How to improve Damascus Elementum slow action?

[JustusFoure]

I got my friend and father in law a Civivi Elementum - so, I needed one myself of course. I went ahead and purchased the D2 Damascus with carbon fiber scales (my first Damascus blade actually), and while it LOOKS great, the action is notably less impressive than the others.

In taking it apart I remembered that they use ball bearings (cool), so I can't polish the washers.
Also, I notice both the bearings and the detent (I think they are carbide?) are not polishing but cutting into the steal - after just a few months.

So I wonder if I can glean some wisdom on how I might improve the action
-will lubing the bearings help?
-I haven't tried just loosening the pivot nut yet, and I will (I keep my bm 940 loose enough to have a but of rattle, but I like the way it flies).
-it seems the main problem is the bearings and detent. Nothing I can do about the cutting (would the D2 Damascus be just more porous/topographical and resist more? Or perhaps softer and thus cut more easily??) - but should I try bending out the lock arm a bit to reduce tension? Is that the perfectly good or even right answer, or is that a classic mistake that ruins the knife?

I've seen this problem online on multiple Damascus Elementums, but all the other models I've handled have that blissful buttery flight... Am I just stuck with sticky action?

Thanks!

 

[c7m2p3]

1. I would check if it is actually CUTTING into the steel or rather just scratching off the finish. If there is black or some kind of finish or coating on the blade where the detent interacts with the blade that may need some time to wear in.

2. Another thing you could try would be to stiffen the detent thus requiring more pressure to release the blade and that built up kinetic energy could make the action a bit more snappy.

 

[NCHornet]

Quality lube and lots of cycling should help it quite a bit. It won't be a night to day difference because it will happen over time which can make it hard to judge how much it has changed. Years ago I thought about creating a device that would cycle the knife a couple thousand times a minute that would speed the break in period up. I believe there are folks out there that would pay decent money to get their expensive blades back all broken in and working super slick. People like me, who actually use their knives on a daily basis wouldn't pay for this, breaking a new knife in is a process we enjoy. Again, just my .02.
NCH