The Vapor is a great knife for the money, and there is nothing wrong with wanting to stay under a certain price. We all do it. We all just draw different lines.

Here's a list of great knife bargains I put together with a ton of help from people on this forum. It's not the whole list, just up to your 50-dollar limit. The Vapor isn't on it, but I will add it.

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$10 and less:

CRKT Ryan Plan B (http://www.eknifeworks.com/)
Old Hickory kitchen knives
Opinel knives on Internet
Central Valley Wholesale SAKs

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$20:

Victorinox SAK
Ka-bar Dozier
Buck 110 set at WalMart ($22)
Boker Magnum chinese made slipjoints
Mora-style knives (http://www.ragweedforge.com/SwedishKnifeCatalog.html)
Browning Sportsman knives (Ebay)
Benchmade Pika and Mini-Pika (as low as $25)
Benchmade Benchmite II (http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store_detail.html?s=BM10610)
Spyderco Byrd series
CRKT Rollock 1 (http://www.gpknives.com/item/Columbia-River-Rollock-Blue.html)
AG Russell Hunters Scalpel
Vintage Bruckmann knives, common on eBay in mint condition for $20-$40
Buck Taclite Linerlock w/ Wood Laminate Handles (http://www.eknifeworks.com/)

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$30:

Buck Mayo Hilo
Benchmade Monochrome
AG Russell Featherlite AUS 8 for $35
Timberline Envoy
USA-made Schrade Old Timers
Buck 119
Buck Nighthawk
Polkowski/Kasper Companion by CRKT

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$40:

Spyderco Native at Walmart
Buck Strider 889 for $45 on ebay
Buck Rush
Spyderco Endura and Delica in VG-10 for $40 - $50
BKT BK-7
CRKT M16s and M21s
Spyderco Centofante
Kershaw Centofante
Kershaw Chive
Kershaw Leek
Kershaw Scallion

so, when i had a chance to buy a used, but excellent condition Endura (a little cosmetic wear on the pocket clip and lanyard hole paint, but that'll happen anyway) for $35, i jumped at the chance, glad i did, as i now understand the attraction of the "scary sharp" Spideys......

Yep, that was a good deal to jump on. But you can have several Spydercos and Byrd (their import line) knives new for under 40 bucks, too. Not that they would be a better deal than your Endura. They'll just give you more Spyderco access for prices you are willing to pay. Don't feel that you have to hunt for used Spydercos to get one for less than 50 bucks. They make some great budget knives.