I lusted after the monoblock Ti SR-1 from the first time I saw it mentioned here on BF. I wasn't able to afford it until I attended my first BLADE show last June in Atlanta. I only had enough moola for the SR-1 - I went to LionSteel's booth and met Gianni. There were deals - and one-of-a-kinds - but I wanted the SR-1. Our car owner/driver, with whom several of us had ridden to Atlanta from Birmingham with, suddenly announced he had to leave. A mad dash to LionSteel's booth and I selected a fresh box SR-1 Ti G (gunmetal) - paid a fair price - and left. On the trip, everyone remarked how hard to open and stiff it was - I should have checked it. Long story shortened - the pivots were tight - one would loosen - the other, the actual pivot, was frozen to the blade. I lubed it and let it soak - for months - no help. I elected to take the pivot apart - the tool is not made for that much torque - the tips bent, marring the pivot side. I removed the screw side easily - and tapped the pivot out using a small brass rod and a 2 oz jeweler's hammer. The pivot was galled - I polished it - even buffed the head, where the tool holes were deeply marred. The blade hole was fine. I reassembled it and it worked far better than it ever had before - but the pivot head, screw head, and tool were 'not the same'. I put it up - and contacted Gianni by e-mail. He sent me a diagram - I selected the parts I needed and thought I contacted Gianni re same - I don't keep drafts, and couldn't find his reply.
Monday (Feb 4th) found me asking him how long it should take to get the parts - in his reply, he said he'd FEDEX them the next day - and did - they arrived this AM! Within an hour, I had a functional and perfect SR-1! What great service!! I don't fault LionSteel for assembling a galled pivot into a knife - it just felt operationally a bit stiff... okay, real stiff! I do wish they had a better tool for it. Of course, my well received CRK 'StarTac' Umnumzaan uses a plastic tool with plastic tips - that you have to pay extra to get - for it's similar pivot and screw head. Normally, a lot of torque shouldn't be needed. At any rate, I am well pleased with Gianni's service and my LionSteel knife - it's like getting it new today - and I certainly couldn't afford it now!
Thanks, Gianni!!
Stainz
Monday (Feb 4th) found me asking him how long it should take to get the parts - in his reply, he said he'd FEDEX them the next day - and did - they arrived this AM! Within an hour, I had a functional and perfect SR-1! What great service!! I don't fault LionSteel for assembling a galled pivot into a knife - it just felt operationally a bit stiff... okay, real stiff! I do wish they had a better tool for it. Of course, my well received CRK 'StarTac' Umnumzaan uses a plastic tool with plastic tips - that you have to pay extra to get - for it's similar pivot and screw head. Normally, a lot of torque shouldn't be needed. At any rate, I am well pleased with Gianni's service and my LionSteel knife - it's like getting it new today - and I certainly couldn't afford it now!
Thanks, Gianni!!
Stainz