How to loosen really tight blades.

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digger_006

Joined
Jun 16, 2011
Messages
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I have a few knives in my collection(I'm referring to new, unused)that the blades open with great difficulty. I'm sure this topic has been approached before, but none of the ones I've read about do much to really improve the opening and closing. I think I've tried every lubricant known to man....I did read of a tool called a "slackner", like a handled, tapered shim made of double shear steel that Ben Kelly,Jr. speaks of in his knife repair manual-says you have to make it yourself. Anything like this on the market? Thanks.
 
I always loosen the pivot, oil it with Shooter's Choice FP-10, and break it in. That seems to work every time for me.
 
Why not send them back to have it corrected...you said they're new? Is that what you expected of their actions as new knives? If not, have them fixed the right way, by their makers.
 
Most are not high end knives....seems if you could repair it yourself in a few minutes...it's better than a couple o f weeks waiting for the factory to loosen it. If it's a hard thing to repair or impossible, then I'd definitely send them back. I've not had the problem with high end knives-this would certainly be worth returning them. Sorry I didn't make myself clear.
 
digger_006 said:
Most are not high end knives....seems if you could repair it yourself in a few minutes...it's better than a couple o f weeks waiting for the factory to loosen it. If it's a hard thing to repair or impossible, then I'd definitely send them back. I've not had the problem with high end knives-this would certainly be worth returning them. Sorry I didn't make myself clear.
Click to expand...

pics would help.
 
I've gotten a Sebenza with a really tight blade, cleaning/relubing it didn't help, neither did loosening the pivot screw. If that is the case for you, the only thing to do is to send it back; it really shouldn't be like that. Now if it's a $5 walmart gerber blade, it might just be poorly constructed. My friend has a walmart gerber that I couldn't for the life of me thumb it open with one hand.
 
My 2 cents: Manufacturers of any products won't likely correct product defects if they are not made aware of them, and therefore will continue to produce defective merchandise. If you mess around trying to fix something, you'll likely void any warranty, or at best end up with a messed up knife. If you send it back to be fixed or replaced, you'll have a knife that functions as it should, and the manufacturer will be less likely to produce more with the same defects. It's how the system works. Accept crappy workmanship and service, and soon that's all that will avail itself to you. I guess it boils down to rather you choose to live in a disposable society, using and depending on junky throw away tools, or choose to use solid, dependable products that will last a lifetime. If nothing else, the later will save you trips to the store for replacements, if that's all that matters to you. I expect some degree of quality in the products I buy, no matter what the cost. If the manufacturers can't provide that, maybe they chose the wrong path.
 
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