Slysz Bowie Issue...please help!

PinkmagicK

PinkmagicK

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Jun 22, 2014
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Picture of lockface issue: http://imgur.com/A6Gd9o4


Hey everyone, figured you guys may be able to help me out. So I recently bought a new Slysz Bowie and although I absolutely LOVE the knife it is developing an issue that is really bothering me. I've been flicking the knife constantly and at first it was fine but it's starting to develop some "grittiness" and stick on the lockface. Took it apart to clean and inspect and I found that the carbodizing treatment on the lock face is sorta chipping or rubbing off? I tried to take a pick of the wear, I don't know if this is a common issue with these knives, my Techno seems to have the same treatment but has been completely stick and grit free even after thousands of open and closings with no lock travel. I'm pretty bummed out, just emailed Spyderco to see if there's anything they can do about it but from what I hear I could be SOL with this being one of the Taichung knives. Has anybody else had this problem or has any suggestions? Anything is appreciated, thanks.
 
I recently got a pre owned Slysz Bowie and upon inspecting (didn't take it apart) doesn't look anything like your lockface. Mine is clean, shows no carbodized treatment or anything of that nature. Opens smoothly, lockup is dead on...no issues.

Wish I had something more for you and hope you get this resolved. It's my EDC.
 
Alright, before the posts saying that the warranty is void because you took it apart, before the piling that you're SOL because it's a Taiwan model and they don't have spare parts....

Let them have a chance to make it right. They are gonna have you send it in and once they see that it's out of spec... They'll either try to repair it OR send you a new knife.

It's really that simple. :) Remember, all models: Taiwan, Golden, China, Japan all have the same exact warranty. If they can't fix it, they have to replace it or at the very least give you credit equaling MSRP $ to be used in the Syderco store. Regarding the void warranty because it was opened... It has been cleared up that while it's in the warranty to protect them, if the knife wasnt broken due to opening the knife, they will cover it. I have done so myself and they took care of it.
 
Stays Sharp said:
Alright, before the posts saying that the warranty is void because you took it apart, before the piling that you're SOL because it's a Taiwan model and they don't have spare parts....

Let them have a chance to make it right. They are gonna have you send it in and once they see that it's out of spec... They'll either try to repair it OR send you a new knife.

It's really that simple. :) Remember, all models: Taiwan, Golden, China, Japan all have the same exact warranty. If they can't fix it, they have to replace it or at the very least give you credit equaling MSRP $ to be used in the Syderco store. Regarding the void warranty because it was opened... It has been cleared up that while it's in the warranty to protect them, if the knife wasnt broken due to opening the knife, they will cover it. I have done so myself and they took care of it.
Click to expand...

Yup, Yup, and Yup!
 
I thought the lockface of this, the Techno, and maybe the Southard were carburized, not carbidized, which didn't alter the appearance to the extent your pictures seem to indicate.

Is it maybe just dirty?
 
trevitrace said:
I thought the lockface of this, the Techno, and maybe the Southard were carburized, not carbidized, which didn't alter the appearance to the extent your pictures seem to indicate.

Is it maybe just dirty?
Click to expand...

No it's definitely treated with some process that has altered the surface of the lock. It kinda looks like a thin dark layer that covers the face, a couple millimeters below it and around the detent ball. It's sorta "chipping" off even looks like rust in some areas even though I don't think that's what it could be. I tried to clean it off as best I could before the pic. Not sure what process they used on this bowie. It'seems strange bladeninja's lockface would look different than mine, maybe earlier or later runs were treated differently?
 
Stays Sharp said:
Alright, before the posts saying that the warranty is void because you took it apart, before the piling that you're SOL because it's a Taiwan model and they don't have spare parts....

Let them have a chance to make it right. They are gonna have you send it in and once they see that it's out of spec... They'll either try to repair it OR send you a new knife.

It's really that simple. :) Remember, all models: Taiwan, Golden, China, Japan all have the same exact warranty. If they can't fix it, they have to replace it or at the very least give you credit equaling MSRP $ to be used in the Syderco store. Regarding the void warranty because it was opened... It has been cleared up that while it's in the warranty to protect them, if the knife wasnt broken due to opening the knife, they will cover it. I have done so myself and they took care of it.
Click to expand...

