Is there a Strider doctor in the house?

popopine

popopine

Joined
May 13, 2009
Messages
341
Hey guys, i've carried a strider pt in my front pocket for 2 years now, and over time the lock bar has managed to move past center
to where it's almost 100% under the tang - like +97% covered (i can post a pic later). When i use the knife and squeeze the handle,
i can sometimes hear the bar squeak as it's gives a bit under the pressure. What does this mean?

Is my PT terminal?

Sniffle sniffle.
-Popo
 
If there's a problem, I think a lock bar can be bent back.
Doesn't sound like much of a problem.
Does the blade wiggle at all when locked?
 
gormandu said:
If there's a problem, I think a lock bar can be bent back.
Doesn't sound like much of a problem.
Does the blade wiggle at all when locked?
Click to expand...

hmm, I think it's more a matter of space in that the bar will travel over as far as the tang will allow, rather than how much bend the lock bar has... no?
 
Okay.. so why are worrying about a knife that locks up securely? :p
In the future, near or far, you will start getting blade play (wiggling) because the titanium has worn down too much or the lock really has bent too much. You can worry then, for now, you're good.
When this happens, it will be a very easy fix, and probably free if you send it to the maker to fix for you.
Those knives should last at least 20 years or so.
 
gormandu said:
Okay.. so why are worrying about a knife that locks up securely? :p
In the future, near or far, you will start getting blade play (wiggling) because the titanium has worn down too much or the lock really has bent too much. You can worry then, for now, you're good.
When this happens, it will be a very easy fix, and probably free if you send it to the maker to fix for you.
Those knives should last at least 20 years or so.
Click to expand...

Cool. Thanks!
 
Sold a PT CC that had that same advanced lock up problem. Just bought another PT last week with 50% lock up figuring that Strider learned how to make framelocks.

One week later and approx. 200 openings it is now between 80-85%. I have never seen other frame locks with the black smut on the blade tang which leads me to believe that Strider doesn't harden end of lock bar which promotes rapid wear.

I temporarily extended lock up life on the CC by using a small Dremel round bit BY HAND and made a small dimple in the G10 for detent ball clearance.

Real answer is to replace stop studs with larger dia. Does any one know how to remome the stop studs ??

I like the PT look and size and will keep the knife, but will not send to Strider after reading about poor CS.
 
ive used strider customer service, and it was very good.

i had a stop pin fall out of an smf, and i had the knife back two weeks after shipped.

i suppose you could change the size of the stop pin, but i doubt strider will do this for you. maybe str can do it.
 
When i use the knife and squeeze the handle,
i can sometimes hear the bar squeak as it's gives a bit under the pressure. What does this mean?
Click to expand...
The squeaking is probably the lock bar moving over slightly more. This will happen with many integal locks.BTW the squeaking from too much pressure will speed up the process of the lockbar moving over. Its scraping against the back of the tang which is a much harder metal. Guess which metal will wear out first? It would be the softer titanium lockbar I think people worry too much about lock bar travel when it gets over 50-75%. I've heard people mention their Sebenza lockbar was almost 100% or even a hair away from touching the opposite handle. They have used their Sebenza for yrs after this happened. I would start to be concerned when the blade sarted to get some play.
I also get suprized when I see a pic of an intregal or liner lock that is only 10 or 15 % covering the lock and to owner this is fine. This is were the accidents start happening.
 
Strider will change stop pins for larger size, did so for my Sng and it is perfect now. No CS problems.
 
I had a similar problem with my PT(lock bar engaged further during use but didn't stay there) and I took it apart and when I reassembled it I left the blade closed and it fixed the lookbar movement issue.
 
Now that i'm home and holding the knife i realize that there is a bit of virtical blade play. :( Apparently the bar isn't bent enough to fill the space - i can push the bar in a touch and the play goes away. Wonder if i can bend the bar myself? (maybe i'll take some advise and send it in).

strider.jpg


strider2.jpg
 
Do not try to remove the stop pin/thumbstud yourself. Send it to them and they will put a cap on the Ti side thumbstud and make the diameter bigger so that it comes into contact sooner. Something to try. Take a small thin piece of clear tape and wrap the Ti side of the thumbstud a couple of times. Then open it up and check out the lockup. It doesn't take much to improve lockup. Sounds stupid, but it's a quick and easy fix. And you won't even be able to see the tape.
 
popopine....if you are going to bend lock bar yourself go careful. I had to do the same thing on the PT CC. Easy fix.

First..you don't need a spanner wrench for G10 female side of pivot screws. It is a press fit into G10..leave it alone. If Torx screws are tight use hair dryer to soften thread locker.

When you bend lock bar,mark where it is at with paper gage and pen mark. You don't want to go too far over or you will end up with harder opening and accelerated wear.Good luck !
 
I don't think I'll have to worry about upsizing stop studs for quite a while. Clearance dimple for detent ball worked before and I'll do it on this PT when needed.

I'm in Canada and don't send knives for repair when I can fix myself...that's part of the fun of owning folders.
 
Do NOT bend the lockbar. The problem is and was stated above that the ti lockbar has worn from when it was new. Send it in to Strider and let them fix it. Most likely they will fix it by replacing the stop pin with a slightly larger diameter which will result in earlier lockup. I've used Strider's CS with my SnG and I got it back in like 2-3 weeks and the knife was better than new.

If you send it in make sure you leave a note with the problem and your contact info. If you need to contact the shop this is the only method that WILL give you results : heather@striderknives.com Send the knife with $15 for return shipping and wait.
 
DO NOT BEND THE LOCK BAR. That is not your problem. Your problem is that the lockbar is too short or has been worn too far. Just try this, it takes 2 seconds. Take a piece of paper and fold it in half. So you have the thickness of 2 pieces. Then hold it over the Ti side where where the stop pin contacts the scale. Open the knife up, so that the piece of paper gets stuck inbetween the pin and the scale. Look to see if the lockup position doesn't improve
 
Socom Elite said:
DO NOT BEND THE LOCK BAR. That is not your problem. Your problem is that the lockbar is too short or has been worn too far. Just try this, it takes 2 seconds. Take a piece of paper and fold it in half. So you have the thickness of 2 pieces. Then hold it over the Ti side where where the stop pin contacts the scale. Open the knife up, so that the piece of paper gets stuck inbetween the pin and the scale. Look to see if the lockup position doesn't improve
Click to expand...

Yes Socom, when i do this, the lockbar overlaps only 25%. Perfect.
 
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