Lock failure on my new(er) Endura 4?

S

Saunterer

Joined
Feb 4, 2003
Messages
487
I cashed in a few gift cards a few weeks ago, and decided to get a PE Endura 4. I can't decide if I like the size of it, but for some odd reason it keeps becoming my main EDC. I cut through about 90 feet of carpet with it minutes after opening the box, and resharpening the VG-10 was easy to do. I'm starting to really like this knife. This is my second Spydie (Wally World Native was first) and foresee gaining a few more in the future.

Anyway, the other night I decided to perform a spine whack test for the fun of it since I have never really carried a locking folder as an EDC. Using a phonebook for padding, I could get the blade lock to disengage by tapping the spine. Mind you, this is not hard at all and I am wanting to know if this is acceptable or not? I tried to get the lock to disengage in other ways such as squeezing the handles, and moving the blade side to side. I can't get the lock to fail in this manner. I've carried a SAK or other slipjoint for over 25 years so I really don't see an issue with the risk of having the blade snap shut on me.

So would you consider a spine whack (or in my case, spine tap) test a failure of the lock on an Endura? This post is not really a complaint, but more of a question.

--Chris

**Sidenote** - I want to kick myself because I used live in Wheat Ridge and used to maintain some radio equipment on North Table Mountain in Golden, CO. I always used to see Spyderco Way in my travels, but never stopped in. That was before I found Bladeforums. Probably a good thing; would have spent all my money for sure.
 
A spine tap on a phone book that defeats the lock is not acceptable at all and I am sure Sal will want to see that knife.

Send it back after writing down what you have found so you can pack the note with the knife. I'd call the company and see if there is some kind of reference number they want to give you to bring it to Sal's attention once it arrives.
STR
 
Very odd, and very unacceptable. Call then send it in, Spyderco will make it right. :thumbup:
 
I shot this video here at the office to demostrate. I only have capabilities to shoot MP4, so you might have to use QuickTime or iTunes. (Or whatever flavor you choose to handle this file type.)

This was on my leather binder, and it took four quick whacks to get it to fail. I didn't shoot the first test, where one quick tap landed the freshly stropped blade on my index finger knuckle. :eek: Almost took 10 minutes before it started bleeding. Be careful if you try this at home.

http://home.everestkc.net/cswanda/endura4spinewhackfail.mp4

Thanks for the input, I'll have to give the folks in Golden a call tomorrow.

--Chris
 
All I got was some jibberish text, but Spyderco will be more than glad to replace it for you.
 
Rapping a spine on a phone book shouldn't defeat a lock. That said, I notice that in the video you make 4 taps in a rhythmic pattern and it isn't until the 4th that the lock disengages. I know it has been discussed on these forums before, but some knives have been known to unlock because there is a 'bouncing' of the mechanism taking place that eventually bounces the lock open.

I still think you should send it in, but out of curiosity, does it ever fail on the first tap?
 
ThinkOfTheChildren said:
I still think you should send it in, but out of curiosity, does it ever fail on the first tap?
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Oh yes! The first time I tested it, I wasn't thinking of where my hands were and the blade (spooky sharp) bounced into my knuckle. @!#!#@!@%!@ :mad: I proceeded to the first aid kit in the break room fairly quickly.

That's why it took four times in the video. I was still gun shy from being bitten.
 
Gotcha. Well I'm sorry to hear that! :eek:
I'm sure Spyderco will make it right. The few times I've ever needed warranty service, they always treated me well.
Still, it sucks that you've got to send it in :grumpy:
 
Call me strange but I've never seen the light I guess. Trying to make something fail where there aren't test facilities, recorders, a check up ashead of time, exact readings of force, direction angle exactly repeatable etc. mean very little to me and is abusing a knife I bought.

I've never done this in over 35 years of knife use. Never cut a finger from failure, had a lock give etc. I guess I'm old and confused. No offense meant.By all means it's your knife. I wonder if we can really state definiteively " it's the knife" from reading a post. Joe
 
The Mastiff said:
Call me strange but I've never seen the light I guess. Trying to make something fail where there aren't test facilities, recorders, a check up ashead of time, exact readings of force, direction angle exactly repeatable etc. mean very little to me and is abusing a knife I bought.
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Heaven forbid one's knife should ever be called upon for a task more demanding than opening the mail.:rolleyes: If one were to lightly bump the spine of the blade, during the panic of an emergency situation, or when pulling the knife out of a deep cut, and the lock were to fail, causing one to lose or seriously injure a finger, I think that would be a rather poor time to find out that one's blade locking mechanism isn't up to par. Wouldn't you agree?

If you want to call a spine-tap "abusive", fine by me. However, even Sal has said that a spine-tap every once in a while is good measure. I'll continue to check my gear.:thumbup:

The Mastiff said:
I've never done this in over 35 years of knife use. Never cut a finger from failure, had a lock give etc. I guess I'm old and confused. No offense meant.By all means it's your knife. I wonder if we can really state definiteively " it's the knife" from reading a post. Joe
Click to expand...

You could always watch the video the original poster provided.;)

Regards,
3G
 
You could always watch the video the original poster provided.
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Can you really say you know the real condition, and if there is trapped debris in the lock from watching it? It didn't even work for me anyway but that's still irrelevant.

Go ahead with your "Spine Taps" if it comforts you. I don't do stuff that will over stress the lock to begin with. That's what FB's, Axes, shovels, prybars etc are for.

