Rajah 3 back spacer issue

[vnvman]

I've been using my new Rajah 3 for a few weeks now and I love it. However I found out that for some reason when I flick it closed, the blade makes a "thud" that indicates it not hitting the stop pins but the back spacer instead. Upon inspection I found out that there is a small gouge forming in the middle of the back spacer, near the centre of the handle.

I had a similar issue in my old Vaquero Large (old logo, discontinued now) , and I fixed it by disassembling and sanding off a bit off the back of the spacer, but since it slams forward here I wouldn't dare since I might weaken the plastic near the metal spring.

Anybody else facing such issue on this or other folders, specifically in the Voyager or Rajah line?
My XL Vaquero and my Rajah 2 have none of that, pretty weird.

 

[jux t]

I've been using my new Rajah 3 for a few weeks now and I love it. However I found out that for some reason when I flick it closed, the blade makes a "thud" that indicates it not hitting the stop pins but the back spacer instead. Upon inspection I found out that there is a small gouge forming in the middle of the back spacer, near the centre of the handle.

I had a similar issue in my old Vaquero Large (old logo, discontinued now) , and I fixed it by disassembling and sanding off a bit off the back of the spacer, but since it slams forward here I wouldn't dare since I might weaken the plastic near the metal spring.

Anybody else facing such issue on this or other folders, specifically in the Voyager or Rajah line?
My XL Vaquero and my Rajah 2 have none of that, pretty weird.

That issue is not known to me at this time. Some Rajah models are popular counterfeits, and some used ones may have been taken apart and reassembled with the stop pin and lock pivot pin switched. I’ve had around 6 XL Voyagers, mostly AUS10 models, and they did not have that issue. Are you able to upload pictures of both sides via Imgur?

 

[jux t]

since I might weaken the plastic near the metal spring.

How sure are you that the backspacer is plastic? Most large CS Triad knives have “hard” aluminum backspacers.

Of course, if it’s a genuine Cold Steel and it’s hitting the backspacer then it’s a problem.

 

[vnvman]

How sure are you that the backspacer is plastic? Most large CS Triad knives have “hard” aluminum backspacers.

Of course, if it’s a genuine Cold Steel and it’s hitting the backspacer then it’s a problem.

Thanks for the heads up. Yes the knife is new and genuine, I got it off Knives&tools which is a very reputable site here in the EU. The other Vaquero was bought directly from Cold Steel Germany so I have no worries on that one either. I don't know about others but on my Voyagers, Rajahs and Holdouts the spacer is definitely plastic. However I never had issues ever on my larger triads, only on these 2 smaller ones. The XLs have always been flawless.

In the meantime however the seller responded that they will either reimburse or swap the knife, at this point tho just to be safe I think I'll take the cash and use it to help financing my new Colossus 2 that I found still available in some obscure gushop here in Italy for 199 which is'n bad at all I guess since it's been discontinued and pretty hard to find. Hopefully it will fit a similar spot in my collection.

Kinda sad because I loved the small Rajah, maybe I'll try my luck again in the near future since it's a pretty cheap knife and nice to have around for rough jobs.

 

[jux t]

Thanks for the heads up. Yes the knife is new and genuine, I got it off Knives&tools which is a very reputable site here in the EU. The other Vaquero was bought directly from Cold Steel Germany so I have no worries on that one either. I don't know about others but on my Voyagers, Rajahs and Holdouts the spacer is definitely plastic. However I never had issues ever on my larger triads, only on these 2 smaller ones. The XLs have always been flawless.

In the meantime however the seller responded that they will either reimburse or swap the knife, at this point tho just to be safe I think I'll take the cash and use it to help financing my new Colossus 2 that I found still available in some obscure gushop here in Italy for 199 which is'n bad at all I guess since it's been discontinued and pretty hard to find. Hopefully it will fit a similar spot in my collection.

Kinda sad because I loved the small Rajah, maybe I'll try my luck again in the near future since it's a pretty cheap knife and nice to have around for rough jobs.

Shoot, I forgot about the models with liners. You’re right, those can have plastic backspacers because the screws thread into the liners. If you do have a genuine CS folder and it’s hitting the backspacer, there are some avenues of approach.

One is to let the blade contact that area until sharpened past it; another is to exchange it (difficult based on what you’ve mentioned). With use and sharpening, a genuine should be right on the verge of not hitting. Pictures would still be very helpful in determining.

 

[vnvman]

Shoot, I forgot about the models with liners. You’re right, those can have plastic backspacers because the screws thread into the liners. If you do have a genuine CS folder and it’s hitting the backspacer, there are some avenues of approach.

One is to let the blade contact that area until sharpened past it; another is to exchange it (difficult based on what you’ve mentioned). With use and sharpening, a genuine should be right on the verge of not hitting. Pictures would still be very helpful in determining.

The gouge that was forming on this one was kinda deep honestly, and possibly threading too close to the small pin that secures the spacer internally to the liners. Unfortunately I closed the package and dropped it at the postal office already so I can't provide more pics. Hopefully I'll have better luck with the next one!

 

[The_Iron_Joe]

Just a FYI for all those interested, but current production models of the Rajah 3 have aluminum backspacers. Or rather, they're at least not plastic.

 

[vnvman]

Just a FYI for all those interested, but current production models of the Rajah 3 have aluminum backspacers. Or rather, they're at least not plastic.

Oh I see.. Does that mean that they can still be G10? After all it wouldn't be much different from normal givory and honestly I don't quite see the advantage even in the aesthetics department, or maybe I'm missing something?

 

[The_Iron_Joe]

Oh I see.. Does that mean that they can still be G10? After all it wouldn't be much different from normal givory and honestly I don't quite see the advantage even in the aesthetics department, or maybe I'm missing something?

They're cooler to the touch than the surrounding material and sound metallic when tapped with something hard. If they were G10 you'd likely be able to see the woven layers of material from the side. I think the SR1 Lite has a G10 spacer, for instance, but the Ti-Lite models all use polymer.

 

[vnvman]

They're cooler to the touch than the surrounding material and sound metallic when tapped with something hard. If they were G10 you'd likely be able to see the woven layers of material from the side. I think the SR1 Lite has a G10 spacer, for instance, but the Ti-Lite models all use polymer.

This is my Rajah 2 that I modified removing the thumb plate which I don't need, then just for fun I mirror polished the back of the lockbar and carved the back spacer and the scales so that it gives the illusion of a full tang knife. I also contoured every sharp bit of the handle using a sanding block so now it's so comfortable that you can hack for hours on end with it without a blister

At least on this one I can confirm that the back spacer is definitely made up of the same material of the scales and not aluminum or else.