Para-Military

K

kindred_spirits

Joined
Jul 16, 2006
Messages
916
Hi STR,

I just received a factory second Para Military in a trade. There is a tremendous amount of vertical bladeplay. I'm pretty sure Spyderco won't touch it. I was wondering if there was anything you could do? Thanks.
 
Maybe so. I've helped some others in the past. I'd need the knife of course.

I ask everyone that is mailing anything to me to please read post number one in my low rider pocket clip thread (bold print part) to get the routine I need. Once you have it down then you can mail at your convenience with the note and detailed request.

Thanks for asking and thanks for stopping by.

STR

4006 Woodville Road
Bartlesville Oklahoma 74006
 
Oh yeah. By the way that pocket clip thread is a sticky post at the top of every page on my forum.

Thanks

STR
 
You know I haven't had to do much to those in the past. It is usually a slight adjustment but there is only so much I can do for that one. The lock is cut out with a laser so I can't remake it. In the past all its taken is a slight whack with a ball peen hammer and a good flat end punch to squish out a bit more lock to contact the blade or the stop sooner than now. Then you test it and if it meets up without snagging you have a good to go lock again. If it needs some polishing you take a bit off until you either eliminate the play or improve it from what it was.

It all depends on the amount of time this takes. Could be a $15 fix could be $35 but I doubt much more.

Theoretically one could bump up the stop pin in size but anyone that has had the PM apart knows things are tight already and doing this would change not only the lock which would then need adjusted to be able to slide by the new bigger stop but it would also require the blade be modified to sit as it does now at the closed position since the new stop would make the point stick up out of the handle. Theoretical is the key word here. I've never done it with the Para Mil and really don't want to start doing that. There are a lot of Para Military knives out there with a bit of vertical blade play. Its stiill a very reliable lock even with it like this but the movement of the blade is a general pest to a lot of folks. Me included.

STR
 
Ryan I got your folder in the mail this morning. I noted the excess blade play you spoke of in your note. Boy you were not kidding. That is about as bad as I have seen and it even had play with the lock all way across the interface contact.

I took your folder apart and noted where it needed to be looked at specifically for the lock up and did manage to get it fixed for you. I think it will eventually work its way in further and tighten up even more for you here shortly but being stainless steel instead of titanium my experience has shown me that hard stainless wears much better with this type repair. No guarantees with this though as even new locks of this type have shown a tendency to develop a tad of blade play. However I seriously doubt the excessive play you once experience with this folder will return.

I had meant to scan a picture of the lock out of the folder for before and after the repair views but it wasn't showing up well enough to really see what I did to it in the after shot since its so small. I did however go ahead and post a picture for you of the contact as it looks now after the repair. I'm sure you recall how far the lock traveled when you mailed it.

For a second there I was wondering if I was even going to get this one apart to repair it. The loctite on all the screws made it a bit challenging to even get the lock out to get access to it and when I tried the barrels just spun freely requiring two of every size torx for holding it one on each side. Even doing this though I was unable to break the seal on that rear screw. I had to heat up the rear screw head with my wood burner and give it a tweak after getting it good and hot just to make it give up its hold on that one. I always worry about stripping these smaller screw heads but none of yours suffered any trama from it. All is well now.

Anyway, its fixed. I have a pocket clip to make this morning yet and will need to run to the Post Office to drop it off later so when I do that I will mail this one home to you also.

You are looking at the minimum shop fee on this one due to the time I spent on it. I had hoped to get it in and out quicker but it gave me a bit of a fit getting the lock out so it bumped up the time to $30. But you have a good user now. It should be fine.

Thanks and let us know your thoughts when you get it back.

STR
 
Lgtfutatcableone.net but remember to replace the "at" with the @ sign and thats it.

Thanks

STR
 
Hey STR,

I just got the knife back today. You did a perfect job. The lockup is perfect, and the bladeplay is reduced significantly. When I recieved this knife, I thought it could never be fixed, due to the massive amount of play. Thanks a lot!
 
I try. I believe after you have used that a bit that the little bit of movement it has now will go away at least for a while. Hopefully a good long while. What I'm saying is that the lock should work its way in further with some use once its broke in more and once it moves in further it will lock up firmer as it self corrects.


STR
 
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