They are part ofthe standard kit for my vehicles and should be in everyones. Were you not in the military? Just like having commo, same principal. Be prepared, have what you need.

Even backpacking an entrenching tool should be with you always, if not an axe also. Are you going to dig a cat hole latrine with your endura or other folder? Do you abuse your AR just to see what it can take? I sure don't. I do test fire it but not in a way that's harmfull.

I don't get where you're coming from at all. Joe
 
The Mastiff said:
Go ahead with your "Spine Taps" if it comforts you. I don't do stuff that will over stress the lock to begin with. That's what FB's, Axes, shovels, prybars etc are for.
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I don't think Sal Glesser would have suggested performing a "spine-tap" every once in awhile, or would have stated that Spyderco does "spine-taps" as part of their QC checks, if it were something he felt "will over stress the lock to begin with".

You must have absolutely perfect cutting skills! I mean to never be in a position where the back of your blade could accidentally come in contact with anything!:rolleyes:

We are talking about "spine-taps" here, not "spine-whacks", and the fact that you mentioned "FB's, Axes, shovels, prybars" as part of your argument against "spine-taps" highlights the fact that you have no idea what the difference is between them. You should reserve judgement, and your comments, until you take the time to clarify and actually understand what they are intended to simulate, and what differentiates them from one another.;)

Regards,
3G
 
I don't think Sal Glesser would have suggested performing a "spine-tap" every once in awhile, or would have stated that Spyderco does "spine-taps" as part of their QC checks, if it were something he felt "will over stress the lock to begin with".
Click to expand...

Sal's forgotten more than I'll ever know about knives. He knows his stuff. I know my policy and habits.

You must have absolutely perfect cutting skills! I mean to never be in a position where the back of your blade could accidentally come in contact with anything!
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Does sarcasm win you anything in the game of life? What's the purpose of silly statements like this? Are you a formidable computer warrior who makes people tremble, or we both acting like petulant asses?

We are talking about "spine-taps" here, not "spine-whacks", and the fact that you mentioned "FB's, Axes, shovels, prybars" as part of your argument against "spine-taps" highlights the fact that you have no idea what the difference is between them.
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You are reaching here and acting rather silly. I stated my opinion and you apparently took offense for whatever reason. I really don't care why but suggest you don't be so thin skinned in the future. Not everybody wants to spend time in games of semantics.

Spine tap away to your hearts content. If you really need to use a knife hard pick the right tool. Use tools the way they were designed to be used. I don't see anything provocative with that. It's just common sense. No knife is good for all jobs no matter what the ad states. Regards, Joe
 
The Mastiff,
I was very sarcastic in my tone. The reason I behaved in such a fashion is because I have been involved in other threads regarding "spine-taps" where people rushed to judgement that occasionally perfoming them was abusive, and that quickly transitioned to insulting the people who stated they perfomed them. I thought, by your statements, this thread might be headed in that direction.

As far as the practice of occasionally performing "spine-taps" goes, I think it makes sense, and Sal has stated he thinks it makes sense. That's good enough for me! What still has my curiosity peaked, however, is why you, a person who admittedly does not perform "spine-taps", feels they are abusive, and thinks they "will over stress the lock", bothered to even respond to the original poster's question. Did you have something productive to add to it, or did you just want to make the original poster feel bad about performing "spine-taps"?

P.S. Did you happen to notice that you were the only poster who commented negatively about performing "spine-taps" in this thread?;)

Regards,
3G
 
3G, and Joe, you are both good guys, and you both raise some good points. The subject isn't really worth the bickering.
 
Zen. Thank you for the reminder. 3G, I apologize for any comments that are out of line.

I guess I can be too blunt with my opinions which I should probably keep to myself.

As far as the subject goes I just have never found them necessessary. I really don't do anything except cut with knives. I've never even broke a tip, nor had a lock failure in over 35 knife using years. When I need more strength, I don't use folders. Fixed blades or whatever tools are necessessary.

As far as function check on liner or frame locks I look, move, wiggle, etc, etc. I typically find flaws that way and have embarassed custom makers at shows by finding flaws that way.

I use a kind of checklist that I use every time to weed out things like forgetfullness on my part. Doing a Spine tap incorrectly or too hard causes more trouble than it's worth, in my opinion.

Once again, Sorry for my "tone of voice", for lack of a better term. Regards, Joe
 
Have you tried cleaning the lock after cutting all that carpet? Maybe some of that got lodge in there?
 
Joe (The Mastiff),
I, too, would like to apologize for my sarcasm and my tone. I guess "spine-taps" are purely a subjective matter, and are not for everybody. I, too, failed to see the value in performing them until having almost cut myself when I accidentally struck the spine of my CRKT Pointguard's blade on my desk after pulling the blade out of a cut into a cardboard box. To my shock and disbelief, that light tap on my desk caused the lock (liner-lock) to fail, and had it been struck much harder (It wasn't hit very hard at all-I'm talking a light tap here), I probably would have cut my index finger. Granted, I had not activated the LAWKs mechanism, but for a tap as light as that on the spine, the lock should have held. From that point on, I took A.T. Barr and Joe Talmadge's advice and checked (and continue to check) my knives' locks. Once again, I am sorry for my tone.

:)

Regards,
3G

P.S. My standard method for performing "spine-taps" consists of holding the knife by the back of the handle and quickly tapping the spine against the tip of my rubber-soled boot.
 
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