Help, my Gerber became a Gravity Knife!

F

Francisp

Joined
Mar 27, 2002
Messages
174
My Old Gerber EZ out has bicome a gravity knife. About three weeks ago I put some WD-40 in the Axis and now it flips out eaisly with a snap of the wrist like a Gravity knife. It never did this before and now I am afraid to carry it. Have any of you had this problem? How do I fix it? I am now considering buying a replacement even more because of this :( Any help would be appreciated.
 
Wow, I'm surprised. Maybe this problem is less common than I thought. I remember one member having a similar problem but I guess he is not around.
 
The action on my EZ-Out was always smooth enough for it to be flicked open. That knife stays in my car clipped to my seatcover, though, so I'm not really worried about getting charged with possession for a gravity knife. Even when I used to carry it on me, I didn't really pay too much attention. I don't usually do anything to draw attention to the knife so I never worried.

-Z
 
NYC cops aren't really worried abotu knives unless you're doing something stupid anyway.

Do worry about it if you are prone to having run ins with the law, if you look like a vagrant, thug, gangsta or just simply like trouble.

No offense, but people are very susceptable to stereotypes and appearances, and cops are notoriously prone to them. Add an extra measure of security by tucking the knife completely out of sight... One thing though. If a cop really wanted to get you in trouble, whether or not the gerber can be flicked open is not going to be much of a factor.
 
Francisp, Francisp....didn't I tell you to chuck that EZOut? :rolleyes: :)

WD40 is not a preferred lube for knives. You should give the EZ a good washing with hot soap & water. use dishwashing liquid to break up and clean all the gunk that WD40 leaves. When it's all clean and dry, put in some White Lightening, or other qulity lube made especially for knives. WD is a great cleaner, de-ruster, not a good lube for tools. (PS: you put the lube in the "pivot" not the axis. Axis is a trademarked name for Benchmade locks)

Unless the blade actually comes out and locks open when you hold the handle steady, it's not a gravity knife. The EZ out actually has a staged opening, so it should offer some resistance to a pure "gravity" opening. Inertial opening (flicking)is sometthing else, and is not so clear cut, legally speaking.

Because I feel sorry for your EZout woes, and I think you really need to get a good knife into your hands to appreciate the difference...I'll repeat my earlier advice from a few weeks ago:

If you have $30 or so to spend on a knife, here's some free advice:
go over to www.eknifeworks.com and pick up one of these:

Spyderco Calypso Jr.
Spydrco Rookie
Cold Steel El Lobo
SOG Mini Auto-clip
CRKT Point Guard
CRKT Crawford/Kasper
CRKT M16

Any one of these are superior knives to the EZout. The first 4 on the list are FAR, FAR superior knives. Hold any one of them in your hand and I guarantee you will find a nice old toolbox or glove compartment for your Gerber to retire to.

Good luck.
 
Thanks for the advice and now it is Definitely getting replaced. YOu were right and its time for it to be retired. I was thinking about a Spyderco Endura or Delica. NYC says four inches and one is three and a half the other is three. I heard that some guy got convicted in 1987 in Ct. because his threa nd a half inch knife was aproximately four inches. Thanks a bunch.
 
Is that an ATS-34 Ez-Out with plain blade? I am looking to trade for one. Check out my post in the trade section.

I have a Opinel knife, the least sexiest of knives, that can be flicked open easily; I can flick and lock the twist lock all with one hand. Funny world isn't it?
 
I would never get rid of the EZ out. No its serated Carbon 450 and one of the originals. I don't carry my Opinel for the same reason. SOme guy was saying that Parks Department Officers (Federal officers) at the statrue of liberty confiscated hsi CKRT knives after he proved they could be flicked open like the Opinels or the EZ outs. Apparently they violate the federal switch blade or Gravity knife act.
 
Sounds to me like some Parks police got some nice toys to bring home. "confiscation" of that type has another name - theft under color of law. The flickability of a liner lock knife with a detent (CRKT knives have detents) and lockback (which are biasd to stay closed) has little to do with it's definition of a switchblade or gravity knife. Those guys stole someone else's property, plain & simple. CRKT actually had some trouble with US Customs last year, but they were exonerated. This is only one of the reasons I prefer lockbacks - they are made to stay closed.
 
Might not be worth the hassle for an inexpensive knife, but Blade magazine field Judge Lowell Bray has written a series of articles on knife laws. A flickable knife is not a switchblade under federal statutes. Blade might be able to point you in the right direction for help in gettiong a confiscated knife back. Just my $.02 worth.:D
 
tell you what, Francisp...I am so confident that if you go and buy any of the Spyderco's, CS, or SOG that I have listed and are not totally conviced that they are TWICE the knife that the EZ is, I will take it back in trade for my EZout (full size, 440 part serrated, like new and probably sharper than new after I put it on the Sharpmaker) +$10 cash to you, for good measure.
 
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