Kershaw OD-1 very hard to open

D

dead-eye

Joined
Apr 17, 2010
Messages
250
Just received a Kershaw OD-1 1775 knife and was really impressed with the quality of the knife but, man, it's really hard to flip this blade open! My index finger is hurting due to the knurled surface on the flipper. The blade opens easy if I grasp it by hand and do it that way. Someone on this board posted that his OD-1 flicked open very easily. Maybe it's my technique but I've tried every which way to get it to open. I've used Tuf-Glide on the bearings which marginally improved the effort to open it. I actually have another OD-1 coming in (got a good deal on it) so I'll see if things are different.

One more thing, why does Kershaw make the belt clips so hard to use? I can barely slip a piece of paper underneath my OD-1 and Skyline.
 
Make sure you're not pressing against the frame lock when trying to open it. That is most common cause of what you're experiencing.

As far as the clip issue.....just bend it up a little bit. I usually just take the clip off and put it in a vice and gently bend it to my liking.
 
morrowj_98 said:
Make sure you're not pressing against the frame lock when trying to open it. That is most common cause of what you're experiencing.

As far as the clip issue.....just bend it up a little bit. I usually just take the clip off and put it in a vice and gently bend it to my liking.
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:thumbup: It's real easy to pinch the lockbar with your finger without knowing which makes it really hard to open. Look at where your fingers are and make sure you aren't holding the lockbar. If that isn't it then your pivot must be too tight. Can you open it easily if you grab the blade and pull it open?
 
I just got a Zings, and it's really hard to flip open as well. Not my first KAI so it was a bit of a shock. Seems the ball detent hole is too big and keeps the blade closed really tight.
I tried taking it apart, but if you know Kershaw's, the hex pivot pin is pretty much stripped from the factory and just rotates in the plastic scales.
 
Hitzy said:
I just got a Zings, and it's really hard to flip open as well. Not my first KAI so it was a bit of a shock. Seems the ball detent hole is too big and keeps the blade closed really tight.
I tried taking it apart, but if you know Kershaw's, the hex pivot pin is pretty much stripped from the factory and just rotates in the plastic scales.
Click to expand...

try a torx-8 bit for the pivot, also called a t-8 ;)
 
FlaMtnBkr said:
:thumbup: It's real easy to pinch the lockbar with your finger without knowing which makes it really hard to open. Look at where your fingers are and make sure you aren't holding the lockbar. If that isn't it then your pivot must be too tight. Can you open it easily if you grab the blade and pull it open?
Click to expand...

Very easy to open if I grab the blade. The action is smooth. Maybe I should just put a thumb stud on the blade :)
 
Hitzy said:
I just got a Zings, and it's really hard to flip open as well. Not my first KAI so it was a bit of a shock. Seems the ball detent hole is too big and keeps the blade closed really tight.
I tried taking it apart, but if you know Kershaw's, the hex pivot pin is pretty much stripped from the factory and just rotates in the plastic scales.
Click to expand...

The Zing and the OD-1 are completely different.

Pretty much stripped from the factory? I'm going to disagree with you. You just need to use the right tool.....as hwpaintballer said....t-8 and you need to stop the opposite side from spinning. Slight downward pressure on the blade (with it open and using a towel) seems to work for me.
 
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Agree with morrow on the pivot issue...Never had any trouble with my Kershaws.

dead-eye...there are several vids on YouTube related to the OD1. Seems a lot of folks are having a tough time flipping it open. Take a look at a few, maybe it's something simple. Good luck! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8AXkD891Ps
 
Give it a bit of time and it will work in. I find the action is a bit different from the Skyline, you kind of pull down with the flipper. I also change the clip to tip down carry and find that the bend of the clip provides a resting place for my middle finger when flipping the blade open.
 
morrowj_98 said:
The Zing and the OD-1 are completely different.

Pretty much stripped from the factory? I'm going to disagree with you. You just need to use the right tool.....as hwpaintballer said....t-8 and you need to stop the opposite side from spinning. Slight downward pressure on the blade (with it open and using a towel) seems to work for me.
Click to expand...

Yeah, not the torx screw, the other side that spins. It looks like it should fit snug in the hex cutout in the grip, but it just rotates. That's the part that seems "stripped"....otherwise, why not just use a round face?.
I'll try the towel thing, thanks for the tip.
 
Hitzy said:
Yeah, not the torx screw, the other side that spins. It looks like it should fit snug in the hex cutout in the grip, but it just rotates. That's the part that seems "stripped"....otherwise, why not just use a round face?.
I'll try the towel thing, thanks for the tip.
Click to expand...

I forgot to mention....i hang the blade over the end of table when putting pressure on it. this binds up the pivot and "usually" lets you get the screw out. Don't forget the towel :)
 
Thanks to everyone for the advice. I checked out some of the YouTube videos which were helpful. The problem seems to be the detent indentation on the blade. I think it's too deep or too large. If I rotate the blade just ever so slightly past the detent, I can flick it open very fast with less effort than my Skyline. Over time, I hope the indentation fills up with dirt so that the detent on the lockbar doesn't fully engage.
 
You sure it's not your technique dead-eye? Have you practiced different places on the flipper where to press down on until you found a sweet spot? not doubting, just sayin' instead of waiting for dirt to build up, you could be practicing your opening technique.

ETA: I just checked an OD-1, an unlike most kershaw flippers where I would recommend pressing down on the tip of the flipper towards the handle, mine seemed to open easiest when I pressed on the top of the flipper, trying to slid my pointer finger from the top of the handle vertical down the knife.
 
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Mine took some adjusting but now it flips open great and no blade play. I did have to put some lock tite on the pivot screw because it kept coming loose.
 
hwpaintballer said:
You sure it's not your technique dead-eye? Have you practiced different places on the flipper where to press down on until you found a sweet spot? not doubting, just sayin' instead of waiting for dirt to build up, you could be practicing your opening technique.

ETA: I just checked an OD-1, an unlike most kershaw flippers where I would recommend pressing down on the tip of the flipper towards the handle, mine seemed to open easiest when I pressed on the top of the flipper, trying to slid my pointer finger from the top of the handle vertical down the knife.
Click to expand...

I tried a different technique which I saw on youtube. Instead of keeping my index finger parallel to the blade, I aim it at a 45 degree angle. It does work better but it still takes some effort. I'm definitely going to try to figure something out but I can practice only so much before my finger hurts:)
 
I think the knife just has to be broken in. mine took a few weeks before it became smooth and easy to open like it is now.
All you have to do is open and close it alot and maybe take it apart and clean it thoroughly. Then it will definitely become alot easier to open.
 
I took mine apart and used a drift and a light tap with a hammer on the detent ball. Mine opens like a dream now and still has enough retention to keep the blade in the closed position, but if you flick it right it will intertia open also. I also cleaned and lubed everything while it was apart.

edit: sorry for reviving an old post, didnt see the date of the previous response until i hit reply.
 
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