RESOLVED! How to fix an over-engaged liner lock?

G

gomipile

Joined
Apr 17, 2010
Messages
1,343
I just got an Ontario RAT-1, and it's great except that the liner lock is way over-engaged and painful to disengage. When locked, the center of the lockbar is in line with the center of the blade tang. Also, the liner has much more spring tension than any other liner lock I have used, to the point that I need to use both thumbstuds simultaneously to overcome the detent and open it.

I am concerned that the lockbar is a few thousandths too short to properly engage the tang without over engaging. Is there a standard way to fix this problem? I can't think of any reasonable way to add material to the lockbar other than carbidizing the lockbar and the tang, but I don't have a carbidizer.
 
Last edited:
You can take the knife apart and tweak (bend) the locking liner in the opposite direction until you get the tension you want. You'll void the warranty by doing this though.

As far as lock engagement, the only thing I've been able to figure out is to increase the diameter of the stop pin that the back of the blade tang rests on when open. This will have the affect of holding the blade a little further down and hopefully not allow the locking liner to move as far over. I wrapped the stop pin of an old S&W liner-lock knife with two layers of heavy-duty aluminum foil to see if t would work. It did, and I planned to order another larger diameter stop pin from one of the knifemaker supply houses online, and never got around to it.

~Chris
 
It may be as easy as loosening all the screws and putting pressure on the scales so you are pushing one up and the other down.Then hold in place and tighten it back up.pix would help us get an idea of what is going on with your knife.
 
flatblackcapo said:
It may be as easy as loosening all the screws and putting pressure on the scales so you are pushing one up and the other down.Then hold in place and tighten it back up.pix would help us get an idea of what is going on with your knife.
Click to expand...

HAHA! You guys are awesome! I never thought to do that with a screw construction liner lock. I loosened all the screws, put clockwise torque on the non-locking liner and tightened it all back up. It now locks up a lot earlier, and is easy to disengage. Also, it flicks open much easier now.

I might still carbizdize it for good measure, but only because I want to, not because I feel I have to.
 
You can't buy enough books, even if they were available, to learn just a fraction of the knowledge available on this forum. You can spend $25 a year to ensure that this forum will live and thrive. I am retired and living on a small fixed income, and it was the best $25 I have spent in a long time. This is not a paid advertisement nor am I suggesting that everyone needs to join to enjoy what is available on here. Just voicing my opinion and encouraging others to think about what we have here.

Blessings,

Omar
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top