Late lock up?

D

Daniel Ebert

Joined
Dec 14, 2017
Messages
18
Hello, I purchased a spyderco spydiechef yesterday from a local gun shop. Everything is top notch; the only small problem was some lock stick. I took it home and put some pencil lead on it and it solved the lock stick, but I noticed it’s lockup is at 90% after a day of use. Is this something to worry about? I use my knife at work 30-40 times a day, so it will be opened and closed a lot.
A friend told my I should send this in to spyderco under warranty? I really don’t want to part with the knife for that long, I really love it, but if it will make he knife last for years longer it’s a easy choice.

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Well, I posted a very similar issue with another knife brand and it got bashed like a red-headed step child. I personally would use it, Spyderco has a solid warranty if the lock up wears more over time. Or if it bothers you, return it to the gun shop or send it in to Spyderco. I returned mine and my replacement was fine.

I also got bashed for not "requesting up front when I bought the knife that any respectable dealer would inspect any knife for defects upon request and that I should have made this request to the dealer", mine was an online transaction. So it was basically my fault I got a knife with defects since I didn't ask the dealer to inspect it before hand.

I suppose you might get a similar bashing since you bought it at a brick and mortar and didn't inspect it for these issues at the shop.
 
panoz77 said:
Well, I posted a very similar issue with another knife brand and it got bashed like a red-headed step child. I personally would use it, Spyderco has a solid warranty if the lock up wears more over time. Or if it bothers you, return it to the gun shop or send it in to Spyderco. I returned mine and my replacement was fine.

I also got bashed for not "requesting up front when I bought the knife that any respectable dealer would inspect any knife for defects upon request and that I should have made this request to the dealer", mine was an online transaction. So it was basically my fault I got a knife with defects since I didn't ask the dealer to inspect it before hand.

I suppose you might get a similar bashing since you bought it at a brick and mortar and didn't inspect it for these issues at the shop.
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Ok awesome, I really don’t want to send it in. It was the only one I could find locally and was super excited I found one. As long as their warranty is top notch I feel comfortable using it.

Let them bash if they want. I made a mistake, so what. Thanks for the heads up though!
 
I don't think it's anything to worry about. Lots of people have opinions on lockup. Too soon is unsafe and too late can be unsafe depending on the lock (you could have it 100% and still have perfect lockup).

My ZT 804cf goes 100% lockup occasionally and while I find it annoying it works fine and don't see any issues with being unsafe.
 
Daniel Ebert said:
Ok awesome, I really don’t want to send it in. It was the only one I could find locally and was super excited I found one. As long as their warranty is top notch I feel comfortable using it.

Let them bash if they want. I made a mistake, so what. Thanks for the heads up though!
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Does the local brick and mortar gun shop have any others in stock? You could possibly ask them for an exchange. But as long as the lock stick is cured, I personally don't think the lock up on yours is that bad. My late lockup was far worse than that and the lock stick was pretty bad and not curable.
 
My Spydiechef’s lock up is at 80%ish but there is zero blade play and just a touch of lock stick. I agree with others, just use and enjoy it. Should there be any problems, contact Spyderco. I would bet that you could open it up another 2k times with little lockbar movement. If you are truly concerned, contact Spyderco now.

I absolutely love this knife. The blade lends to slicing on an insane level and the Lc200N holds a great edge. This steels seems easy to work with and due to great blade geometry cuts for a good long while.
 
My only concern with a lock up that late is that eventually it'll get worse. If it's at 50% or so, there's not much of a problem if it wears another 20% over 10 years.

Even still I don't think where it's at would cause a problem for many, many years. By that time we'll all be using lightsabers anyway, haha. Spyderco would definitely make it right if something does happen to go wrong, though.
 
panoz77 said:
Does the local brick and mortar gun shop have any others in stock? You could possibly ask them for an exchange. But as long as the lock stick is cured, I personally don't think the lock up on yours is that bad. My late lockup was far worse than that and the lock stick was pretty bad and not curable.
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Unfortunately it does not. It was the last one. I called a few other shops and there are none that I can find.
 
Chris Reeve Knives are at about 85% right out the box. People take pics of their 20 year old Sebenza’s and they are still going strong. In fact, late lock up is how Chris Reeve designed the frame lock.
 
Some framelocks have small contact area and it's only the edge of Famelock engaging. Others have thick engagement areas, perhaps after a bit of setting in also. This bigger thicker area is alot longer to wear. Just like when your sharpening and the bevel gets thicker it starts to progress alot slower to get to apex. Good geometry and tolerances matter.
 
I notice that happens with some frame lock spydies, I have always just taken apart and reassembled and they’re fine. I don’t see yours moving past the blade and causing a problem, it doesn’t appear to have enough room!
 
Daniel Ebert said:
Hello, I purchased a spyderco spydiechef yesterday from a local gun shop. Everything is top notch; the only small problem was some lock stick. I took it home and put some pencil lead on it and it solved the lock stick, but I noticed it’s lockup is at 90% after a day of use. Is this something to worry about? I use my knife at work 30-40 times a day, so it will be opened and closed a lot.
A friend told my I should send this in to spyderco under warranty? I really don’t want to part with the knife for that long, I really love it, but if it will make he knife last for years longer it’s a easy choice.

7524BF94-5342-4C36-A4DE-DFED1A9C07D8.jpeg
Click to expand...

The graphite is likely causing the lock to slide over in the other direction (towards higher % lockup) especially if you are opening the knife hard.

Lock stick is just the lock’s way of breaking in. Also that is not 90% and I wouldn’t worry about it going further. Look how much Ti it would have to wear through to lockup any later. Also some models of knives are built to have later lockup. (It is actually more secure)

If I were you I would takenthe graphite off and let the lockstick wear the lock to the point it is broken in. Once it breaks in lockstick virtually stops as well as any further lockbar travel.

Of course ifnyou are unhappy with it Spyderco has a good warrenth and will fix it up for you.
 
Remove the graphite, clean both lock surfaces. That lock up is nothing to worry about. Use it and if the lock up does get worse and you’re not happy then send it in. Spyderco isn’t going anywhere.
 
Idk when lockstick became a bad thing. In my experience many knives that came with lockstick wore in beautifully.

The lockstick is actually a microscopic ammount of the lockbar wearing away each time. As this happens it will eventually wear to a point where the lockstick stops. Now the lockbar is the PERFECT length for the folder. (And lockstick and lockwear virtually stops) Don’t think of it as lockstick. Think of it as your knife customizing its own lockbar!

Also question for you other bladeforum members who know way more than I do. I have heard that this process of breaking the lockbar in causes the Ti lockbar face to work harden. Is there any truth to this? I really gotta know!
 
Lapedog Lapedog Im not sure about the work hardening as I thought that required more heat. From what ive read you are correct about the lock stick and break in. Lock stick should fade and leave the lockbar mated to the blade tang, lock wear should slow to a almost unnoticeable level.
 
Congrats on your Spydiechef, a great knife, high on my wishlist. I agree with many above that don't see a problem with your lock up. My guess is it will be a long, long time before it moves much more than that. Enjoy it!
 
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