Kershaw Blackout help needed

G

Guy Thomas

Joined
Feb 1, 2000
Messages
1,370
I just got a Blackout from my sweet wife today for Christmas. I want this knife to be my new every day carry. I love the knife but this particular knife is almost impossible to open by pushing on the thumbstud. I can insert the tip of my thumb between the stud and the handle and flick it open with the back of my thumb nail. Once I get it started the torsion assist pops it right open. I have an extremely sore thumb now however and the thumb stud will eventually scrape a hole in my thumb nail.

I have never had any trouble opening any liner locks I've handled but since I haven't handled a Blackout before I don't know if this is usual or not for this knife (I would suspect that it isn't) however this might be an initial wearing in period maybe? I really like this knife and of course my wife gave it to me so I'd hate to send it off. Should I try adjusting the pivot screw? I am a knifemaker but I have little experience with folders.

Any help or thoughts are appreciated!
 
You might want to put some lube on the pivot...
I doubt it has a secondary safety, but check if there's one.
Also I've heard that the Speedsafe actually have some retention when it's closed, maybe the spring is particularly stiff?
 
There is no secondary safety on the Blackout. The torsion assist helps hold the blade closed as well as helping it open--this makes for a little more difficulty in the opening. I had the same problem with my Whirlwind. The only SpeedSafe that I use without a flipper is the Ricochet. It had a smooth thumbstud (not knurled like the Blackout) so I could just slide my thumbnail under the stud and it would open right up. It will probably get easier the more you use it, but my thumb never made it that far before I gave up. A lot of people do use and enjoy the Blackout and Whirlwind, but I decided that it wasn't for me and traded mine away.

I just checked and saw that you posted in Ken's forum (which is a good idea). But the easiest solution might be just what you suggested in his forum--grinding the thumbstud smooth. Good luck with it.
 
i had the same problem with the avalanche
it took my thumb 1 week for the calluses to develop
after that, i have absolutely no problem with the opening
but the 1 week hurt like hell, i must say :)
 
Thanks for the feed back guys. It occured to me last night that that it probably does have some positive pressure from the torsion bar to help hold it closed. Otherwise it could pop open at a rather bad time, like in the pocket where its rather close to some valuable jewels.:eek:

I'm going to give it try for a while and see if it gets a little easier to open as my thumb gets a little tougher. Other than this, the knife is great!
 
I find that pushing straight "up" (to the pivot) works best for the blackout, instead of "out" away from the handle.

Hope this helps, the blackout is a nice knife.

Happy holidays !!!
 
Yup, pushing in that manner works like a charm using the ball of my thumb right before the first joint. I'll still need to work up a callous there. Thanks for the help!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top