Is a bent washer actually a big deal?

A

amngwlvs

Joined
Jan 21, 2020
Messages
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So last night I took apart my small 21 PJ Insingo to give it a good cleaning after doing some yard work with it and during reassembly my thumb slipped off the lock bar while the small lock bar side washer was out of position and it bent it. After cursing a bunch I took the knife apart and attempted to flatten the washer out by hand (which proved far easier than I expected) before pressing and flipping and pressing again by hand on a table to flatten the washer as best I could. I lubed and reassembled the knife and much to my surprise I can't feel any difference... Lock up is solid and blade is perfectly centered and has no play.

Doing some googling I came across everything from send it back and wait 3 months to have the washers replaced, to a bent washer can do irreversible damage to your knife, to head down to the hardware store and get another washer. I know CRK won't (likely) send me washers but after the first 21 PJ Insingo I ordered online was seized and destroyed by the Canadian Border Services Agency I don't think I'm willing to risk losing a second over a $1 washer. It took me months and a 13 hour round trip drive to find one in Canada in the configuration I wanted so I don't want to chance it if I don't absolutely have to.

So if the knife still seems just fine after flattening it back, how big a deal is bending a washer?
 
Not a big deal at all. Washers are pretty pliable so if you reflattened it, I wouldn’t worry about sending it in or ordering a new one. Some people are just super anal and would rather send the whole knife back for repair for something that takes 5 minutes to fix. To each there own though
 
Yeah I wouldnt worry about it. I wouldnt send it back unless it developed blade play.
 
Thanks for the replies guys! While I can appreciate tight tolerances as much as anyone in this thread, having a bent washer render a knife unusable seemed strange to me yet most threads I found said to send it back and I don't think one I saw said to just keep using it. But, that's what I'll do. I'd rather wear it out prematurely because of a bent washer and use than have it hit the bin or some ones pocket at the border.

Thanks for the input!
 
amngwlvs said:
Thanks for the replies guys! While I can appreciate tight tolerances as much as anyone in this thread, having a bent washer render a knife unusable seemed strange to me yet most threads I found said to send it back and I don't think one I saw said to just keep using it. But, that's what I'll do. I'd rather wear it out prematurely because of a bent washer and use than have it hit the bin or some ones pocket at the border.

Thanks for the input!
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Yah and chances are even if you didnt get it perfectly flat, tightening the pivot down after reassembly probably flattened it the rest of the way. It'll wear the same as any other sebenza, I wouldnt worry about it. Use it and enjoy it!
 
I’ve bent washers and salvaged ‘em before. I also dorked one up that I couldn’t salvage.

If the knife is back together and functioning to your satisfaction, I’d agree you’re fine.
 
Sharpoholic said:
Yah and chances are even if you didnt get it perfectly flat, tightening the pivot down after reassembly probably flattened it the rest of the way. It'll wear the same as any other sebenza, I wouldnt worry about it. Use it and enjoy it!
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I certainly will, thanks again!

BD_01 said:
I’ve bent washers and salvaged ‘em before. I also dorked one up that I couldn’t salvage.

If the knife is back together and functioning to your satisfaction, I’d agree you’re fine.
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Back together and working as good as always so it's back in the pocket for another day! Thanks for your thoughts.
 
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