Impinda Issues - Has Anyone Else Seen This?

[m.and]

I just received my second Impinda today. I sold the first one without giving it a fair trial and I picked up another here on the forums to try out again.

When I opened it the first couple of times I found the action to be a little stiff and every time I let it "snap" closed it would bounce back ever so slightly.

As I tend to do with most Chris Knives I buy second hand I disassembled it, cleaned it and reassembled it. Upon reassembling it I noticed a considerable gap between the clip-side handle scale and the back spring. I disassembled it again and checked for pinched washers, but did not see any sign so I swapped the washers side to side but the gap was still present on the original side.

After breaking it down reassembling it for a third time the action seemed better and the blade was centered, but after a few times opening and closing it I noticed the pivot was loosening itself to the point that the blade had extreme side to side play.

I followed Tim's instructional video step-by-by from the very beginning, but I cannot seem to resolve this issue. Has anyone else experienced this with the Impinda?

I also contacted CRK and hopefully they will have a fix that does not require me to send the knife back.

Here's a picture of the gap.

Best,
Matthew

 

[fishface5]

That is not right. Could the backspring be bent?

 

[m.and]

That is not right. Could the backspring be bent?

I think I was able to rule out the handle scales, back spring or stop pin as the source because I was able to assemble it without blade and washers with no gap. It has to be something with blade and/or washers.

 

[fishface5]

Mmm not necessarily, if there is no blade to push against the spring a bent spring might be able to compress into place. Might be fine, but worth checking it on a flat surface anyway. Also try assembling closed vs open and see if the gap appears in both. Other thoughts: does the stop pin sit exactly perpendicular coming out of each handle scale individually? Is there any obstruction to the pivot screwing together 100% tight when separated from the scales? Are the washers 100% flat?

 

[m.and]

Mmm not necessarily, if there is no blade to push against the spring a bent spring might be able to compress into place. Might be fine, buy worth checking it on a flat surface anyway. Also try assembling closed vs open and see if the gap appears in both.

Thanks for the suggestions. I’ll try them and report back.

 

[Wavicle]

Are you getting the stop pin properly set in the scales?

 

[m.and]

Are you getting the stop pin properly set in the scales?

I’m pretty sure but I’ll double check that too.

 

[jumpstat]

IMO it looks like the scales are not seated properly. You could swap the 2 back screws and see whether it matches the scales better.

 

[m.and]

IMO it looks like the scales are not seated properly. You could swap the 2 back screws and see whether it matches the scales better.

I hadn’t thought of that but I’ll try it as well.

 

[m.and]

Thanks to everyone who has commented so far. I have tried everything recommended here and nothing has worked. I’m starting to think the clip side scale might not be perfectly flat. But thinking back on inspecting it before I first disassembled it - I don’t believe there were any gaps on either side of the spring.

Needless to say I’m a bit frustrated.

 

[Ajack60]

I’ve yet to take mine apart, so a couple of questions.
Did you check the slabs to make sure they are flat ? Does the stop pin have shoulders that fit into the slabs or are the holes the same size as the stop pin ? Is it possible that something may be in the stop pin hole that’s causing it not to seat in ?

 

[m.and]

I’ve yet to take mine apart, so a couple of questions.
Did you check the slabs to make sure they are flat ? Does the stop pin have shoulders that fit into the slabs or are the holes the same size as the stop pin ? Is it possible that something may be in the stop pin hole that’s causing it not to seat in ?

The stop pin is shoulderless and seats fairly easily into the holes. Every time I've assembled it I've checked to make sure there is nothing in either of the stop pin holes.

I am beginning to think the clip side scale may not be perfectly flat. I'll post a photo later showing what I see.

The more frustrating issue is that the pivot starts to loosen itself after a few times opening and closing the knife. I did find a video from Archman (haven't watched his videos in a while) where he received an Impinda with the exact same issue. He sent it back to CRK and it was returned in perfect working order, but they said nothing was wrong with it.

 

[m.and]

Here's an image of the handle assembled without the blade, pivot or stop pin and there is still a gap, which lads me to believe the issue is with the scale.

But could this also be causing the issue with the pivot loosening?

 

[BD_01]

I’m starting to think the clip side scale might not be perfectly flat.

I won’t say that’s impossible.

I had a 21 that wouldn’t center. I sent it in not knowing why.

Before it came back from Boise, the delightful woman that does their front-line CS (blanking on her name) told me the original scale was slightly warped. She said it was exceedingly rare.

 

[m.and]

I won’t say that’s impossible.

I had a 21 that wouldn’t center. I sent it in not knowing why.

Before it came back from Boise, the delightful woman that does their front-line CS (blanking on her name) told me the original scale was slightly warped. She said it was exceedingly rare.

Thanks for your input. I’m now also wondering if the washer cutout might be the culprit. Here’s a picture showing that the washer may not be seating flush with the inside of the handle surface. Swapping washers makes no difference.

 

[Ajack60]

I think you you hit it. Did it have that gap when you first received it that you can recall ?
If not, I’m wondering if the washers are the issue, were they difficult to take out, like some of the pocket clips that are a pain to remove.

 

[m.and]

I think you you hit it. Did it have that gap when you first received it that you can recall ?
If not, I’m wondering if the washers are the issue, were they difficult to take out, like some of the pocket clips that are a pain to remove.

If I recall there was a very, very small gap on either side (it's something I always check with slipjoints), but not nearly as noticeable as this one.
I know what you mean about some of the clips almost being press fit in, but the washers were not at all hard to remove.

 

[Ajack60]

If I recall there was a very, very small gap on either side (it's something I always check with slipjoints), but not nearly as noticeable as this one.
I know what you mean about some of the clips almost being press fit in, but the washers were not at all hard to remove.

That leads me to believe it's something you did to cause the gap. I don't mean that in a bad way, I'm just trying to understand what it could be because sooner or later I'm going to have to take mine apart.
In the last pic of the washer, it looks like the washer is tilted in the recess.

 

[m.and]

That leads me to believe it's something you did to cause the gap. I don't mean that in a bad way, I'm just trying to understand what it could be because sooner or later I'm going to have to take mine apart.
In the last pic of the washer, it looks like the washer is tilted in the recess.

No offense taken. If I did something to cause it initially (and every time since) I can't for the life of me figure out what it was. I watched Tim's video before starting the process and while I was doing the disassembly. The break down and reassembly of this knife is actually pretty easy and straightforward, probably more so than the Sebenza.

The crazy thing is, the reason I disassembled it in the first place was to try and improve the action; and it did greatly.

Perhaps there is something I'm missing or not doing quite right which is why I contacted CRK, hoping they could shine some light on the issues, but I have yet to hear back from them.

And based on the video I attached, I'm not the first person to encounter this exact problem.

I really like the knife, but I don't want to be afraid of messing it up whenever I need to do some maintenance on it.

 

[Kiteman72]

I'm the kind of fella that has a little trouble admitting when a knife is giving me problems, but I wanted to just chime in and say I have encountered these troubles you describe as well.

I'm afraid I'm not going to be much help, but when I managed to get the knife to someone who could reassemble it for me, my pivot got loc-tited down. I wanted to just love my new knife but it gets carried hardly at all.

So I wanted you to know you aren't alone and I wish I could be more help. Good Luck!