Problem with my Goddard.....

O

Owen

Joined
Aug 23, 2000
Messages
178
I've posted before that the Goddard is my favorite Spyderco. It fits my hand well, is not expensive, holds an edge, etc.
I don't normally fool with it much, since it's my work knife. When it gets dirty, I clean it, and when it gets dull (once in a long while), I sharpen it. That's about it.
For some reason, over the past week or so, the lockup has gotten much weaker. With the blade locked in place, I can close it (without disengaging the lock) with little effort. It fails the "spine whack test", too. I don't know what I might have done to hurt it. It gets used pretty hard, but only for cutting (I don't use it for a screwdriver or prybar).
I've never used a warranty on a knife. I don't even know what Spyderco's warranty is to tell the truth. Should I send it back?
Sal, this isn't a manufacturers defect. I'm sure it's from a couple of years of hard use.
Will Spyderco return the locking mechanism to "good as new", or should I just go buy a new one? I would gladly pay for any repair work.
I like the Goddard very much, and would not hesitate to buy another, but right now I don't trust mine.

Guess I'll check their website, which I probably should have done first, anyway.
 
Potential Simple Fix.

With the knife closed....

Look between the handle scales at the area of the blade around the pivot and just to the rear of the spydie hole in the crevice there...

This area is where the tooth of the locking bar goes into the blade to lock the knife.

You might find lint in there, if you do, that is probably the problem, remove it and enjoy...
 
MDP, thanks, that was the first thing I thought of, too. The knife's pretty clean, though. I took a paper clip and dug all the gunk out of the locking mechanism and rinsed it out again, but no change.
I didn't mention before that I am frequently alone at work and when our equipment is running smoothly, the Goddard gets played with alot to pass the time. It probably gets flicked open (fast and hard) 50-100 times a day, and that's been going on for a couple of years. When I said that I don't fool with it much, I meant that I don't worry about it-cause it's constanly being played with. Maybe I've just worn the locking bar down where it engages the blade.
 
Before having to send it back, try this. Saturate and flush with a solvent (WD40 hands down); work the action for a few minutes; and air blast all its crevices. Canned air is okay. But a shop compressor is 10x better. One never knows but something in there may be causing sticking or hindering the action. Bon chance!

L8r,
Nakano
 
I had the same problem with my wife's Ladybug. She uses it to cut bananas and sandwiches but never cleans it. I took a can of Gun Scrubber and flushed it out. The lock worked just like new after that. The Gun Scrubber didn't harm the FRN handle but I'm not sure if you can use it on Micarta.
 
Sandwiches with a ladybug?? Small sandwiches.
smile.gif


Pay attention to Gun Scrubber. It can literally MELT some polymers/ plastics! A few old hi cap Ramline magazines had the unfortunate experience. So too have some cheap aftermarket semi auto grip panels. Good to know it didn' t harm the FRN. But a good lube coating afterwards is essential since Gun Scrubber cleans to the bare metal.

L8r,
Nakano
 
Frank, I know what you mean. I've watched my wife make peanut butter sandwiches with her Ladybug (large ones, Nakano
smile.gif
) and in a moving car at that. I keep offerring to buy her a bigger knife but she just can't see any need when she can do everything she wants a knife for with her Ladybug
rolleyes.gif
.

------------------
Clay

Don't worry that the world might end tomorrow....in Australia it's tomorrow already.
 
Ok, I sprayed the lock mechanism several times with "screwloose" and used high pressure air on it with the blade in various positions. Unfortunately, this did not help (though I have a very clean knife, now
smile.gif
).
Guess I'll check with Spyderco on Monday, to see if anything can be done to fix it.
Thanks very much for your replies/help.
 
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