Is this normal in my Caly 3?

K

KJlost

Joined
Aug 8, 2010
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I bought my Spyderco Caly 3 several months ago and fell in love with it. It was one of the nicest folders that I've bought, and has since then turned me to Spyderco for many of my money-spending options.

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But I've noticed in the past few weeks that the lock-up in the Caly 3 has developed some movements. It used to be rock-solid, but now it has some up-and-down movements that you can feel and hear. The movement also involves the lock-bar, which moves with the blade when I wiggle it.

I've only really used the knife for light-duty uses, so I don't know if this is a normal development or something of a lemon.

Now I have played with the pivot screw to adjust the tightness of the pivot, but I don't think that messes with the up-and-down movement of the blade. Can anyone with Caly 3 tell me their experiences with the lock-up? Thanks in advance for your input.
 
Make sure the lock indention is free of crud. Oil/lint likes to build up there and can interfere with the lockup of the knife.
 
I belive that is in the nature of locback folders. Not that they are designed this way to have a play but it is hard to get those tolerances tight, especially for a production folder. So you may get some vertical blade-play sometimes which is a rare issue with a CBBL.

I also have one Spyderco that does this and at first it made me quite mad but after some time I just forgot about it. It is a great folder at a great price and the lock is not suposed to be weaker becouse of some slight up-down movement. I'm still lovin' it and it's a keeper!

I guess you should accept your Caly the way she is and give her another try;)
But in case you can't stand the vertical play I would suggest you getting a knife with the lock that prevents this like CBBL on manix2.
 
Proteus89 said:
I belive that is in the nature of locback folders. Not that they are designed this way to have a play but it is hard to get those tolerances tight, especially for a production folder. So you may get some vertical blade-play sometimes which is a rare issue with a CBBL.

I also have one Spyderco that does this and at first it made me quite mad but after some time I just forgot about it. It is a great folder at a great price and the lock is not suposed to be weaker becouse of some slight up-down movement. I'm still lovin' it and it's a keeper!

I guess you should accept your Caly the way she is and give her another try;)
But in case you can't stand the vertical play I would suggest you getting a knife with the lock that prevents this like CBBL on manix2.
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+1
Every back lock I have by Spyderco eventually developed that kind of play. However it does not effect the lockup reliability IMO.
 
If it is more than very slight, or continues to increase, then yes it is an issue; however 1-2mm (measure at the tip) of wiggle is quite normal.
 
If you keep the blade pivot area properly lubed, you shouldn't see slop in the lockup. I have a Caly3 with tight lockup, but it hasn't seen much use. I generally have smaller knives in my pocket.
Most of my lockbacks, and I have a number of them, have never developed any vertical play. If you open and close the knife thousands of times, and never lube it, you can get some wear and play. But I haven't seen this in most, but not all, of my knives.
I recently checked an old Gerber Sportsman II that dates from the 1970s - lockup is tight, but it got more use (for fishing) 30-40 years ago than now.
 
KJlost said:
But I've noticed in the past few weeks that the lock-up in the Caly 3 has developed some movements. It used to be rock-solid, but now it has some up-and-down movements that you can feel and hear. The movement also involves the lock-bar, which moves with the blade when I wiggle it.

I've only really used the knife for light-duty uses, so I don't know if this is a normal development or something of a lemon.

Now I have played with the pivot screw to adjust the tightness of the pivot, but I don't think that messes with the up-and-down movement of the blade. Can anyone with Caly 3 tell me their experiences with the lock-up? Thanks in advance for your input.
Click to expand...

The lockbar pivots on a pin going through the handle. So there has to be some slack in there to allow for movement. And then there are blade to lockbar interface and the blade to pivot screw interface. All these moving bits press against eachother and tighten up when force is applied to the edge. That's what you're hearing and feeling. The necessary tolerances translate into tiny movement of the blade. Nothing to worry about.
 
I think a little back and forth play is normal. I have it on my G-10 Caly and my delicas enduras stretches etc. But I still find it a bit anoying. One of the main reasons I prefer a liner lock to a lockback.
 
My Caly 3 CF, has the same play that you described to a T. I just use it as is and the lock hasn't failed me yet. It used to bother me too, but the knife still cuts great and opens smoothly. The scratches I get in the outer laminate (420j2) bothers me more now than the vertical play and lock bar movement .
 
KJlost,

I don't know how much wiggle your knife is developing, but what you describe doesn't seem normal nor acceptable to me. I would send it to Spyderco for repair.
 
another thing that may accelerate wiggle is dust and lint accumulation in the lock area. this forces the lock to accomodate for this and once you clean the knife the lock no longer fits tight. seen this with a friend's fallkniven.
 
Hmm, thanks for all the replies. It is a minor annoyance more than anything, but since all other aspects of the knife seems so perfect to me, it just seems to stand out more. I can definitely live with it, no problem. But if I can correct it, it would be much better.

I'll try contacting Spyderco CS and see what they say about it, thanks.
 
Tiny amount of vertical play is inherent in the lockback design. I know its annoying but its just the way it is and sending it in or getting a new one isnt going to fix anything. Now if you have significant vertical play and not just normal 1-2 mm movement with the clicking noise than by all means contact Spyderco and they will take care of you.
 
Just checking in with regards to my Caly 3 (G-10, VG10) doing the same thing, the rocker bar allowing the blade to click back a touch when I am making forceful cuts. It isn't significant from a utility standpoint, but it is disappointing. Same with my Dragonfly. Not the case with my Ladybug. I am going to stay away from lockbacks in the future. I like liner and frame locks more anyway.
 
I had a caly3 g10 that has a bit of vertical movement/flex , I gifted it and tried a CF version which is rock solid. It is going to bother you, get another if you love the design and move the other.
 
I had one come brand new like that. I head about how common it is with Spydercos lock back's and figured it was normal. IMHO it's nothing to worry about.
 
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