I just received a reply from Spyderco stating what you said they would do. They said to send the knife in for it to be evaluated and they will determine if they can fix it or if it's covered under warrenty. I think that'should what I'll do even though it kinda sucks I'll have to be without the knife for a month. Wish it was perfect out of the box, I love this thing, but that's how it goes I guess.
 
PinkmagicK said:
I just received a reply from Spyderco stating what you said they would do. They said to send the knife in for it to be evaluated and they will determine if they can fix it or if it's covered under warrenty. I think that'should what I'll do even though it kinda sucks I'll have to be without the knife for a month. Wish it was perfect out of the box, I love this thing, but that's how it goes I guess.
Click to expand...

Yeah it always sucks to be the guy who gets the lemon. Hey, maybe you're due for some GOOD luck... Play the lotto? :D

A little tip; forward your messages to Charlynn and address your note included with your package to her. She's a one woman band of the warranty department.
 
Stays Sharp said:
Yeah it always sucks to be the guy who gets the lemon. Hey, maybe you're due for some GOOD luck... Play the lotto? :D

A little tip; forward your messages to Charlynn and address your note included with your package to her. She's a one woman band of the warranty department.
Click to expand...

HA, maybe you're right! Fingers crossed. Thanks for the tip, I will do that. I responded to her stating I would be sending it in. Hopefully it can be repaired to perfect working order, or if not, this situation can be resolved.
 
I was under the impression that the heat treatment they do to the lock faces, carburizing, affected the Ti below the surface unlike carbidizing which leaves a layer of carbide only on the surface. Maybe it's just scale from the heat treatment coming off causing a temporary grittiness?

Playing the devil's advocate: what "in spec" means to Spyderco may not be the same for us. A sticky lock does not hinder a knife in its function to cut stuff. Knife guys expect a smoothly disengaging lock, but is that really necessary for a blade, or "within spec"?

Hope it works out for you, my Slysz Bowie is my favorite knife. I carry it almost everyday :)
 
kniferbro said:
I was under the impression that the heat treatment they do to the lock faces, carburizing, affected the Ti below the surface unlike carbidizing which leaves a layer of carbide only on the surface. Maybe it's just scale from the heat treatment coming off causing a temporary grittiness?

Playing the devil's advocate: what "in spec" means to Spyderco may not be the same for us. A sticky lock does not hinder a knife in its function to cut stuff. Knife guys expect a smoothly disengaging lock, but is that really necessary for a blade, or "within spec"?

Hope it works out for you, my Slysz Bowie is my favorite knife. I carry it almost everyday :)
Click to expand...

Yeah I know, I hope I'm not sending it in and they determine it's "in spec" haha. That'd suck but whatever. I'd just know I'd enjoy the knife a great deal more if it dissengaged smoothly. Did you have any issues with your lock? The knife is definitely in my top three, having zero issues with it could very well push it to my number one! That's why I gotta try haha.
 
kniferbro said:
I was under the impression that the heat treatment they do to the lock faces, carburizing, affected the Ti below the surface unlike carbidizing which leaves a layer of carbide only on the surface. Maybe it's just scale from the heat treatment coming off causing a temporary grittiness?

Playing the devil's advocate: what "in spec" means to Spyderco may not be the same for us. A sticky lock does not hinder a knife in its function to cut stuff. Knife guys expect a smoothly disengaging lock, but is that really necessary for a blade, or "within spec"?

Hope it works out for you, my Slysz Bowie is my favorite knife. I carry it almost everyday :)
Click to expand...

I agree. My Slysz Bowie is on me daily in jeans or business suit...it's the perfect knife for me all the way around. It's kicked many others out of my pocket including my Medford.
 
"I've been flicking the knife constantly"......
Id send it back anyways.
I had good luck with their warranty.
 
THR-Thumper said:
Thread needs more pics. For what it's worth, this one hasn't experienced any stickiness.

Click to expand...

I'm with you here. Let's get some pics in this thread. Thanks for starting this man!

My afternoon read with a couple beauties.
IyXZh1z.jpg
 
bladeninja said:
I agree. My Slysz Bowie is on me daily in jeans or business suit...it's the perfect knife for me all the way around. It's kicked many others out of my pocket including my Medford.
Click to expand...

