Paramilitary Correctly Working?

C

creativeoutlethobbie

Joined
Apr 9, 2009
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196
I got a new paramilitary today and I have some questions about it... My compression lock is extremely difficult to push in to close the knife. I basically have to use 2 hands and close the knife using my thumb. I tend to like knifes that I can open and close with one hand. Is the tension on the compression lock adjustable? What is the larger screw in the center of the pocket clip setting for? I've tried to play with it, but it won't budge.

My other question is that I've seen youtube videos of people flipping the blade like a benchmade axis lock (flipping it closed). I don't necessarily want that, but mine seems to be overly tight. It can barely be flicked open. Playing with the screw on the opposite side of the pocket clip does nothing either. Does this sound right for the knife?

Thanks
 
The center of the pocket clip is the pivot screw. You need a torx driver to adjust it. Actually, the torx part is on the opposite side. The one in the pocket clip center is just the female part of the screw. You need to loosen it in order to do the (silly) flicks you see of the para on youtube. I prefer mine tight so mine doesn't flip closed.
 
Are you talking about pivot tension - related to the screw and lubrication?

How exactly do you open and close the knife? The way I find most comfortable is to press against the Spydie hole with my thumb, the heel of my palm against the side of the knife (opposite pocket-clip) and then squeeze inwards with the tip of my index finger. However, I prefer mine a bit tight, this helps reduce accidental openings AND wear/tear on the locking surface.

I would suggest getting two Torx drivers, and work a bit on the pivot screw (large one in the middle of the pocket clip).

But if you prefer, it might be best to just send it in to Spyderco for service.
 
that is not normal.

the two i have owned had very smooth actions.

im a little confused. is the blade tight, the lock tight, or both?


and the screw in the middle of the clip should be the pivot screw.
 
Mine are adjusted so they have no play, but can be flicked. It's holding the knife and pinching the tab with you're middle finger and thumb to the right scale.
 
wow lots of fast responses. The main issue I'm having is that the ease of closing the lock is surprisingly much more difficult than I expected. Mine seems to be much more difficult relative to some video's I've seen. My index finger and thumbs are mashed at this point.

Here are the characteristics of the knife and what I've done.
- The blade is perfectly center with zero blade play.
- I open the blade with the normal spydie hole. (This is spyderco #8 or 9 in my collection :))
- Out of the box the blade was ultra stiff in opening.
- Playing with the pivot screw on both sides surprisingly doesn't alter the opening that much. I can make it more tight if I want, but not less tight.
- I've added some blue lube and later some mineral oil to the lock and pivot.
- Loosening the torx screws for the lock bar did help some.

Still sound normal?
 
A compression lock does take a little getting used to. You just got your Para today, I would handle it for several days, then make an observation on it. One of mine was the same way, after carrying for awhile it's much smoother. I've never had to adjust my Paras or Militarys FWIW. They all operate very well.
 
tight or gritty action is fairly easy to remedy.

re: the lock, is it sticky or just require a lot of force to disengage?
 
Hello,I am replying about the Spydie Para i was reading a post from createtiveoutlethobbie that his Para was very tight when opening.I also have the same problem the Para is 3 weeks old i been carrying it around to get some use ,i used mineral oil/ blue grease/petrolatum.That locking bar is tighter than a crabs ass.Is that normal ?? I have to use 2 hands to unlock the Para !! that's not right. I have the Military and there is no problem like this that lock bar is perfect the way it should be.
 
A couple months ago when I first got the Para, I made the exact same post as you did here, minus the pivot tension problem. The lock seemed to be defective to me as it was so difficult to depress. My fingers were killing me. Trust us when we tell you that it will get better. It's hard to believe now as they're burning like hell, but your fingers will toughen up and the lock will ease up a bit with time and wear. In a week you won't even believe you posted this. Promise.

Regarding the pivot tension. That it will tighten but not loosen sounds wrong. Wrong meaning defective. The D2 Para has one of the smoothest actions I've ever experienced. Like others have mentioned, the screw head in the middle of the pocketclip is the female side of the pivot and is not supposed to be turned. The torx screw head on the opposite (male) side of that is the one you're supposed to adjust. But since you can only tighten and not loosen it, you might check to see if the female (pocketclip side) screw is spinning as you turn/tighten the torx (male) screw on the opposite side. If it is spinning, then you need to secure it with another screwdriver that fits it, while loosening the torx (male) side simultaneously.

