Problems with Kizer Knives

YmatisU

YmatisU

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Recently I purchased a Kizer Gemini from a popular online knife retailer. The knife was shipped fast and couldn't be more happy with the experience. The Gemini seemed to meet all my needs for an EDC yet there was only one problem. The blade was a tad off center when closed and the action a little tight. So beings that the pivot was a standard Torx wrench I attempted to loosen it up some hoping for the best possible use of the ball bearings in action. It might even fix the blade centering as well. To my utter and total dismay the pivot screw loosened normally and Poof! just stopped. It was if the right combination set on a bank vault and fully engaged. At this point the pivot would neither tighten nor loosen or move in any direction. Normally I would not care but there are gaps between the washers and blade on both sides, the lockup now sketchy, and about 1/25 -1/13 inch handle play. Add the fact that the blade is now fully touching one titanium slab and it makes for an unusable knife. I have tried everything to either loosen or tighten down the pivot all the way to make the knife useable and as a result, only put scratches on the backside pivot and handle scale on an otherwise brand new knife.

I contacted Kizer and the responses have been slow and not very eager to remedy the situation. I described the problem to them multiple times, gave them all my information and asked to either let me send the knife in to the knife either tightened with blade centering fix, a brand new pivot, or an exchange for a replacement that works. As of tomorrow it will be 2 weeks since I first reaching out and still no word or anything.

Has anyone else had this sort of problem? Is this normal for a Chinese based-company???
 
Hi, YmatisU:

I apologize for your issues with the Gemini. I want to emphasize that this is not a normal behavior for our warranty dept. One way or the other, you should be receiving clear responses.

Please send me an email ( you can do it through the Bladeforums system) and let me know some details about this problem. I just tested sending myself an email through the Bladeforums system and it came through without a problem.

Please include in the email:

1) Please let me know which email address you sent your original email to. I checked the email archive for Oct. (including spam) but could not locate your email on issue with Gemini pivot, this may explain why you haven't heard from us.

2) Please send a few photos if you could, of the issues you have experienced.

3) the best email to reach you.

4) If you want, you can forward me the entire email chain you've had up to this point.

I hope to hear from you in email soon and do my best to take care of this issue to the best of our abilities.

Thank you.

Kizer.
 
Very encouraging and timely response!
Please let us know how this works out.
 
Update.....Kizer indeed contacted me and took care of the problem. Much Thanks Kizer......will be a continued and future customer.
 
Yes, they mailed me out a new pivot. Because it was locked I had not choice to cut the backside and thus able to disassemble. It should be good to go when the new pivot arrives. The Gemini is such an awesome knife though.
 
After reading the Microtech misery, this is wonderfully refreshing!!
Thanks for posting the happy resolution!!
 
palonej said:
After reading the Microtech misery, this is wonderfully refreshing!!
Thanks for posting the happy resolution!!
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Very good point. A new comer to the industry that is not even located in this country gets it and Microtech still can't. Amazing.
 
craytab said:
Very good point. A new comer to the industry that is not even located in this country gets it and Microtech still can't. Amazing.
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And shameful as well. BTW, my hunch is that Kizer is anything but a newcomer to the industry. Based on the quality of the knives they've been producing from the very outset, my hunch is that these guys have been at it for awhile . . . just not under their own banner. Wherever they came from, however, it appears they got the formula right. :)
 
bld522 said:
And shameful as well. BTW, my hunch is that Kizer is anything but a newcomer to the industry. Based on the quality of the knives they've been producing from the very outset, my hunch is that these guys have been at it for awhile . . . just not under their own banner. Wherever they came from, however, it appears they got the formula right. :)
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They certainly are newcomers to customer service and they seem to be doing it better than many who have been at it for decades.
 
Amen, Hallelujah. :thumbup: :) The next indicated step would be for Kizer to establish their own Stateside service and support center so that ALL of their knives . . . not just some of their knives . . . can be repaired without having to send them offshore. I mean it's great that a lot of folks around here have the ability to fix their own knives. But that shouldn't be expected of the average knife buyer.

