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What about the knife disappointed you so much?
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Question about Endura 4 Ti Damascus
- Thread starter Zoomie517
- Start date
What about the knife disappointed you so much?
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- Sep 24, 2015
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While I understand that not all of them can look like the stock photo, this blank was cut way too close to the edge of the hammered folds. Further, in spite of it arriving quite juicy from being heavily lubed, it cannot be physically opened without using both hands. It feels like it's been dropped in the ocean.
I suspect that pivot problems could be resolved with some serious polishing, but I don't think it can be resolved with 20.00 worth of labor. And I don't have the experience or knowledge to do it myself. Ive looked at it about 10 different times between last night and this morning. I just can't come close to tolerating it.
I think this is just one that slid by that shouldn't have. And while it may be an epidemic of one, it's my current epidemic.
To be clear, we all know that this can happen to any manufacturer, regardless of pricing level. I am not faulting Spyderco for this, nor besmirching them. I still love their products......just not the one sent to me.
I suspect that pivot problems could be resolved with some serious polishing, but I don't think it can be resolved with 20.00 worth of labor. And I don't have the experience or knowledge to do it myself. Ive looked at it about 10 different times between last night and this morning. I just can't come close to tolerating it.
I think this is just one that slid by that shouldn't have. And while it may be an epidemic of one, it's my current epidemic.
To be clear, we all know that this can happen to any manufacturer, regardless of pricing level. I am not faulting Spyderco for this, nor besmirching them. I still love their products......just not the one sent to me.
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I guess that makes sense. If you don't like the damascus pattern, you don't like it. Nothing to be done there.
But I'd caution you against writing off the knife because of the way it opens from the factory. The backspring is very strong at first, and the layers of damascus make it grindy for the first few cycles. This'll all change with a few open/close sessions, with no lubricant necessary. Mine opens just fine now and I haven't touched the pivot or the blade. The lock spring is still super strong, which is what makes the knife difficult to "flick" open. But that's going to be near universal across this model.
FWIW...
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Ah yeah. That's true on mine as well. It's worth remembering that damascus only appears the way it does because it's been etched with ferric chloride (usually) that patinas the steel. Different steel, different shade, hence the pattern. But that etch can wear off. It's not a "permanent" part of the steel. So any rubbing will eventually wear into the etch and make it look faded.
aw man, that sucks...I just ordered a second one cause I got a great deal...I hope it will have a decent finish...the first one I got in exchange with W&W was not perfect by any means, yet it was the best they had in stock apparently...
Spyderco should revaluate their contract with Seki...With the added cost of currency conversions, there is no reason they shouldn't bring the production of these models home. They could sell anew the G10 endura if US made for about the same price as the Japanese FRN one I bet. hummmmm CTS-XHP Endura5 and colored G10 scales :adoration:
Oh if it's really just the pivot stiffness your issue, it is an easy fix, you could just play with the action Under soapy water, then dry and drop some hobbes #9 in there and if that doesn't do it, you could open it to clean it out well. Enduras really get smoother with time, my well used blue FRN model is beyond buttery smooth, you'd think it rode on ball bearings I kid you not.
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I'm sorry for your disappointment but I would like to see the smudge, I can tell that your a person who seeks that level of perfection with much grace and I commend you for that. I can tell you that everyone holds an idea of what is right to them BUT sometimes its Ok to get an out side opinion, I searched for the right random camo pattern on my PM2 so I understand. I think you need to look a this a refined trophy version of a renowned user/work knife, It maintains the edgy hard snappy lock you need for tough tasks but slowly changes into a soothing companion you can depend on no matter where or when. You must carry her to appreciate her and soon that smudge becomes the mole on Cindy Crawford.....Beautiful.
or maybe not!
good Luck.
or maybe not!
good Luck.
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Cravin, wise words and clearly, you read me like a book. I don't think my expectation was unreasonable based on price, and therefore it failed to support my definition of true Spyderco value.
After staring at the thing all day yesterday. I decided to keep it. It was purchased to throw in the EDC line up. And I've never had an EDC in Damascus so I thought I'd eat it on this one and just run it. It's an expensive experiment but I'll learn something through the process.
OTOH, I am far less willing to take chances on the internet purchase of Spydie's that potentially appeal to me. This will slow collecting dramatically, but my checkbook is thankful!