That's me too! Suit pants or jeans everyday... :D

PinkmagicK said:
Yeah I know, I hope I'm not sending it in and they determine it's "in spec" haha. That'd suck but whatever. I'd just know I'd enjoy the knife a great deal more if it dissengaged smoothly. Did you have any issues with your lock? The knife is definitely in my top three, having zero issues with it could very well push it to my number one! That's why I gotta try haha.
Click to expand...

That's kind of what I was poking at, your knife being "in spec", and by textbook definition a completely functional folding knife, but to you its not fulfilling. How long has it been gritty or sticky? My knife like any other changed for a bit but has since settled in and stayed there. It was gritty at times and sticky at times. I take my knives apart to clean and tune (no tuning required on the Bowie :)) and some times when I put the knife back together the lock up seemed later, sometimes it seemed earlier... But like I said settled in and doesn't change anymore.

If you haven't sent it in yet, I would take it apart and clean everything, relube/assembly and just work at it and see if it doesn't just smooth out on its own. As you wear the lock the surfaces are becoming increasingly matched to one another which makes for a better lock and in my mind, stops wear at the "settling" point. Try putting oil on the lock face, try the lock face with pencil lead, try it completely clean. Mine doesn't seem to mind oil on the lock face at all unlike other Ti locks. If it stays gritty/sticky, you can still send it in afterwards, but a week from now you'd be surprised how likely you are to be sitting there flicking away with a big grin on your mug :D
 
kniferbro said:
That's me too! Suit pants or jeans everyday... :D



That's kind of what I was poking at, your knife being "in spec", and by textbook definition a completely functional folding knife, but to you its not fulfilling. How long has it been gritty or sticky? My knife like any other changed for a bit but has since settled in and stayed there. It was gritty at times and sticky at times. I take my knives apart to clean and tune (no tuning required on the Bowie :)) and some times when I put the knife back together the lock up seemed later, sometimes it seemed earlier... But like I said settled in and doesn't change anymore.

If you haven't sent it in yet, I would take it apart and clean everything, relube/assembly and just work at it and see if it doesn't just smooth out on its own. As you wear the lock the surfaces are becoming increasingly matched to one another which makes for a better lock and in my mind, stops wear at the "settling" point. Try putting oil on the lock face, try the lock face with pencil lead, try it completely clean. Mine doesn't seem to mind oil on the lock face at all unlike other Ti locks. If it stays gritty/sticky, you can still send it in afterwards, but a week from now you'd be surprised how likely you are to be sitting there flicking away with a big grin on your mug :D
Click to expand...

Nice! Good info and recommendations. You're a top notch guy.
 
kniferbro said:
That's me too! Suit pants or jeans everyday... :D



That's kind of what I was poking at, your knife being "in spec", and by textbook definition a completely functional folding knife, but to you its not fulfilling. How long has it been gritty or sticky? My knife like any other changed for a bit but has since settled in and stayed there. It was gritty at times and sticky at times. I take my knives apart to clean and tune (no tuning required on the Bowie :)) and some times when I put the knife back together the lock up seemed later, sometimes it seemed earlier... But like I said settled in and doesn't change anymore.

If you haven't sent it in yet, I would take it apart and clean everything, relube/assembly and just work at it and see if it doesn't just smooth out on its own. As you wear the lock the surfaces are becoming increasingly matched to one another which makes for a better lock and in my mind, stops wear at the "settling" point. Try putting oil on the lock face, try the lock face with pencil lead, try it completely clean. Mine doesn't seem to mind oil on the lock face at all unlike other Ti locks. If it stays gritty/sticky, you can still send it in afterwards, but a week from now you'd be surprised how likely you are to be sitting there flicking away with a big grin on your mug :D
Click to expand...

Yeah man, thanks for the suggestions and info. I think that's what I'll do. Just took it apart, cleaned it and put locktite in it so kinda not looking forward to doing it again, but worth a shot. I hope this works out! Would much rather not have to send it in and be without it for a month plus shipping fees and whatnot.
 
PinkmagicK said:
Yeah man, thanks for the suggestions and info. I think that's what I'll do. Just took it apart, cleaned it and put locktite in it so kinda not looking forward to doing it again, but worth a shot. I hope this works out! Would much rather not have to send it in and be without it for a month plus shipping fees and whatnot.
Click to expand...

How does it feel after the cleaning? Keep us updated!
 
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