Let’s get something straight here.
The pivot “trick” usually works if you are having problems during the break in period. But that’s it. This shouldn’t be a continual procedure for as long as you own the knife. That would be insane. The damn knife either works after a while or it doesn’t. I haven't had to screw with mine since it broke in.
This reminds me of the recent threads concerning Sebenza lockup % and the Umnumzaan ceramic ball “failure”, both of which were non-issues. Knives get so hyped up that insignificant things get blown all out of proportion.
Believe it or not, there is a lot of engineering that goes into folding knives. Much of this is hidden from the average buyer. For instance, according to Mick Strider, the lockface contact point should be as far from the centerline of the pivot point as possible in order to avoid slippage. Did you know that? Strider philosophy also suggests that the interface should be as small as possible, in other words, the whole lockface should not be in contact with the tang. And sure enough, on Striders, it isn’t.
So, some BF “expert” looks at his Strider, or CRK, or… and questions if the lock has enough percentage of lockup because, according to the misinformation he’s read on BF, or some other forum, the lock “should be more to the center, or higher, or lower, or flatter, or whatever”. Someone else mentions that the whole lockface should be contacting the tang, so it must be screwed up. Other “experts” join in and pretty soon the consensus is that the knife is defective and the manufacturer should be crucified. The knife is functioning perfectly, as the manufacturer designed it, but the owner has it in his mind that something is wrong.
So, does Strider know something about his pivot design that we don’t? Maybe so. They work great eventually.
I am in no way degrading the OP. His knife got so tight that he could barely open it. That is a legitimate gripe. And yes, dammit, something was wrong, but not in the design. The OP learned a trick which hopefully remedies the situation. One the knife breaks in he should be good to go with no more messing around. This is more the fault of Striders lack of communication than a design flaw. One thing I don’t like about Striders is that you almost have to be an insider to learn the tips, tricks and idiosyncrasies of their folders. But hey, if I can do it, then anybody can.
So, back to the Strider bull-pivot “problem”. Perhaps, just perhaps, there is a design reason why they sometimes act the way they do, especially when new. That doesn’t mean the pivot design is flawed. When these folders are broken in, they are very solid and the action works very well. This leads me to believe that the ENTIRE design is thought out. For some reason, the pivots act weird sometimes. I concur with So-Lo on many points he has made about Striders. The pivots feel like there is about a millimeter of slop in it. You’d think it was defective until you hear others relate the same thing in their Sng, then you realize that it’s just the way they are made. They are just a different breed of knife. The first time you handle one you go, Whoa, what the f*%^$# is this? After a while, you simply accept that it is different than every other folder you’ve experienced and you either love it or hate it.
Someone lovingly accused me of “calling it like I see it” the other day, in relation to knife reviews. Why, thank you! I do call it like I see it. I’m no fanboy of any knife maker. (OK, maybe Hinderer, yeah, I’m a Hinderer fanboy.) If I don’t like something about a knife I’ll tell you. I think CRK’s, Busse’s and Striders are all WAY overrated and overhyped on this forum. But if I do complain about a knife, it’s about the ergos, design, F&F, price/availability, fanbase and hype. I might go so far as to complain about the heat treat and/or steel. I don’t complain about the engineering, unless it is blatantly obvious, because I don’t know as much about knife making as the maker does. I guess Strider knows a thing or two about how to build a rugged folder whether I agree with his methods or not. The Sng is a heck of a knife.
The pivot “trick” usually works if you are having problems during the break in period. But that’s it. This shouldn’t be a continual procedure for as long as you own the knife. That would be insane. The damn knife either works after a while or it doesn’t. I haven't had to screw with mine since it broke in.
This reminds me of the recent threads concerning Sebenza lockup % and the Umnumzaan ceramic ball “failure”, both of which were non-issues. Knives get so hyped up that insignificant things get blown all out of proportion.
Believe it or not, there is a lot of engineering that goes into folding knives. Much of this is hidden from the average buyer. For instance, according to Mick Strider, the lockface contact point should be as far from the centerline of the pivot point as possible in order to avoid slippage. Did you know that? Strider philosophy also suggests that the interface should be as small as possible, in other words, the whole lockface should not be in contact with the tang. And sure enough, on Striders, it isn’t.
So, some BF “expert” looks at his Strider, or CRK, or… and questions if the lock has enough percentage of lockup because, according to the misinformation he’s read on BF, or some other forum, the lock “should be more to the center, or higher, or lower, or flatter, or whatever”. Someone else mentions that the whole lockface should be contacting the tang, so it must be screwed up. Other “experts” join in and pretty soon the consensus is that the knife is defective and the manufacturer should be crucified. The knife is functioning perfectly, as the manufacturer designed it, but the owner has it in his mind that something is wrong.
So, does Strider know something about his pivot design that we don’t? Maybe so. They work great eventually.
I am in no way degrading the OP. His knife got so tight that he could barely open it. That is a legitimate gripe. And yes, dammit, something was wrong, but not in the design. The OP learned a trick which hopefully remedies the situation. One the knife breaks in he should be good to go with no more messing around. This is more the fault of Striders lack of communication than a design flaw. One thing I don’t like about Striders is that you almost have to be an insider to learn the tips, tricks and idiosyncrasies of their folders. But hey, if I can do it, then anybody can.
So, back to the Strider bull-pivot “problem”. Perhaps, just perhaps, there is a design reason why they sometimes act the way they do, especially when new. That doesn’t mean the pivot design is flawed. When these folders are broken in, they are very solid and the action works very well. This leads me to believe that the ENTIRE design is thought out. For some reason, the pivots act weird sometimes. I concur with So-Lo on many points he has made about Striders. The pivots feel like there is about a millimeter of slop in it. You’d think it was defective until you hear others relate the same thing in their Sng, then you realize that it’s just the way they are made. They are just a different breed of knife. The first time you handle one you go, Whoa, what the f*%^$# is this? After a while, you simply accept that it is different than every other folder you’ve experienced and you either love it or hate it.
Someone lovingly accused me of “calling it like I see it” the other day, in relation to knife reviews. Why, thank you! I do call it like I see it. I’m no fanboy of any knife maker. (OK, maybe Hinderer, yeah, I’m a Hinderer fanboy.) If I don’t like something about a knife I’ll tell you. I think CRK’s, Busse’s and Striders are all WAY overrated and overhyped on this forum. But if I do complain about a knife, it’s about the ergos, design, F&F, price/availability, fanbase and hype. I might go so far as to complain about the heat treat and/or steel. I don’t complain about the engineering, unless it is blatantly obvious, because I don’t know as much about knife making as the maker does. I guess Strider knows a thing or two about how to build a rugged folder whether I agree with his methods or not. The Sng is a heck of a knife.
), it locks up as or more solidly than any of my knives.:thumbup: AND, I no longer have a retarded amount of loctite stuck in it.
