Sage 2 - Not so smooth??

[danseifert]

So I received my Sage 2 earlier this week and I'm still trying to get used to it. Already own the Sage 1 and love everything about it. When I got the itch for a titanium frame lock that I could carry every day and use (read - not dropping $350+ for a seb) I decided on the Sage 2.

Having carried it for almost a week and getting some good use out of it, I'm a little disappointed in how it compares to the Sage 1. The blade is not nearly as smooth, I feel noticeable drag/resistance during opening and closing. Also, the ball detent seems a little too strong. I have to apply much more pressure just to get the blade to release from the closed position before I can push the blade into the open position. I've also noticed that the ball is rubbing a curved path in the blade from where it normally rests in the notch when closed to where it rests on the blade when the knife is opened. Is this normal for the Sage 2?

Lockup is rock solid, and the tension of the frame lock bar seems fine to me even though this is my first frame lock knife. Firm but not hard to open.

The blade is slightly off center. Not a huge amount, but the Sage series (and the rest of the Taichung knives apparently) have set the fit and finish bar at the level of relative perfection.

I suppose in summary I feel like my Sage 2 is simply put together too "tight". I would attempt to make some minor adjustments but I think the screws have locktite or something on them. I can't get them to move and I don't want to apply pressure that might strip them. Is the Sage 2 just a firmer operating knife in comparison to the Sage 1 due to the frame lock and titanium scales, or did I get a dud?

Thanks

 

[Corpus]

My Sage 2 had the same drag, like they never lubed the pivot. I can assure you once it's worn in a bit, it's a lot better. Adding some lube might help.

No centering issues on mine, it's perfect. You should be able to unscrew the pivot screw, I've taken my knife apart a few times for cleaning. There might be some blue locktite on it, don't recall. Did you try both sides of the pivot screw when trying to loosen it ? I seem to recall one unscrewed easier than the other.....If you have a coil burner stove, you can try resting the pivot area on the burner (low heat) for a minute and then try loosening the pivot. If not, a blow dryer may work.

 

[freedoom]

my sage 2 is smooth as butter on silk. i re-lubed it after about a month or so with CRK flourinated grease. opening slowly it's incredibly smooth and with a thumb flick it's one of the fastest opening knives i have.

 

[Seanifred]

my sage 2 is probably the smoothest, quickest non AO production knife i own. maybe i just got lucky.

 

[neuron]

Mine smoothed out just like my Sage 1 did. Perhaps you're putting pressure on the outside of the lockbar while holding the knife to open it: that'll cause any framelock to be harder/less smooth to open.

 

[danseifert]

My Sage 2 had the same drag, like they never lubed the pivot. I can assure you once it's worn in a bit, it's a lot better. Adding some lube might help.

No centering issues on mine, it's perfect. You should be able to unscrew the pivot screw, I've taken my knife apart a few times for cleaning. There might be some blue locktite on it, don't recall. Did you try both sides of the pivot screw when trying to loosen it ? I seem to recall one unscrewed easier than the other.....If you have a coil burner stove, you can try resting the pivot area on the burner (low heat) for a minute and then try loosening the pivot. If not, a blow dryer may work.

I did try both sides of the pivot, and they both very tight. I might try to warm up the pivot area and see if it helps.

 

[danseifert]

Mine smoothed out just like my Sage 1 did. Perhaps you're putting pressure on the outside of the lockbar while holding the knife to open it: that'll cause any framelock to be harder/less smooth to open.

Yeah, I wish it were that simple. That was an issue at first as I got used to having that lockbar in the area where my fingers would normally rest when opening the knife with my thumb from the other side. Either way, once I got the hang of positioning my fingers differently on the handle when opening, the knife still has significant drag.

 

[neuron]

Yeah, I wish it were that simple. That was an issue at first as I got used to having that lockbar in the area where my fingers would normally rest when opening the knife with my thumb from the other side. Either way, once I got the hang of positioning my fingers differently on the handle when opening, the knife still has significant drag.

Gotcha. Just figured I'd throw that out there since it's a common cause of what people think are hard-to-open framelocks.

When you said you tried loosening the pivot, did you put a torx wrench in the screw on the opposite side as well to hold it in place? If not, you may have just spun the screws in place without actually loosening them, if that makes sense. (Another obvious suggestion, but again worth throwing out there.)

 

[danseifert]

Gotcha. Just figured I'd throw that out there since it's a common cause of what people think are hard-to-open framelocks.

When you said you tried loosening the pivot, did you put a torx wrench in the screw on the opposite side as well to hold it in place? If not, you may have just spun the screws in place without actually loosening them, if that makes sense. (Another obvious suggestion, but again worth throwing out there.)

No I totally understand. I actually wasn't able to move either pivot screw with a fairly strong amount of pressure applied. I might just send it to Spyderco and let them adjust it. It sounds to me like everyone else's Sage 2's are perfectly smooth and fast. Mine just isn't. The only lubricant I have that I could use is 3 in 1, and that stuff smells way too strong in my opinion to use on a tool thats going to ride in my pocket every day.

 

[elkins45]

NThe only lubricant I have that I could use is 3 in 1, and that stuff smells way too strong in my opinion to use on a tool thats going to ride in my pocket every day.

So little of it will remain in the joint that you certainly won't walk around reeking of 3in1. You really need to oil the3 pivot. Do you have any peanut or olive oil in the kitchen? If a drop of one of them smooths it up then you'll know you need to invest in some real oil for your knife.