Lock slip recurring. Asking a favor

J

Jamesh Bond

Joined
Jan 14, 2007
Messages
1,760
Hey guys, been massively busy as of late. Hope yall are well.

Ill try to keep this quick. My 2012 CQC7AW has had lock slip ever since i got it. Happens under firm hand pressure, which i periodically use to test my blades. Ive cleaned the tang, and even slightly sanded the contact faces. The problem will seem to go away, but slowly comes back. Ive disassembled the knife as well. No permanent fix. Lockup is between 40 to 60 percent, depending on the knife's mood, and the liner spring, when disassembled, has plenty of overtravel to cover the rest of the wear. Hope the above makes sense.

Ive studied EKI's website, Bob Terzoulas book, and everything else on liner locks i can get my hands on. There is no physical reason this lock should slip EXCEPT ONE: My lock face angle is too steep, thus forcing the liner towards disengagement when pressure is applied. This is all i can think of.

The angle of the blade tang on linerlocks should be around ten degrees-ish, depending on the knife. My commander's is roughly 12, with no problems. ALL my other solid knives are like 8. The CQC 7's is more like 17. This seems WAYY too steep, and likely the cause of the liner spring slipping of the blade when force is applied. You dont need to be an engineer or knifesmith to figure that out.

(And for the love of God, I AM NOT REFERRING TO THE THREE POINT INTERFACE angle Emerson talks about on the website. The angle i am referring to is NOT DESCRIBED there).

I wont go into my standard rant or the reasons i am opposed to sending it in. But i would like to ask a favor:

Please measure the blade tang ramp angle, when looking down at the open knife, edge facing up at you. Ya know, like youre looking down to check lockup. That angle. Plz only CQC 7's. Pictures would be a plus. Id like to actually SEE what the average angle on your WORKING 7s are.

Ya, OCD as hell.
Plz humor me.

Thx.
 
The tang angle on both my 7s is around 8 degrees.

Slight stick, no slip.

Lock slip is dangerous especially if it can happen with hand pressure alone, and knives like that should not pass QC especially if the issue is as visible as the tang angle being several degrees wider than the norm.
 
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I suspected as much.

Even before i knew a damn thing about linerlock specifics, simple common sense in physics makes it quite clear the thing has VISIBLY too much angle.

Really chaps my ass it went through QC like this.

Thx for checking.

Anyone else want to weigh in ?
 
Jamesh, could you post a pic of yours as well. Would like to see yours to compare visually to mine.

Also since you have sanded the areas EKI may not touch it now.
 
Dr.,

The sanding is imperceptible. And sorry to be difficult, but cant post a pic.

Guess ill bite the bullet and PAY to have a defective knife "warranteed." Ugggg.

Thx guys.
 
Jamesh, sounds like your right about the interface on the blade. I was recently sent a couple of pimped knives with the same issue. I was able to sort of fix one by filing the interface of the lockbar square and redoing it's "bend" closer to the blade so it's a better/tighter angle going into the blade's interface. The other was all wrong as a near new/mint liner from 2 others slipped immediately with minimal effort. It needs to have it's blade interface redone if allowable or a new blade since the blade is always at fault. Sorry to hear of such issues! I hope it gets sorted out quickly and easily for you by EKI.
 
Jamesh Bond said:
Dr.,

The sanding is imperceptible. And sorry to be difficult, but cant post a pic.

Guess ill bite the bullet and PAY to have a defective knife "warranteed." Ugggg.

Thx guys.
Click to expand...

You wouldn't PAY a dime if it is a warranty issue. Shipping included.
 
If you can take a pic and email it to me at my user id at hotmail.com I will post it up for ya.
 
Dr.

Thx for the pic. Mine is DOUBLE that.

Emerson REP.

Plz forgive my attitude. I have experienced great warranty service from the other big companies and not spent a dime on return shipping. It just rubs me wrong to have to pay even more out of pocket on a 200 dollar knife that was jacked right out of the box.

EKI's policy currently states to send 14.00 for return shipping. After spending my own shipping and insurance. I had also called the company personally when i first received it to discuss this, and they said since i didn't buy it direct from EKI, i would have to pay the return.

Did the policy change ?

Thx.

PS:
As for the sanding, it was more like a few light swipes, just to see if there was anything invisible gunked up on the blade. No metal was removed.
 
dr_fosg8 said:
If you can take a pic and email it to me at my user id at hotmail.com I will post it up for ya.
Click to expand...

Appreciate the gesture. Pics sent. It doesnt look as extreme in the photos, specially the one showing the lockup. Measured it again and its between 15 and 17 degrees, give or take.

Thx.
 
Jamesh Bond said:
Dr.

Thx for the pic. Mine is DOUBLE that.

Emerson REP.

Plz forgive my attitude. I have experienced great warranty service from the other big companies and not spent a dime on return shipping. It just rubs me wrong to have to pay even more out of pocket on a 200 dollar knife that was jacked right out of the box.

EKI's policy currently states to send 14.00 for return shipping. After spending my own shipping and insurance. I had also called the company personally when i first received it to discuss this, and they said since i didn't buy it direct from EKI, i would have to pay the return.

Did the policy change ?

Thx.

PS:
As for the sanding, it was more like a few light swipes, just to see if there was anything invisible gunked up on the blade. No metal was removed.
Click to expand...

The company that you refer to is the company that you purchased the knife from? They are incorrect. The $14 fee is charged only if the problem is from wear and tear. If the issue you're having is a warranty issue then there will be no charge. You can also return the knife to the dealer you purchased it from if you'd like to. Unfortunately they do not cover your shipping cost and insurance to send it to EKI. The dealer you bought it from should be willing to help you as well. They may have their own policies.
 
The company Im referring to is EKI. I even asked the girl i spoke with if i could get the shipping waved. She said since i bought it from a dealer, i couldn't.

I have never read anywhere that the return charge only applies to wear and tear. The official warranty writing doesn't even imply that.

Perhaps the policy could be made more clear.

Thx EmersonRep, for making me aware. Much obliged.
 
I don't know what conversation you had with her but maybe she thought you were bringing it in for maintenance. Since the knife is a 2012 I'm guessing you've had it for a little over 3 years correct? I'm interested in the reason why you didn't send it to is right away since you noticed the lock slipping years ago. For EKI, they would have to see the knife in order to make a judgement call. If my brakes are squeaking in my car I wouldn't wait 3 years to have them look at it then claim right away that it's a manufacturers defect. The fact that you waited so long doesn't help them. The knife will probably look well worn in so for them it'll need a new lock which is wear and tear, hence the return shipping cost. This is just my opinion but like I said they will have to look at the knife and make a decision.
 
I got it in late 2013. The conversation took place the week i discovered the problem.

As explained, it simply rubbed me wrong to send it back. So i sat on it. My personal attitude problem at the time.

Also, the problem would come and go. I would think i had it cured, then wave it or play with it, then test it later only to find that it came back.

In that time, Ive cut one whopping cardboard flap with it, some string, and a piece of paper after i sharpened it. Worth mentioning that it came with unusually late lockup for brand new as well. I cant consider anything on it wear and tear. Specially for "The Number One Hard Use Knife in The World." Lock slip shouldnt happen from wear and tear anyway. The nature of a linerlock is to keep locking as it wears, yes ?

Yep, it was dumb to sit on it.

At this point, i just want to use it, not just open and close it, so ill be sending it in either way.

Thx.
 
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I don't know if this helps but my CQC7 lock was blown within a year buying it. Maybe I like it too much. Did take the bullet and paid $14 plus shipping. EKI took care of it and replaced the lock liner. It is as good as new.
 
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