Native lockbar spring tension question

S

SYK

Joined
Feb 21, 2000
Messages
2,232
I just bought a zytel 440V today, and am quite happy with it except that I am slightly worried that spring tension on the lockbar release may be a bit too mild.

I'm used to the new Endura and Delica, and the spring tension on their lockbars is much heavier than for this Native of mine.

Is the mild tension a purposeful design element to make the Native's action smoother or is there something wrong with my knife?

Would appreciate some help here.
 
The Native that I have also seems to have a relatively weak back spring, so I doubt that yours is unique or defective.

Does that compromise the strength of the lock? I don't know for sure, but I doubt it. However, it does make opening and closing the knife smoother.

It might be more practical to worry about the knife opening slightly when it's in your pocket. Since it's tip up, you could cut yourself while reaching in to grab it. With the Native, it would be prudent to pay special attention to how it's carried; making sure that the blade's spine is pressed against a seam.
 
I wouldn't worry about it as long as the lock seats itself all all the way consistently. And the knife is staying shut.
A lockback relies on a kind of a triangle effect between the pivot pin, backspring pin and the tip of the backspring.The spring is only there to hold things in place and engage the lock. It doesn't have to be exceptionally strong to be effective.

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It'll feel better when it stops hurting.
 
Cerulean and Matt Shade--

Thanks for your posts. I've come across a review by Dexter Ewing where he too comments on the "mild" spring tension of the lockbar. I think he says that it was purposely done like that to make the action smoother....

And smooth it is,...I usually wrist flick open the endura and delica, but with this one I like to use the hole. I tend to hit the hole much more easily also...I think the knife is really well designed.

One small point--the blade has a lot of sharp parts on it, it would be nice if we didn't have to "chamfer(?)" these parts down by ourselves...

I have the feeling that for a zytel lockback at this price, it's hard to get something better.
 
OK, I've been using it for a couple of days and the more I use it, the more I like it.

The best part of the design is the position of the hole, right up against the zytel. It makes it real easy to hit the hole with the thumb every time. I hope that this is the same on the Temperence Jr that I want to buy also.

With my previous endura and delica, I had the feeling that it wasn't easy to hit the hole under stress, so I was always wrist flicking them open.

The handle shape is much more comfortable for hard work or even emergency movements, it is just too good.

And so affordable too. This guy Sal has really got his marbles together when it comes to designing knives.

Best wishes from the far east, I'm going to get another one or two natives next week...I think they'll make good gifts....
 
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