New Kershaw Skyline!

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DIYknife

Joined
Sep 1, 2014
Messages
52
Just got in a Kershaw Skyline. Man, this is a prettily knife. It's also super lightweight and came very sharp. One question though: Does the blade just not come out all the way with the flipper or does it just need WD-40/oil?
 
The Skyline is non-assisted, so it's all up to your own finger power to get the blade deployed and locked up.
Experiment with some different ways of doing it.

There's the "switch flick" which is a fast downward stroke, like flicking off a light switch

And there's the "button press" which is where you press straight down on the flipper, like it's a button, until you've built up enough pressure, then rock your finger back slightly til that pressure overcomes the detente and the blade pops out.

The good news is, you have a Skyline, and that's a great knife to learn on.
 
I had a similar question concerning my first Skyline Carbon Fiber and along with a drop of 3 on one oil and nightly practice I now have the "switch flick" down pat.
 
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Finger strength and practice would be more useful than adding mor lubricant to the pivot. Once you have your technique down, then you can add oil and/or adjust the pivot.
 
[video=youtube;VrwKNhUYUVo]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrwKNhUYUVo[/video]

Watch and learn
 
Thanks for posting that Scurvy, much appreciated. :)

I saw this thread and was excited that there had been a new Skyline release...
 
Sorry about the confusion and thanks for posting everyone. So I've tried out both methods and the button press works slowly and only when the knife is towards the floor, and the switch flick doesn't work at all. I think the switch flick doesn't work out because my hands are too small. Advice?
 
DIYknife said:
Sorry about the confusion and thanks for posting everyone. So I've tried out both methods and the button press works slowly and only when the knife is towards the floor, and the switch flick doesn't work at all. I think the switch flick doesn't work out because my hands are too small. Advice?
Click to expand...

Take it apart, clean it well (grease, grit, etc), and then reassemble with a tiny bit of tuff glide or some other light lubricant. Experiment with the tightness of the pivot. You can run it slightly loose, especially if you use some of the weaker loctite on the screw. My skyline flies open at all angles.
 
jprime84 said:
Take it apart, clean it well (grease, grit, etc), and then reassemble with a tiny bit of tuff glide or some other light lubricant. Experiment with the tightness of the pivot. You can run it slightly loose, especially if you use some of the weaker loctite on the screw. My skyline flies open at all angles.
Click to expand...
Yes, exactly this. My Skyline was very difficult to flip open with just my finger initially. When I disassembled it, polished the washers and added a little lube it became a consistently easy flipper. Also since these are mass produced, it's expected that some may flip perfectly from the factory while others not quite. The good news is its a rather easy 'fix' if you're comfortable taking the knife apart.
 
DIYknife said:
Sorry about the confusion and thanks for posting everyone. So I've tried out both methods and the button press works slowly and only when the knife is towards the floor, and the switch flick doesn't work at all. I think the switch flick doesn't work out because my hands are too small. Advice?
Click to expand...

Button press is the best method for the Skyline. Just takes practice to preload it before you snap it open.
 
Wrist flick definitely helps, also rotating your wrist to get some centrifugal force.

I found the skyline to be a bit tougher to flick open reliably than other flippers, it is my smallest one so I think part of the
Issue is the small blade doesn't have the same momentum on the pivot as larger heavier ones do. I notice my smaller Ripple is not as easy to flip as my larger one so that may be it.
 
DIYknife said:
Sorry about the confusion and thanks for posting everyone. So I've tried out both methods and the button press works slowly and only when the knife is towards the floor, and the switch flick doesn't work at all. I think the switch flick doesn't work out because my hands are too small. Advice?
Click to expand...
You need to practice your technique, that is the only advice I can offer. Ypou need to press the flipper into the handle quickly and with authority. Not everyone can do that from the first time, which is why practice is important. If all else failte, use the thumbstud/bladestops.
 
I'll add this...

I collect Skylines and own 14 (IIRC). Of that number, several have come difficult to flip. Others have been fine right out of the box. I've got tons of flippers, so the issue wasn't inability to flip. It just seems (to me, anyway) that there is a bit of disparity in how tight the pivot screw is on individual knives. In each case, I was able to get the knife flipping properly by barely loosening the pivot screw. 1/8 to 1/4 max seems to do the job without off-centering the blade. Then I usually lube it a bit (I use CRK lube) just to be sure and it is gtg.

Best of luck. :)
 
I carried a skyline for about a year before I broke the tip off and retired it. I could open it very quickly with a flip of the wrist.

I purchased a benchmade mini-griptilian to replace it and regret the purchase. I like everything about the skyline better except the 154cm steel on the benchmade is better.

For me the skyline was the perfect size and I loved the way it opens.
 
MassMatt said:
I notice my smaller Ripple is not as easy to flip as my larger one so that may be it.
Click to expand...

I do think there is something to that -- some smaller models do not flip as well as larger: Hinderer XMs are a good example.

The large bronze Ripple flips like a champ; the small is difficult to open, much less flip. Earlier Ripple models flip fine.

Most of my Skylines feel like molasses while opening. But they are better flippers than the small bronze Ripple or the small XM-3.
 
MassMatt said:
I notice my smaller Ripple is not as easy to flip as my larger one so that may be it.
Click to expand...

I do think there is something to that -- some smaller models do not flip as well as larger: Hinderer XMs are a good example.

The large bronze Ripple flips like a champ; the small is difficult to open, much less flip. Earlier Ripple models flip fine.

Most of my Skylines feel like molasses while opening. But they are better flippers than the small bronze Ripple or the small XM-3.
 
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