Worst comes to worse, send it back for repair on warranty. But don't give up on it. From butt to tip, it's such a fabulous knife and it deserves every bit of high praise it's been receiving lately.
 
I have four Para-Millies and three are smooth and effortless to disengage the compression lock. The forth exhibits exactly the behavior that you described. It is definitely not normal. I have put mine through months of use and sore fingers and it has loosened up slightly, but still hurts. If you can, exchange it for a good one at your dealers and if you can't, send it back to Golden.
 
Adjusting the pivot and having little effect definitely means something is wrong. I would send it in to spyderco and also mention how hard it is to disengage the lock. It's easy to do mine. I don't have strong fingers or anything.
 
Difficulty closing your Para is not normal.
I would recommend sending back to Spyderco. However if you insist on repairing the problem yourself, I suspect the cause of the problem might lie with the stop pin not the pivot pin.
I've occasionally run into similar problems after doing full strip downs of the Para. Check to see how much the blade tang is in contact with the stop pin during closing. If the blade tang is rubbing hard against the pin you will feel it. All that is usually needed is to gradually rotate the stop pin a 1/16th at a time until feel is back to normal.
An uneven grind of the tang could also cause the problem, so IMHO your best bet would be to send it back.
 
my s30v para was the same way when i first got it lock was sticking and super stiff ... but like already said it will break in with use mine is now as smooth as butter.. my d2 came smooth brand new but some are just a little tighter then other
 
I have four and all open silky smooth but lock up with no wiggle in any direction. If I hold the knives horizontal and disengage the lock the blade falls.

Yours doesn't sound right ot me.

What date code is on the box BTW? Two cap letters . . .
 
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What kind of turnaround time have you seen with sending knives in to Spyderco?

The date code on the box is GH. Mine is a black g10, s30v, satin finish mode. It was purchased new from amazon. I'm wondering if the vendor had it around for a long time.
 
I am not trying to be a bragger here but I bet I have owned more Para's than anyone on this forum. It's still my favorite knife. I may, in fact, still own more than most people here.

In my opinion, it's normal. If you just got it, wait a week or two. I have owned about 4 that do what you are talking about. The more I messed with them the better they got. They ended up being the best locking and smoothest Para's I have owned.

I guess (to borrow a quote from Archieblue) I am sort of a "Captain Dick Around". I play around with my Para's so darn much that they just get crazy smooth.

When the knife is closed, take a No. 2 pencil and draw on the ramp on the back of the tang. Then open and close the knife about 10 times. Then just keep using it.

Or....you can send it back, but I don't think there is anything wrong with it.

By the way, the screw in the center of the clip is the pivot screw and it should be a Torx T-8. I've had a few that a T-9 would fit.



KarlMaldensNose said:
A couple months ago when I first got the Para, I made the exact same post as you did here, minus the pivot tension problem. The lock seemed to be defective to me as it was so difficult to depress. My fingers were killing me. Trust us when we tell you that it will get better. It's hard to believe now as they're burning like hell, but your fingers will toughen up and the lock will ease up a bit with time and wear. In a week you won't even believe you posted this. Promise.

Regarding the pivot tension. That it will tighten but not loosen sounds wrong. Wrong meaning defective. The D2 Para has one of the smoothest actions I've ever experienced. Like others have mentioned, the screw head in the middle of the pocketclip is the female side of the pivot and is not supposed to be turned. The torx screw head on the opposite (male) side of that is the one you're supposed to adjust. But since you can only tighten and not loosen it, you might check to see if the female (pocketclip side) screw is spinning as you turn/tighten the torx (male) screw on the opposite side. If it is spinning, then you need to secure it with another screwdriver that fits it, while loosening the torx (male) side simultaneously.

Worst comes to worse, send it back for repair on warranty. But don't give up on it. From butt to tip, it's such a fabulous knife and it deserves every bit of high praise it's been receiving lately.
Click to expand...

And yes.....exactly. Well said.
 
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