Kudu's blade tang cutting into lock??

S

sh00ter01

Joined
Sep 26, 2007
Messages
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Any ideas why my Kudu's blade would all of a suddenly start cutting into the leaf spring that is the lock?

I have owned this knife for over a couple years now, and have never had a single issue. Then just the other day, I opened it to use to open my mail, and it was really gritty. I thought maybe it was some pocket lint in the action, but after blowing it out and working it open and close a few time I noticed metal filings on the desk I was at, and upon inspection, found this (sorry for the poor quality, no macro lens, but you can see the channel it's cut):



Kinda disconcerting, as I have another Kudu and 2 Eland's, all newer and they haven't had this issue... yet...
 
I think you have a lemon. My kudu has been thrown countless times (not to mention it missing the target at times and bouncing off the hard concrete ground) and some batoning and the lock is still fine (except for some up and down play) so i would say their ring lock is pretty durable .
 
I kinda doubt that it's a lemon. Like I said, I've had it for years without any issues

I'm just looking for a reason why it would start all of a sudden like it did, so that I can prevent it with my other ones. This particular Kudu has pretty much been retired as it is. Even adding a little oil doesn't stop the cutting, just slows it. And the grittiness makes it difficult to open and close.
 
i'm struggling to understand what part of the knife/blade is cutting the leaf spring...yeah i'm slow....
 
jbmonkey said:
i'm struggling to understand what part of the knife/blade is cutting the leaf spring...yeah i'm slow....
Click to expand...

The picture is kinda rough. The blade has bumps on the tang that gives it the ratchet action against the left spring that is the lock. When opening, the lock rides over the bumps, but now the bumps are cutting into the spring face for some unknown reason.

If you look at the blade tang, then directly below it at the lock face, you'll see the channel that it's cutting.

Might try and take a better pic...
 
Gotcha. Weird. Seems odd it worked for a long time and now its eating away at it. Have to think about why.....
 
I wouldn't sweat it. Throw it away and buy another. Get an eland while you can.
 
jbmonkey said:
Gotcha. Weird. Seems odd it worked for a long time and now its eating away at it. Have to think about why.....
Click to expand...

Yeah, it's got me a bit perplexed. It was literally fine the day before and then super gritty when I went to open it for mail duty the following day. That's mostly what it got used for over the last year, opening packages and mail.
 
My guess is one of the ratchet bumps got chipped and now it is sharp and digging in the spring lock.

Bummer, but they are cheap and still around many places.
Mine has been going strong for about 4 years and it gets used a good bit at work.
 
willc said:
My guess is one of the ratchet bumps got chipped and now it is sharp and digging in the spring lock.

Bummer, but they are cheap and still around many places.
Mine has been going strong for about 4 years and it gets used a good bit at work.
Click to expand...

Didn't notice any problems with the bumps on first glance, will check them again later when I get a chance.
 
Ive been pondering this. Other than somebow the specs changing the angles from a hard hit or whatever......seems the spring side would have to be softer than the the ratchet side.....maybe after so much wear the hard steel wore away and now its too soft? Which woudl make me think heat treat or maybe steel composition was defective from the start. Course im no expert on metallurgy....just speculating based on very limited info.

Either way id send it back for warranty as something isnt right regardless.
 
jbmonkey said:
Ive been pondering this. Other than somebow the specs changing the angles from a hard hit or whatever......seems the spring side would have to be softer than the the ratchet side.....maybe after so much wear the hard steel wore away and now its too soft? Which woudl make me think heat treat or maybe steel composition was defective from the start. Course im no expert on metallurgy....just speculating based on very limited info.

Either way id send it back for warranty as something isnt right regardless.
Click to expand...

This is pretty much the conclusion I've come to as well. Looked it over some more can't find any issues with anything other then the spring lock's face. Think it just cut through the outer hardened layer of steel and is now into the softer material and thus cutting away steel with every open and close.

It's well out of warranty, not gonna worry about it I guess, just hope the same doesn't happen with my other Kudus and Elands.
 
gotcha. what about polishing what's left of the spring side to make it smooth again, but that it still has enough to catch as it should and work....you following? should make it harder for the ratcheting to eat into it. might make it worse though....just thinking outloud.
 
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