Opening a Spyderco Folder (Liner, Lockback or Other)

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shanpowar

Joined
Aug 12, 2011
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3
Hello y'all! (First Post)

I own a plethora of Spyderco knives; from units like the Tasman and Ambitious to the Manix 2 and Native.

In many of the videos I see online, spyderco owners are able to effortlessly 'snap' open the blade wthout using their wrists at all. How do the do this?!! I've tried numerous times and i seem to always need a wrist flick to deploy the blade.

I've tried messing with the pivot screws and such : [

If it helps, the following is a list of the models I own and how much wrist i have to put in to deploy the blade.
  • Tenacious - Opened it once or twice without using wrist.
  • Manix 2 - Significant wrist flick needed, though I usually use the "axis-esque" lock to deploy it
  • Ambitious - No wrist flick required, though it's difficult on my thumb
  • Tasman Salt - Moderate wrist flick required
  • Native - Strong wrist flick required
  • Delica & Endura (Both Waves) - Incredible amount of wrist flick needed to deploy
  • UK Penknife, FRN, leaf shaped - Significant flick required

Please help!
 
Have you tried cleaning and lubing with something such as Benchmade Blue Lube? Or even WD-40 is good as a temp. I use bike bearing lube by parker and that works great.
 
I've tried WD-40, but to no avail.

The bike bearing lube... does it allow you to whip open your blade while keeping your wrist still?

Also, could you send me a link to the bike lube you use?

Much obliged,
 
The lube I use is great, you do need to remove the blade to apply it to the washers and the inner of the blade because it is some what paste-like but once it is on there is no need for wrist movement. Worked great on my stuck up Griptilian. When I can find where i put it I will try to find a link.
 
Try having your thumb pointing into the hole instead of parallel to the blade with the meat of your thumb in the hole. Using that I've been able to snap open my Tenacious even before applying WD40.
 
Make sure to push the blade forward with your thumb, not out to the side. All my spydies have been easy to open without flicking the wrist!

Yeah, and make sure to stick your thumb in there with the nail pointing forward :rolleyes:
 
I've been able to flick open ALL of my Spydies with just my thumb, so I'm not sure what you're talking about. Trying flicking your thumb straight up instead of the side.
 
Have your thumb about 15 degrees off-line from the handle, stick the tip of your thumb in the spydie hole (enough to catch) and like the two previous replies- flick your thumb up and the blade should follow suit. Keep at it, a bunch of times with each knife and you should find the sweet spot for each and then be a part of your muscle memory. Have fun.

Please note that all other issues should be resolved first- lube and pivot screw tension.
 
This is how I open spydies, I put the tip of my thumb inside the hole and flick my thumb up using my thumbnail kind of like flipping a quarter.
 
Backlocks are going to be harder to flick open due to the spring. I could do it with my very broken in original Persian, but the much newer Endura and Red Persian would have needed some help from the wrist Same thing with the UKPK which probably has an even stronger spring than the Endura, but I don't now since I've never had one. Once you break in the locks some more, it should be come easier.

Liner/Frame/Ball/Compression/Axis all have much less force to overcome. My Manix 2 was very flickable. I think they probably just need some more break in time.
 
The key is to load your thumb so your knuckle is pointing forward of the tip which is a little behind the knickle (tip of thumb only is in the Spyderhole) then push into the pivot like you wouldn't be able to open it - then adjust angle a hair outward and the blade will come out like it's on nitrous! Sounds harder than it is, once you get the feel it's simple, easy-peasy. :D
 
The UKPK is not meant to be flicked!! That is why is "locks in" at 90 and 180 degrees. It is called the UK Pen knife because Spyderco wanted to make a knife legal in the UK.
 
Brian1095 said:
This is how I open spydies, I put the tip of my thumb inside the hole and flick my thumb up using my thumbnail kind of like flipping a quarter.
Click to expand...

+1

Several of the knives on your list are lockbacks(mid-locks actually) which are inherently more difficult to open than a liner lock, frame lock, axis, etc...

If you do it the way everyone is describing in this thread, you should definitely be able flick the Tenacious, Ambitious, and Manix 2.

Once you get it, you won't understand how people can't flick these open. I can flick open my Tenacious with my thumb, index, middle, and ring finger on both hands.
 
Especially the Manix. I have one of the GITD ones and it just flies open. It's easier to flick than my lh millie.
 
All in the thumb. I could never do it until one day, it became inherent.

A few months back, had a guy buy a knife off of me. He first asked if it could be flicked, I said easily, he returned it and basically called me a liar saying it cant be done with full construction spydies, until I made him this vid :D
[video=youtube;KO_3Kg-ReWE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KO_3Kg-ReWE[/video]
 
Last edited:
Thanks for the help everybody. It seems my knives are new and need to be "broken in."

And, like some of you said, You dont get it, till you get it...

Other than technique, what lube helps best? How much tension is needed in the pivot screw? How do you apply the lube? (i.e. to the general area of the pivot or take it apart and apply tto washers?)

Again, much appreciated.
 
I put one drop of militec or 3in1 on each side. No need for disassembly. For the pivot, if I adjust it at all, just make it tight enough so there is no side to side play. Mostly just llleave it alone.
 
dericdesmond said:
All in the thumb. I could never do it until one day, it became inherent.

A few months back, had a guy buy a knife off of me. He first asked if it could be flicked, I said easily, he returned it and basically called me a liar saying it cant be done with full construction spydies, until I made him this vid :D
Click to expand...

Nice response man. A picture speaks a 1000 words. Did he buy it back or what? I need closure!
 
cziv said:
Did he buy it back or what? I need closure!
Click to expand...

Thats another story in itself. When he asked me the first time if it could flick, he said he asked because his friend had one and it wasnt flippable. When I sold him mine and he wanted to return it due to not being able to flick it (what a silly excuse btw:p), he was very rude, I was level, told him sorry man but I no lie, I flip it easily :D He argued, mainly because I think he thought I wasnt goin to accept the return. Once I got the knife back and made the vid, he suddenly was level and minimal with his words, he said basically, "you were rright I was wrong" and that was it. After thinking about it and observing the knife a bit more, I noticed it to have some minor imperfections I didnt recall seeing when I first sold it. Id almost be willing to bet he swapped mine for his buds. BTW, it wasnt a member here, atleast the deal didnt occur here :thumbup:
 
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