I will take pics as soon as I have some decent light here.
After staring at the thing all day yesterday. I decided to keep it. It was purchased to throw in the EDC line up. And I've never had an EDC in Damascus so I thought I'd eat it on this one and just run it. It's an expensive experiment but I'll learn something through the process.
OTOH, I am far less willing to take chances on the internet purchase of Spydie's that potentially appeal to me. This will slow collecting dramatically, but my checkbook is thankful!
I will take pics as soon as I have some decent light here.
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^^^ Looking at those pics, I think I'd be disappointed as well. Looks less like smudging of the etch and more like you said originally. Just not enough layers present in the flat of the tang to make the pattern appear at all.
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I don't know enough about steel making to understand why it happened, so I appreciate the commentary.
Spyderco is a remarkable company. They are one of the few production knife manufacturers that have managed to retain a rabid group of customers over decades. Case being the another off the top of my head. They have done so by listening to their customers, creating designs that meet form and function standards, all the while keeping a close eye on QC. I have seen so few below QC standard Spydercos that this really was kind of a shock.
Again, this may simply be a case of an epidemic of one.
It's ugly, but I'll take one for the team this go-round and run it. I'll also exercise a bit more caution during future purchases.
Spyderco is a remarkable company. They are one of the few production knife manufacturers that have managed to retain a rabid group of customers over decades. Case being the another off the top of my head. They have done so by listening to their customers, creating designs that meet form and function standards, all the while keeping a close eye on QC. I have seen so few below QC standard Spydercos that this really was kind of a shock.
Again, this may simply be a case of an epidemic of one.
It's ugly, but I'll take one for the team this go-round and run it. I'll also exercise a bit more caution during future purchases.
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The reality is that as soon as you actually carry and use it the smudged blade will be the least of your worries .
The polished titanium scales scratch and mark at the slightest contact and your knife will be looking secondhand very quickly .
I bought my Delica for a user , with the knowledge that it wouldn't look like a show pony for long , but even I got depressed with the scratched scales and ended up putting it away and not using it because it annoyed the snot out of me every time I looked at damage .
That is why I stonewashed the scales , it was a case of " it can't look any worse than it already does " .
It was the best mod I've done to any knife and I carry it everyday now ( it has kicked my GB out of my pocket ) , but I have swapped out the Damascus blade for a ZDP 189 and now have the knife Spyderco should have made originally
Ken
The reality is that as soon as you actually carry and use it the smudged blade will be the least of your worries .
The polished titanium scales scratch and mark at the slightest contact and your knife will be looking secondhand very quickly .
I bought my Delica for a user , with the knowledge that it wouldn't look like a show pony for long , but even I got depressed with the scratched scales and ended up putting it away and not using it because it annoyed the snot out of me every time I looked at damage .
That is why I stonewashed the scales , it was a case of " it can't look any worse than it already does " .
It was the best mod I've done to any knife and I carry it everyday now ( it has kicked my GB out of my pocket ) , but I have swapped out the Damascus blade for a ZDP 189 and now have the knife Spyderco should have made originally
Ken
I just love that aged stonewash look your scales bear. What method did you use to get that on? I'll be doing a stonewash to my sage 2 and ti endura soon
check it out, a beginner's homemade stonewash on the cheap! It's pretty decent for a first try I think
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Did you ever get this Endura stonewashed?
no not yet. I have a Junk kershaw dimension that's broken, so I'll test the ''technique'' on those scales to see how the Ti will respond first.
For the Tenacious, 20 minutes was all it took for the clip, but the blade been much harder, I left it in the dryer to tumble for two one hour sessions. So as to not mess up the knife, I'll do some testing first. I'd be very pleased if takes on the same finish.
oh...the next time I stone wash a blade....I think I'll try to duck tape the edge bevel. It's a good thing the 8cr is a breeze to sharpen, cause it was still a good job to bring it back from been butter knife dull :S
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Oh, I was actually referring to the OP's ti/damascus Endura.
But yeah, I would definitely try to protect the edge if I ever did a blade!
ah lol, he actually put it on sale. I guess the messed up patern near the tang spoiled it. My second one has almost the same «issue» if we would call it that, but it is mostly stainless layers showing and it's not all that bad I'd say. I could place pics later on.
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