Help! Rockstead blade rock?

C

crk1984

Basic Member
Joined
Nov 19, 2023
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356
Hey all, i have a rockstead shin, and its been well used. Problem is.. the blade moves side to side ever so slighly when open. If it was only when folded closed, id be irritated, but its open and closed is unacceptable to me. Theres no exposed pivot, and i do not know how to dissasemble the knife (Ive tried taking the visable screws out, and its not coming. I dont want to just "pry" it open, although if thats the way, thats the way. I bought it used, and really dont want to have to ship it to japan (if they would even touch it!)

Anyone taken this apart, or know what i can do?

Thank you!
 
Looks like below the ray inlay is the pivot or last screw holding the knife together, by the sound of it, you have used the knife enough that it develops play because of a loose screw.
Last I saw in this forum, rockstead does not have a good record for second hand owners so you have nothing to lose by attempting a fix yourself.

I'm just a enthusiast but if you are really worried about scratches,I would cover all the aluminum scales in tape and right below the ray skin, and see if the skin is loose enough, if not, I would take a heat gun to try to loosen it, then use one of those plastic prybars to lift it to allow access to tighten the pivot and remove play.
 
Herzav said:
Looks like below the ray inlay is the pivot or last screw holding the knife together, by the sound of it, you have used the knife enough that it develops play because of a loose screw.
Last I saw in this forum, rockstead does not have a good record for second hand owners so you have nothing to lose by attempting a fix yourself.

I'm just a enthusiast but if you are really worried about scratches,I would cover all the aluminum scales in tape and right below the ray skin, and see if the skin is loose enough, if not, I would take a heat gun to try to loosen it, then use one of those plastic prybars to lift it to allow access to tighten the pivot and remove play.
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I've removed the ray, there's nothing there sadly (im gonna refinish the scales once i get this done anyhow.)

Really appreciate the input!
 
crk1984 said:
I've removed the ray, there's nothing there sadly (im gonna refinish the scales once i get this done anyhow.)

Really appreciate the input!
Click to expand...

With all the screws out, have you tried separating both sides of scales? The pivots might be encased inside instead, I didn't find a video for your particular model but one for a beetle in which the model is similar enough.

Not related to the matter at hand, but now is a good time to fit a new inlay there, especially if the original one is worn out ;)
 
Herzav said:
With all the screws out, have you tried separating both sides of scales? The pivots might be encased inside instead, I didn't find a video for your particular model but one for a beetle in which the model is similar enough.

Not related to the matter at hand, but now is a good time to fit a new inlay there, especially if the original one is worn out ;)
Click to expand...
A man thinking like myself! I ordered new ray leather (in a different color). I've already ruined the "resale" (i don't care, i use my knives), so im gonna make it my own
 
The pivot is below the ray skin -- I think it's a smooth round head on one side with no purchase and the bolt on the other. There used to be a video of how to remove it, but I can no longer find it.

Rockstead should be able to give you a quick answer on how to remove it.
 
Twindog said:
The pivot is below the ray skin -- I think it's a smooth round head on one side with no purchase and the bolt on the other. There used to be a video of how to remove it, but I can no longer find it.

Rockstead should be able to give you a quick answer on how to remove it.
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The pivot is not exposed under the ray skin. Ive removed that already. It must be under the shell, which is what im attempting to do. Rockstead wants me to ship it back to them, im afraid.

Thanks!
Screenshot-20240820-201717-Gallery.jpg
 
If it’s the same as the SHU is beneath the handle. After unscrewing the body screws just gently finesse the sides apart. The SHIN has a liner lock if I remember correctly so reassembly should be much easier than a button lock.
1724205663164.jpeg
 
Back in 2017, we had this discussion. I posted a photo of the Kou, which is the smaller version of the Shin. I think it was someone in England who had done the pivot adjustment. He removed the ray skin and found the pivot. Sadly, that photo is now missing from the thread. I can't remember any more.
 
