Ok is the advocate a wise purchase?.Want to hear people's opinions

1911nyymike23

1911nyymike23

Joined
Mar 25, 2015
Messages
344
Hey BF
Got some extra funds and been looking at a advocate. I love it's look, the ergos look great and m4 is one of, if not my favorite steel. I have watched and read everything I could find on it. I know that there are problems with the action on some of them. So, I guess my question is for anyone who has/ had one. What's your thoughts and opinions. Will it hold up to the riggers of use on a day to day basis? I'm a HVAC Tech. so it will see about more than opening mail and breaking down cardboard. Appreciate any input before I dump 200+ on one..Thanks
 
You'll get varied responses on this, I'm sure.
I have one - placed my order before all the videos/complaints started surfacing. I noticed the "grittiness the first time I flipped it open...didn't think too much of it, my ZT0808 felt the same way when I got it. I carry it a few times each week, use it occasionally; and nothing has changed. Mind you, I don't sit there mindlessly flipping & closing it, over and over again; so it could just be a matter of time before the issues others have had happen to mine. By the same token, though, I've never had any reason to disassemble it; so maybe it will be fine. Since I already have one, my only real choices are to keep/use it until the knife gives me reason to send it in, or put it on the shelf & wait.

Personally, at this stage in the game, I'd be uncomfortable making the purchase...I'd be more inclined to wait for a while & see how prevalent the issues really are; and, perhaps more importantly, what Spyderco chooses to do with the model. (If a fix/change is made, might as well wait until you can get the revised version).
 
If you want to take a chance I'd say go for it! I've seen lots of them out there that are just fine. But there are the ones that have problems too, I just don't know if the problems were self inflicted or actually like that from the factory. I'm also a HVAC tech too in Seattle, and we see quite a bit of rain so my main edc if it's raining here(most likely is then not) is the Spydiechef. That might be another one to check out, but I agree with you that Advocate is something else and I will get one someday. In the end I'd say go for it, Spyderco W&R will always take care of you brother!
 
My domino is supposedly susceptible to the same problem but seemingly hasn't had it yet. The Mantras are as well. I am not sure to the extent it is happening to everyone. However I have seen some very concerning pictures of the results of the BBs on the washers that lie between the BBs and titanium scales. I would stay away from that knife until Spyderco declares that they have definitively fixed it. If you really can't wait I'm sure you can get the knife and send it in if there is a problem.
 
1911nyymike23 said:
Hey BF
Got some extra funds and been looking at a advocate. I love it's look, the ergos look great and m4 is one of, if not my favorite steel. I have watched and read everything I could find on it. I know that there are problems with the action on some of them. So, I guess my question is for anyone who has/ had one. What's your thoughts and opinions. Will it hold up to the riggers of use on a day to day basis? I'm a HVAC Tech. so it will see about more than opening mail and breaking down cardboard. Appreciate any input before I dump 200+ on one..Thanks
Click to expand...
I have had the exact same thought/ concern. I've really been on the fence about this one so I appreciate the thread. Got some tax money that I've been dying to give to Sal and Eric.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk
 
Since you have asked for an opinion, I will give mine.

I bought an Advocate. It was brand new and the bearings or the detente were grinding on day one, but it flipped great. I did not adjust or change it in any way. I decided to send it in. I waited. Then, the warranty department contacted me to tell me that my knife was "within specs and any other one that they selected off of the shelf would be the same as mine". They offered me a credit to purchase a different knife. I selected the Euroedge in exchange and I am happy with it. However, I would have been more happy with another Advocate that did not grind on opening and closing.

Now, I don't know if they have made any changes in the Advocate since all of this debacle, but there have been many reports of people who are happy with theirs. I have not read of any changes. I do know that my Southard is grinding, but since I changed the scale, I have not sent it in to the warranty department. I have read reports of the same thing happening to the Mantra and the Domino. My personal opinion is that it is a flawed design in the bearing pivot. They need a hardened bearing race instead of a thin washer or go with no bearings.

Personally, I love the Advocate design except the pivot and I would like another one. But, until they announce a significant change to its' design, I would not consider one.
 
Thanks for the input guys. Man I REALLY love the advocates looks, but I'm not trying to send it back after a few weeks/ months of use. I'm not gonna try and start a what's up with spyderco bearing flipper thread. But I have a mantra and a domino. The mantra is buttery smooth while the domino is stiff to close. Is it something about the assembly or manufacturing end of things that could be causing issues from knife to knife? Oh well I guess I'll head back to the drawing board and figured out what I'm gonna do.
 
Another HVAC dude here!!
Don't have an Advocate yet, but definitely will soon. I do, however have a Southard and a Domino with the same bearing set up. They are my 2 favorite Spydies!!
Both flip as good as my ZTs, WEs and Brous'. Super smooth and lock up every time. Had both for about 2 years and both have been used plenty.
If you love the knife, get it. Some have had problems, most haven't.
I have faith in Sal.
Joe
Obligatory pics......why not??
b114fb78a48d76eaafc1b5197af0ef67.jpg

986b21078457116906135f55f823a78d.jpg
 
palonej said:
Another HVAC dude here!!
Don't have an Advocate yet, but definitely will soon. I do, however have a Southard and a Domino with the same bearing set up. They are my 2 favorite Spydies!!
Both flip as good as my ZTs, WEs and Brous'. Super smooth and lock up every time. Had both for about 2 years and both have been used plenty.
If you love the knife, get it. Some have had problems, most haven't.
I have faith in Sal.
Joe
Obligatory pics......why not??
b114fb78a48d76eaafc1b5197af0ef67.jpg

986b21078457116906135f55f823a78d.jpg
Click to expand...

Nice -- congrats!
 
Do you have faith in Spyderco's customer service. A product is only as good as the company who stands behind it. Spyderco stands behind their product so I say buy with confidence knowing that if you get one of the rare lemons that they will make it right.

That is just my take on it. ;)
 
bearfacedkiller said:
Do you have faith in Spyderco's customer service. A product is only as good as the company who stands behind it. Spyderco stands behind their product so I say buy with confidence knowing that if you get one of the rare lemons that they will make it right.

That is just my take on it. ;)
Click to expand...

Yup!! They have never failed me before. Why people seem to think they will now is something I don't understand.
Joe
 
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