New Spyderco

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Pappabearr

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Sep 23, 2021
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I just got my first Spyderco, it's a paramilitary 2. Nice knife, but it is stiff to open and close. Will it get smoother from just normal wear? I have other brands of knives that were butter smooth new.
 
Is it not smooth or just too tight? If the latter, try unscrewing the pivot a bit if you want it looser. Loosening the stop pin screws can also sometimes help.
 
Pappabearr said:
I just got my first Spyderco, it's a paramilitary 2. Nice knife, but it is stiff to open and close. Will it get smoother from just normal wear? I have other brands of knives that were butter smooth new.
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You didn’t mention if it was new or not. As kreole mentioned it could be tight, especially if someone has tinkered with it. I have not handled one that was stiff. I would try a little oil and work it a bit. I run mine dry up here in winter so they don’t freeze up. You will likely love the knife- It is my favorite folder.
 
beeinak said:
You didn’t mention if it was new or not. As kreole mentioned it could be tight, especially if someone has tinkered with it. I have not handled one that was stiff. I would try a little oil and work it a bit. I run mine dry up here in winter so they don’t freeze up. You will likely love the knife- It is my favorite folder.
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Yes, It is a new knife.
 
My new Para 3 was tight out of the box too.
I backed off the pivot screw just a click and it's fast and free falling now.
Just check for blade play, if there is any, tighten it just a tiny bit again. You'll find the happy spot.
 
Add a drop of oil on each side of the pivot. Work it in and if that dont help, loosen the pivot screw a tiny bit.

If its still tight after that, report back
 
My crewcarta was stiff out of the box. Added oil worked it a bit. Blew it out with compressed air and then broke it in over a few days. Butter smooth with no adjustments.
 
After working my Para 2 for a couple days and a little oil this morning it's improving. Not butter smooth, but getting there. Might add, without fooling with the pivot screw either.
 
Pappabearr said:
After working my Para 2 for a couple days and a little oil this morning it's improving. Not butter smooth, but getting there. Might add, without fooling with the pivot screw either.
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Great to hear!!
Don’t always need to break out the tools 🧰!!
John 🎅
 
I keep all my PM2 folders kinda tight. Whenever I adjust them to be flickable, they develop a bit of side to side play.

All five models I own do this, despite messing around with the screws.

So, I just keep 'em tight.
 
New knives running on washers often require a break-in period, in my experience. I'd give it a chance to wear in.
 
MolokaiRider said:
I keep all my PM2 folders kinda tight. Whenever I adjust them to be flickable, they develop a bit of side to side play.

All five models I own do this, despite messing around with the screws.
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I'm surprised. All of the 8 (if I'm counting right) compression lock models that I have had were easy to flick open with thumb or finger out of the box. No blade play. This is why I am still a Spyderco customer,

The Caribbean, though, takes a fairly firm wrist flick to close, even after fiddling with screws and lubrication.

Spyderco backlocks are another matter entirely. Some were good out of the box, some took months of breaking in, several required disassembly and adjustment of the spring and/or tang. One Cara Cara I gave up on. This is why I have almost stopped being a Spyderco customer.
 
Another Shepherd said:
I'm surprised. All of the 8 (if I'm counting right) compression lock models that I have had were easy to flick open with thumb or finger out of the box. No blade play. This is why I am still a Spyderco customer,

The Caribbean, though, takes a fairly firm wrist flick to close, even after fiddling with screws and lubrication.

Spyderco backlocks are another matter entirely. Some were good out of the box, some took months of breaking in, several required disassembly and adjustment of the spring and/or tang. One Cara Cara I gave up on. This is why I have almost stopped being a Spyderco customer.
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Yeah, I was kinda bummed, but to be fair my interpretation of blade wiggle may be more extreme than others. My Taiwan Spydies have no play at all.
 
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