Here and there I see a product and it looks like the designer/constructor wanted to do something different ... something awesome never done before.... like... let's hide the pivot screw.....it wil be fun and awesome. I wonder who approved this design. I'm sure it was not a mechanical engineer.
Well, very unpractical. I wonder why they used screws and didn't just glue everything together.
Huh, I just checked the price....uhhh...what can I say... if you have the money to buy it then you have the money to send it to those morons who designed this knife.
 
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On the shin you shouldn’t have to remove the inlays.

The knife has a captive pivot that seats in the frame and is one sided. If you take it apart there should be a pen mark denoting it was tightened and or where it’s tightened too.

You can always add some tension if need be. But they are bronze washers and like most knives on washers there can be little side to side play. But it shouldn’t have any when locked up.

Also ensure if you do disassemble just put the pivot bushing back in the same way it came out, the chamfer does matter.

And yes rockstead will work on an off warranty knife and it isn’t as horrendously exspensive as you think it is.
 
TheOne45 said:
Here and there I see a product and it looks like the designer/constructor wanted to do something different ... something awesome never done before.... like... let's hide the pivot screw.....it wil be fun and awesome. I wonder who approved this design. I'm sure it was not a mechanical engineer.
Well, very unpractical. I wonder why they used screws and didn't just glue everything together.
Huh, I just checked the price....uhhh...what can I say... if you have the money to buy it then you have the money to send it to those morons who designed this knife.
Click to expand...
Well.. thanks for crapping on a knife and adding nothing helpful.
 
badmatt said:
On the shin you shouldn’t have to remove the inlays.

The knife has a captive pivot that seats in the frame and is one sided. If you take it apart there should be a pen mark denoting it was tightened and or where it’s tightened too.

You can always add some tension if need be. But they are bronze washers and like most knives on washers there can be little side to side play. But it shouldn’t have any when locked up.

Also ensure if you do disassemble just put the pivot bushing back in the same way it came out, the chamfer does matter.

And yes rockstead will work on an off warranty knife and it isn’t as horrendously exspensive as you think it is.
Click to expand...
Thank you.
 
TheOne45 said:
Here and there I see a product and it looks like the designer/constructor wanted to do something different ... something awesome never done before.... like... let's hide the pivot screw.....it wil be fun and awesome. I wonder who approved this design. I'm sure it was not a mechanical engineer.
Well, very unpractical. I wonder why they used screws and didn't just glue everything together.
Huh, I just checked the price....uhhh...what can I say... if you have the money to buy it then you have the money to send it to those morons who designed this knife.
Click to expand...
Got any….. Uhm…… more…… dumb….. pauses available for your post of nothingness?
 
TheOne45 said:
Here and there I see a product and it looks like the designer/constructor wanted to do something different ... something awesome never done before.... like... let's hide the pivot screw.....it wil be fun and awesome. I wonder who approved this design. I'm sure it was not a mechanical engineer.
Well, very unpractical. I wonder why they used screws and didn't just glue everything together.
Huh, I just checked the price....uhhh...what can I say... if you have the money to buy it then you have the money to send it to those morons who designed this knife.
Click to expand...

Easy there friend. Curious what manufacturers you feel are so superior and in what ways?
 
scorpnsnake said:
Easy there friend. Curious what manufacturers you feel are so superior and in what ways?
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Yeah, I know.
I thought only this Rockstead knife has hidden pivot screw but when I was looking Rockstead folding knives I saw all of them have the same design anomaly of flaw, if we look from maintenance stand point.
I suppose the designer thought they will look neat and something special with hidden screw, but I think they are just unpractical this way. If I'm honest those Rockstead knives with plastic handles and hidden pivot screws look somehow cheap to me.
What manufacturers are superior?
Those one who don't hide screws + don't use 'specially designed' screws so average Joe needs to buy a special expensive tool to maintain the knife?
 
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