Smoothing up a knives action? Help needed

CynicalFascist

CynicalFascist

Joined
Jun 13, 2015
Messages
193
Hello all. I'd like some advice on making my ti Millie easier to flick. At the moment it is smooth, but stuff, and very hard to flick out. I've polished the washers to beat mirror, and am using rem oil. Should I look at the detention ball? The lock itself? I've adjusted the pivot as best I can. Any suggestions, tips, or tricks? I'm sure there are others out there that this information would benefit.
 
Keep flicking it until your finger gets stronger. Just kidding, some are looser that others. There might be that very small sweet spot in the pivot that is where you want it but it may take some time to get it right.
 
I can back out the pivot so I can physically feel the pivot moving side to side and still have zero blade play, and still have a stiff knife. I've taken 1500 grit paper to the washers and then polished them with noxons. My theory is how stiff the lock bar is, or how far the detent ball sticks out.
 
don't mess w/ how far the detent ball sticks out... it's what retains the blade when closed.

In my experience if you have tried all the things you have and it's still stiff or hard to open, then there is something not quite right w/ the alignment of the blade (everything has to be perfectly flat when talking about folders). So basically, I don't know what to tell you lol.
 
The detent ball would affect the initial break past the hole, but if you disengage the lock and move the blade easily, its just lock bar tension.
 
CynicalFascist said:
I can back out the pivot so I can physically feel the pivot moving side to side and still have zero blade play, and still have a stiff knife. I've taken 1500 grit paper to the washers and then polished them with noxons. My theory is how stiff the lock bar is, or how far the detent ball sticks out.
Click to expand...

What I do with my is adjust the pivot until the blade drop freely holding it horizontally with edge down when release the lock. But still maintains no side to side blade play.
The next thing I check is centering, if the detent is too strong it will likely push the blade to off center when closed.
I normally will adjust the lock bar tension to where I like it, but it requires taking the knife apart or at least taking the blade out. With the the blade out, you can check and see where the lock bar seats at full travel. I normally bend the lock bar so it does not travel pass the width of the blade (the right edge of the lock bar not passing the right edge of the blade), I find the sweet spot is always at 75% lock up position, it's where I like my.
Once you get it right, you will love the new action on the millis, it will feel like a much more expensive folder and glass smooth.
 
My guess.. If you can have the piviot that loose, and the blade is still tight. Thin the washers out more.
 
The action of the military's blade is heavily affected by the stop pin screws. Try loosening those a bit and that will likely help.
 
My Millie went from nearly a two hand opener to a free dropper, and there still zero blade play. He certainly does know his spyderco's
 
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