Need a little help with a backlock

[joeldworkin307]

So I picked up a Spyderco Executive plain edge recently. I've never handled one in person so I was really excited. It was pretty well used with a horrible sharpening job, but again it's a plain edge Exec so who cares. What I do care about is that I can push on the blade spine and the lock disengages. It looks solid with no wobble but behaves like a slipjoint. Is there anything I can do or is it destined to be a model that just sits in the back of the safe, too ugly for display but too rare to give up?

 

[yablanowitz]

Hard to tell without seeing it. Most likely problem is pocket lint buildup. If it gets under the lock bar it can prevent the lock from engaging properly, and it can be pretty hard to reach. With the blade halfway open and the lock release fully depressed a toothpick or dental pick may be able to extract the crud. Compressed air or starting fluid sprayed from the outside may be able to blow out any obstruction as well. Good luck.

 

[DocT]

I second that. The most likely thing is some sort of crud build up either in the tang where the latch engages, or on the lock bar latch on the under side where it grips. The other likely culprit is the spring under the lock bar has weakened for some reason over time and use. You might call Spyderco and see what they say.