New mini CQC-7 is stiff

X

xmltok

Joined
Jul 6, 2007
Messages
5
I picked up a mini CQC-7 and a full size Commander this week. They are my first Emerson knives. The Commander is much easier to open and using the wave function a breeze. The CQC-7 is pretty tight and hard to get it to lock when opening from my pocket.

I've opened the blade up and tried applying lube to it, it helped a bit but I can only get it to feel like the Commander if I leave the screw loose.

Does this sound right? I'd like to loosen up the 7 so that it is easier to use.
 
this is common for new emersons. give it some time and it will break in. for example the liner lock will sometimes be harder to disengage, but over time it will wear in, similarly to the blade opening
 
I managed to quickly loosen it up a lot by tightening the screw and working the blade for a few minutes. Then when I returned the screw to normal the blade was a lot easier to move.
 
lube it up well and work the action some and it will loosen up just fine i bet......
 
After you've opened and closed it a couple of hundred times it will loosen up a bit. Emerson now uses plastic washers and I think they actually take more time to break in that the older copper/bronze ones.

You might also try using a lapping compound like JB bore cleaner on the washers and working them a bit to speed up the process. Just be sure to clean everything out thoroughly when you're done.
 
To be precise, as far as I know, Emerson Knives Inc. uses and has always used nylatron washers in the production pieces.

They definitely take a long time to break in, especially on coating.

Another factor is the secondary detent, which makes the action kind of stiff and rough.

-j
 
I recently purchased the same knife and had the same problem. After trying everything and giving the knife two weeks to loosen up, I sent the knife into Emerson for adjustment. It returned slightly altered, but just enough so that after two more weeks the knife is a an absolute pleasure to open and close.
 
They loosened the tightening screw slightly, but I had already done that. I believe they also dismantled the knife and shaved a tad off the liner lock. Whatever they did, two weeks later it works beautifully.
 
I took mine apart, tweaked the two detents, lubed & reassembled. Works fine. Went back in later and tightened it up a bit.
 
biogon said:
To be precise, as far as I know, Emerson Knives Inc. uses and has always used nylatron washers in the production pieces.

They definitely take a long time to break in, especially on coating.

Another factor is the secondary detent, which makes the action kind of stiff and rough.

-j
Click to expand...

I've got an early CQC7-Mini-B that has copper (metallic) washers . . .
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top