Furthermore, when I need service, I like to be able to pick up a phone and speak to a live human being. When Kizer puts that together with full Stateside service, I'll say that they've fully arrived. Until then, I'll continue to apply a discount to their products when I do my opportunity cost calculations. No $200 Kizers (or Reates or Stedemons) for me . . . not yet at least.

As far as I'm concerned, if the new Chinese manufacturers want to play in the big leagues, they're gonig to have to bring the "A" game.
 
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bld522 said:
Amen, Hallelujah. :thumbup: :) The next indicated step would be for Kizer to establish their own Stateside service and support center so that ALL of their knives . . . not just some of their knives . . . can be repaired without having to send them offshore. I mean it's great that a lot of folks around here have the ability to fix their own knives. But that shouldn't be expected of the average knife buyer.

Furthermore, when I need service, I like to be able to pick up a phone and speak to a live human being. When Kizer puts that together with full Stateside service, I'll say that they've fully arrived. Until then, I'll continue to apply a discount to their products when I do my opportunity cost calculations. No $200 Kizers (or Reates or Stedemons) for me . . . not yet at least.

As far as I'm concerned, if the new Chinese manufacturers want to play in the big leagues, they're gonig to have to bring the "A" game.
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Very true. I wonder how having a US based CS center will impact the pricing. Because right now, the pricing is a big factor for many who are attracted to the knives.
 
We've already seen Kizer's prices rise, at least partly due to the licensing fees they're having to pay on some of their models. And to a certain extent it's justified. I'd say their higher-end products are pretty much on par with ZT's both in terms of prices and build quality. What's not on par with ZT is Kizer's service and support. I have no idea how much installing a support system equal to ZT's would increase Kizer's prices. But without it, I don't think they'll ever rise to the level of a major player, particularly when you add the burden the stigma of being headquartered in China puts on them. Kizer will have to go a lot further than half-way to overcome that, I'm afraid . . . at least until they become well-established. But from everything I've seen so far, they sure appear to be on the right track.
 
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Very Good points. It is true the communication has seem delayed because of the offseas location unlike Benchmade where CS was a phone call away and I received parts within a week after the phone call. In this case, the pivot will be taking 2-3 weeks to arrive most likely.

As far as craftsmanship goes, I think Kizer is on a level higher than ZT. The flipper action and the tolerances seem tighter and from my experience the design touches, especially with the collaborations, are phenomenal. For example, as much as I love sebenzas, the Gemini and Intrepid are far more ergonomic. Yet both companies use the same handle and blade materials.

So the question becomes....what will it take for Kizer to reach that CRK level when customer satisfaction with the product is so close?
 
I think for any manufacturer to aspire to becoming a CRK is putting too heavy a burden on them. CRK isn't just a knife manufacturer, they're an icon. Having said that, my Gemini kicked my Small Sebenza out of my pocket and my Sebenza hasn't found its way back yet. So that should give you some idea of the admiration I have for what Kizer accomplished with Ray's design. I'm also a big fan of ZT. I love my 0770CF and my 0450 and they will definitely continue to see pocket time. But boy, the Gemini has definitely put a positive spin on my view of what the Chinese can do when they team up with one of the best designers extant. Ray's fingerprints are all over the Gemini and it's clear Kizer listened to him very carefully when they crafted that knife. Much respect to Kizer for staying true to Ray's intent.
 
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bld522 said:
I think for any manufacturer to aspire to becoming a CRK is putting too heavy a burden on them. CRK isn't just a knife manufacturer, they're an icon. Having said that, my Gemini kicked my Small Sebenza out of my pocket and my Sebenza hasn't found its way back yet. So that should give you some idea of the admiration I have for what Kizer accomplished with Ray's design. I'm also a big fan of ZT. I love my 0770CF and my 0450 and they will definitely continue to see pocket time. But boy, the Gemini has definitely put a positive spin on my view of what the Chinese can do when they team up with one of the best designers extant. Ray's fingerprints are all over the Gemini and it's clear Kizer listened to him very carefully when they crafted that knife. Much respect to Kizer for staying true to Ray's intent.
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Wow couldn't of said it any better. Only thing different is I chose the 0808 over the 0450 due to blade shape.
 
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