Hinderer Eklipse detent too tight?

Mchad65

Mchad65

Joined
Mar 20, 2022
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I picked up my first Hinderer last week. It’s an eklipse tri-way non-flipper. I selected a non flipper specifically because I tried a different brand flipper once and the tab would grab my hand as I dug around my pocket for keys, chapstick, etc. (yes, all my knives have pocket scars).

Anyway, even if my life depended on it, I can’t get the damn blade to open with the thumbstud without at least three tries. Maybe it’s the angle I’m just not getting? Or I suspect the detent is too tight. I can flick open every other knife I have, MT Socom’s, CRK’s, Spyderco’s (of course), but this Hinderer is making my thumb raw from trying.

Anyone seen this or have any suggestions?
 

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From here it looks like it has a liner lock or possibly frame lock. Disassemble the knife and loosen the lock.
 
Long story short: it's not tight

It's down to technique, I've never been able to open any of my Hinderers with the stud, I got a Microtech Socom Elite early December and I had the exact same issue. I typically set my thumb over the stud and push outwards, but with the Socom and Hinderers that got me nowhere. I decided to jam my thumb in the groove between the stud and scale, and use the scale as leverage to push on the stud and lo and behold it popped open like nobody's business. With about 10 minutes of practice I was able to pop it open 10/10 times without even thinking about it. Decided to try the same technique on Hinderers and it worked there just as good. Here's a picture showing how I position my thumb on my Socom, works the same way on my Eklipe and XM-18.

1UPD5Ud.jpg



It's not a detent issue, it's a technique issue.
 
Mchad65 said:
Thanks for the reply. It’s a frame lock. So it would have to be bent outwards I guess?
Click to expand...
If the frame lock is the same as on other knives it has a small ball and on the blade there is a hole where this ball sits.
On the second thought, perhaps the knife just needs a break-in period.
Just use it for some time and see, if it gets better after some number of open/close action.
 
Kryme said:
Long story short: it's not tight

It's down to technique, I've never been able to open any of my Hinderers with the stud, I got a Microtech Socom Elite early December and I had the exact same issue. I typically set my thumb over the stud and push outwards, but with the Socom and Hinderers that got me nowhere. I decided to jam my thumb in the groove between the stud and scale, and use the scale as leverage to push on the stud and lo and behold it popped open like nobody's business. With about 10 minutes of practice I was able to pop it open 10/10 times without even thinking about it. Decided to try the same technique on Hinderers and it worked there just as good. Here's a picture showing how I position my thumb on my Socom, works the same way on my Eklipe and XM-18.
It's not a detent issue, it's a technique issue.
Click to expand...
I get that, but like I said I also have a Socom (Elite and Bravo) and have had no issue with them, even brand new and not broken in. I did read that some say to follow the curve of the frame when pushing, which seems to help. However it still seems too stiff. I will take the advice here and adjust my technique. However it’s just odd that it is so different from every other knife I own. Kinda makes it hard when you have muscle memory from opening knives for decades and then have to alter your technique for ONE knife. Maybe I’m just a simpleton, but I’m not thrilled with that.

As to the other suggestions, no I’m not squeezing or gripping the frame lock bar with any real pressure.

I’m going to work it for a while and see if I can get used to it.

Thanks
 
Is the flipper remove DIY ? Hinderer does do weaker detents for non-flippers, compared to flippers - even they need a while to break in.
 
Mchad65 said:
I get that, but like I said I also have a Socom (Elite and Bravo) and have had no issue with them, even brand new and not broken in. I did read that some say to follow the curve of the frame when pushing, which seems to help. However it still seems too stiff. I will take the advice here and adjust my technique. However it’s just odd that it is so different from every other knife I own. Kinda makes it hard when you have muscle memory from opening knives for decades and then have to alter your technique for ONE knife. Maybe I’m just a simpleton, but I’m not thrilled with that.

As to the other suggestions, no I’m not squeezing or gripping the frame lock bar with any real pressure.

I’m going to work it for a while and see if I can get used to it.

Thanks
Click to expand...
You're not wrong, they are a bit overdone on the detent, I completely agree. Especially the ones with Kim Johnson's signature, he seems to like them detents HARD. I'm coming from Spydercos, Benchmades and CRKs where I'd just slowly roll out the blade, a completely different movement. Unless you have really strong thumbs I don't see a way to overcome the detent on Hinderers in a slow controlled manner. Previous gens were critiqued for weak detents, I wanna think Hinderer just went "I'll give 'em a weak detent..." and did them like this out of spite. It makes them great as flip/flick knives, but in some cases it requires learning a new skill for people like me. Anyway, here's a vidya of me hopefully demonstrating my technique in a way that makes more sense than my instructions. I'm not dismissing the possibility that your detent might be too stiff, just give it a chance. I've always used the flippers, but once I figured that trick out I kinda get why people opt for non-flipper Hinderers (the flipper shape sucks tbh).

https://imgur.com/rBDGo5p
 
TheOne45 said:
Oh, my bad. It looked to me, like you were struggling to open the knife.
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As mentioned it’s technique. I would pretty much garuntee your putting pressure on the lockbar. I found it difficult at first as well. Takes some figuring out. I’ve found having the clip in the tip down position helps. Then use your index finger in the lock bar relief to hold the knife when opening. I actually flick my hinderers instead of flipping. Once ya figure it out they fly open.
 
TheOne45 said:
From here it looks like it has a liner lock or possibly frame lock. Disassemble the knife and loosen the lock.
Click to expand...
This is generally bad advice and can cause other issues.

If you don't REALLY know what you're doing and why it matters, this should not be done. It certainly shouldn't be the first thing tried.
 
Any time I read "this is my first xxx" I know 99% of the times it's the user issues rather than the said knife's. Others have covered But again, you should not press the lockbar and you should push the thumbstud forward Instead of out.
 
TheOne45 said:
Oh, my bad. It looked to me, like you were struggling to open the knife.
Click to expand...

No, I was trying to demonstrate the motion of pushing my thumb off the scale, using it as leverage. After I got that technique down I was able to pop medfords open with ease too, even though their studs are even less intended to be used for opening the knives.

J. Doyle said:
This is generally bad advice and can cause other issues.

If you don't REALLY know what you're doing and why it matters, this should not be done. It certainly shouldn't be the first thing tried.
Click to expand...

Bend it too much and you end up with wet noodle detent, bend it back and you risk cracks/breaking the lockbar or making things worse. Weaker lockbar pressure might also make the lockup prone to slip/rock, it's generally a bad idea to mess with that. It also requires you to remove the lockbar insert, which is machined to fit that exact blade, and there's no guarantee you'll be able to put it back exactly the same way it was - potentially risking lock-up issues too.

My advice would be to just practice, there's definitely a break-in period or you just develop the strength/muscle memory to compensate.
 
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