Looking for some suggestions(Fantoni trouble)

SadSappySucker · Dec 7, 2015

I'll go ahead and apologize for the wall of text in advance.

A little over six months ago I purchased a brand new knife that cost around $300 from a very reputable web sight. The maker is not important, but they are located in Italy. From everything I read this company was known for great fit and finish. So the knife came perfectly smooth, tight, etc... The fit and finish was superb. However, after about a week I started getting some vertical play and I noticed the liner lock would shift under slight pressure. The knife had not really been used up to this point, only opened and closed while fondling it. I broke it down cleaned/ lubed it and put it back together (this did not void the warranty, I checked)many times but kept throwing it down in anger where it would sit for a few weeks until I decided to give it another go.
I finally decided to just accept the slight play and use it. A couple hours in to the first day of real use I decided to test the lock by pushing on the spine while open(I didn't spine whack it or do anything crazy). To my surprise the lock failed. So after fighting the temptation to throw it into the dumpster I decided to ship it in for warranty work.
Fast forward about 3 months, they finally received the knife today and tell me that all it needed was some wd40 on the tang. I couldn't help but laugh. I asked them to give it one more detailed check, because I cleaned and lubed it multiple times before shipping it out.
I'm at a loss. I really don't know why I wrote up this wall of text. I guess I just needed to vent and maybe could get some feedback from some of y'all. I just really really don't want to get the knife back in the same condition as I shipped it after going through this long drawn out fiasco. Because, as it stands, the knife is worthless if I can't trust the lock.

Rookie82 · Dec 8, 2015

I would explain to them everything you have listed here. If they aren't willing to acknowledge the defects that you clearly found, then simply ask for a refund, and tell them you would rather spend your $ elsewhere.

SadSappySucker · Dec 9, 2015

I tried to explain it to them as best I could. The language berrier is pretty tough. They just asked me for my address, so at this point I guess I will just have to wait and see for myself if they fixed anything.

dkb45 · Dec 9, 2015

The name of the maker of the knife is actually pertinent. Other people could have the same lame experience, or we could have a forum member with some inside pull to get your knife a fine tooth comb once over.

ooitzoo · Dec 9, 2015

This sounds like a warranty issue with the maker.

Ryouchijtx · Dec 9, 2015

Treat it as one of our slipjoints on the porch Erik

Jk I voice the same as others above. The name of the maker is important/sounds like a serious mechanical defect that should be covered in the warranty itself.

SadSappySucker · Dec 9, 2015

It is a Fantoni HB01. I was going to give that info once I got it back and could give a full story of the encounter. I just didn't want it to come off as me bashing the guys before I gave them an honest chance at resolving the issue.
I don't believe I have read a single bad thing about the quality of their knives, and I read everything I could find before purchasing the knife. So I truly believe I got a lemon.
I'm still pretty skeptical though. I find it hard to believe that the lock failed simply because the tang/ lock face wasn't lubed, but they swear that the knife functions flawlessly now. I guess I will just have to wait and see for myself. Of course I'm already scripting out the scathing response for when I do get the knife back and the problem is still there.

I will update this as soon as the knife is back in my possession.

SadSappySucker · Dec 28, 2015

Well, I got it back today, and not a single thing has changed. I am extremely disappointed. I'll give everyone the right to send a lemon out now and again, but I gave them a fair shot at fixing it before I talked bad about them. The worst part is that when he said it just needed some lube on the tang and now it's all good I specifically asked them to go over it one time more in detail. The slight lock rock is still there, and I can feel the liners shift when I smack the spine against my palm. I also got the lock to fail multiple times by giving it a little smack on a wooden picnic table. I'll be the first to say that 99% of lock failures are due to the knife user, but this is just unacceptable. I would have more confidence in using a $2.99 gas station special.
I'm furious to say the least. And to add insult to injury now I'm also out the $30 it cost me to ship the thing to Italy.
Ughhhhh. Now I'm off to see if they'll at least send me a replacement. If this thing wasn't so expensive I would chunk it in the trash just to be done with it.
Rant over(for now)

knifehunt · Dec 28, 2015

This is one reason I never by knives from out of the country makers/manufacturers. Warranty is just too much of a hassle, and time consuming. Unless it's a sub $200 dollar knife, then I'm not so concerned if it's a lemon.

SadSappySucker · Dec 28, 2015

I have definitely learned my lesson about over seas warranty. This won't happen again. I mean I'm all for supporting entrepreneurs all over the globe, but this has been a complete nightmare.

neffarious · Dec 31, 2015

Did you use PayPal? You have 180 days to file a claim if you did.

SadSappySucker · Jan 5, 2016

Nope, and I bought the knife more than 6 months ago. I'm pretty much over it. I'm just going to chalk it up as an expensive lesson learned.
I might try tweaking the lockbar now that I know I won't be getting it replaced.

Marko3 · Jan 6, 2016

SadSappySucker said:
Nope, and I bought the knife more than 6 months ago. I'm pretty much over it. I'm just going to chalk it up as an expensive lesson learned.
I might try tweaking the lockbar now that I know I won't be getting it replaced.

Try filing the angle of the blade not lock . The blade is hardened but you probably only need to take a tiny bit off. I had a Fantoni that did the same thing.

sirupatespecial · Jan 7, 2016

Marko3 said:
Try filing the angle of the blade not lock . The blade is hardened but you probably only need to take a tiny bit off. I had a Fantoni that did the same thing.

At least now everyone knows that it's not just you. Damn shame. Go to filing on your new knife. I guess.

Fantoni huh? Never heard of 'em before now. Never own one after this. Thanks for sharing your experience. Both of you.

Marko3 · Jan 8, 2016

sirupatespecial said:
At least now everyone knows that it's not just you. Damn shame. Go to filing on your new knife. I guess.

Fantoni huh? Never heard of 'em before now. Never own one after this. Thanks for sharing your experience. Both of you.

I wouldn't go that far as to not wanting to own one. They do make a great knife. I have a couple Loveless designed knives that made that are perfect .

SadSappySucker · Jan 9, 2016

Marko3 said:
Try filing the angle of the blade not lock . The blade is hardened but you probably only need to take a tiny bit off. I had a Fantoni that did the same thing.

I might give that a try. So you just filed a hair off of where the blade contacts the liner lock? That seems like it might do it.

And that's interesting to know that I'm not the only one to have this issue.

Marko3 · Jan 9, 2016

SadSappySucker said:
I might give that a try. So you just filed a hair off of where the blade contacts the liner lock? That seems like it might do it.

And that's interesting to know that I'm not the only one to have this issue.

I think there was a review on youtube once about another guy having a issue .. I like the knife . I would like to get the smaller one someday. But I took a cheap diamond file and did like three passes with it and it was perfect . I doubt you could measure the amount even if there was a way