Problems with my recently acquired Aegis Hoplite

[foxes]

Haven't used the site very much.. but I need some help with a knife I recently bought and I assumed this was the right place.

Basically I bought an Aegis Hoplite from a guy on another site. It came barely able to flip so I took it apart and cleaned it.. but now it can't flip at all. I haven't yet been able to oil it, but I don't think going dry should make the knife not function..? But the blade pops out about halfway and stops. It also makes a terrible metal-grindy sound when you open and close it.

I've messed with the screws, tightened, loosened, taken apart and reassembled it many times, making sure that everything is put back together right, but it still won't flip.

The only thing I can think of it being, is that in Nick Shabazz's disassembly video there's a wide polished area on both sides of the detent track

Whereas in mine, the finish comes all the way up and almost touches the track

Is this likely the reason it won't flip? And if so, what can I do to fix it?

I've contacted Millit Knives via email, instagram, and Facebook messenger. It's been about 3 days with no response. So any help here would be appreciated.

 

[Cereal_killer]

My first thought is why on earth would you take it apart if it had this problem?!


First step would be to not touch it anymore, just put it back together as best you can and give the maker a few more days to respond, these custom guys are busy. They're one man shows, give it a week and of you don't hear back send a reminder but also remember your purchase didn't help him in ANY way, it's not like you're a paying customer asking for help...

 

[foxes]

My first thought is why on earth would you take it apart if it had this problem?!

Why did I take my knife apart to clean it? That's what you're supposed to do when you think your knife is all gunked up and dirty, lol. Besides if I hadn't I wouldn't of found out about the detent track problem.

They're one man shows, give it a week and of you don't hear back send a reminder

Isn't Millit Knives a company? I figured they'd be more active. But I would gladly pay for their help in fixing it if need be.

 

[foxes]

If it is the detent track causing the issue then I guess it's a dud, which makes me sad considering how much money I payed for this thing.

 

[miso2]

I am confused. You took it apart and did not put any lubricant when assembling it?

In most cases for liner and frame lock knives, and especially for knives on bearings, the detent ball is what makes most of the friction. You can try to put little lubricant on the detent track and see if it improves the action. You should be able to do it without disassembling the knife.

 

[RadialBladeworks]

Just work with the tightness of the pivot, and mess with the bearings a lot. Like, take 'em out and really clean them. Even the tiniest piece of grit stuck in the bearings can make a brutal scratching action. I bet you this problem will right itself.

Also it was a good idea to try the bearings unlubed. I find some bearings, like ZT's KVT bearings, work better dry. My 0562 almost gets a peculiar gritty feeling if I flip the hell out of it when it's lubed.

 

[josh yu]

but I don't think going dry should make the knife not function..?

actually, running dry could actually cause the action to stop working. lube up. if you like nick's advice, a thing of nano oil 10 is like $10. you have wd-40 around the house? even that is better than nada

My first thought is why on earth would you take it apart if it had this problem?!

people use their knives, they should absolutely be able to disassemble and clean. sometimes ONE use is enough for me to have to disassemble and clean my knife. I carved a watermelon at a picnic and rinsed it with water because it was sticky. i will absolutely take disassemble to clean and lube after that.

 

[craytab]

actually, running dry could actually cause the action to stop working. lube up. if you like nick's advice, a thing of nano oil 10 is like $10. you have wd-40 around the house? even that is better than nada



people use their knives, they should absolutely be able to disassemble and clean. sometimes ONE use is enough for me to have to disassemble and clean my knife. I carved a watermelon at a picnic and rinsed it with water because it was sticky. i will absolutely take disassemble to clean and lube after that.

He means once you take it apart you own it. If it is defective send it back. Can't do that once you've taken it apart.

 

[Cereal_killer]

people use their knives, they should absolutely be able to disassemble and clean. sometimes ONE use is enough for me to have to disassemble and clean my knife. I carved a watermelon at a picnic and rinsed it with water because it was sticky. i will absolutely take disassemble to clean and lube after that.

Oh I completely agree however he states he just purchased it used, so again I ask why? Was the problem disclosed? If not and you had any qualms with the knife taking it apart wasn't the right way to go about getting help. Just take a read threw the GBU if you still don't get it...

 

[foxes]

Even the tiniest piece of grit stuck in the bearings can make a brutal scratching action

I don't think that's part of the problem, as I've taken out and cleaned the bearings numerous times, they're all smooth as butter.

Was the problem disclosed

It was not because when it first got here, it was "sort of" able to flip. The guy I bought it from bought it from someone else as well. He thought it was just the normal action, as everyone says it has a slower flip. But I knew something was wrong so I looked for myself.

If it is defective send it back

I wish I could but I'm not the first owner. Besides even if I could, there's nowhere to send it back to other than Millit. And I'm having trouble getting a response from anyone there.

 

[craytab]

Basically I bought an Aegis Hoplite from a guy on another site. It came barely able to flip so I took it apart and cleaned it.. but now it can't flip at all.

If it is defective send it back.

I wish I could but I'm not the first owner. Besides even if I could, there's nowhere to send it back to other than Millit. And I'm having trouble getting a response from anyone there.

If this transaction was legit (paypal goods) and the seller was on the level, you could have absolutely sent it back to the seller. Even if the seller is not stand up-ish, if you paid with paypal goods you can always send it back, so long as you don't mess with it.

PSA time: if something doesn't arrive as it should, send it back. Do not take it apart and then go looking for answers. Once you take it apart and mess with it the thing is yours. Send it back in the first place and save yourself the headache and money/time.

 

[kniferbro]

It is almost always the detent track. Lube it and you'll be good to go I reckon.

You can easily test for this by holding the lock bar off the blade and checking how freely it moves. Usually once the detent is no longer riding on the blade the pivot is totally loosey goosey. If that is the case then it is 100% the detent ball/track. Scrub (the almighty toothbrush) and lube the ball and track.

 

[foxes]

Lube it and you'll be good to go I reckon.

If the problem is the blade finish coming up onto the track, lubing it'll help, but I don't know if it'll get it back to functioning how it's supposed to. I would need some way to polish or get rid of the finish around the track.

You can easily test for this by holding the lock bar off the blade and checking how freely it moves

Not able to do that really because of the tolerances and because there's an overtravel stop. I'll probably try the toothbrush thing, because when it got here the female pivot screw was stuck in the scale by something, and I had to pop it loose. Was like a little dark brown spot that was really hard and I had to scrape it off gently with another knife. I didn't see anything like that on the rest of the knife but it won't hurt to give the rest a little scrub as well.

 

[foxes]

Once you take it apart and mess with it the thing is yours.

Good, I want it to be mine. Just because there's something funky with the action doesn't mean I want to return it. The reason I'm still trying to find ways to fix it is because I want it to work as it should. If I can't find anything now I'll keep it and deal with using the thumbstud and having a squeaky knife until I can find a way to fix it.

 

[foxes]

Would taking a video of the action (or lack thereof) help anything?

 

[brownshoe]

Can't help, but for the future, most knives aren't meant to be taken apart. They are assembled by skilled cutlers. Soap, water, and a toothbrush with help from WD40 will clean a knife.

 

[Armadew]

Use some nail-polish remover and a toothpick and clean out the detent track, then lube it up.