Speedsafe Academia

WayLander

WayLander

Joined
Sep 9, 2002
Messages
224
Hi friends.

I've got a musing to run past ya'll. It's absolutely ridiculous. Insane, in fact. But, I was reading another thread about diving knives, I think something about 154cm steel being stainless enough for freshwater diving. At the same time, I was playing with my Rainbow Leek, as usual.

How would an assisted opening folder perform under water? Would the resistance stop the mechanism halfway? (Hey, it's got a "flipper", after all...) {Okay, I apologize about that one in advance}.

Now, I know the blade and handle is SS. What about the torsion bar? Would that rust?

All of this is purely academic. I've no intention of *ever* getting my knives that wet, if I can help it. I even sit my leatherman wave on the floor in front of a blow-dryer if I have to wash it, then oil the whole thing down when it cools.

Any thoughts? :eek:

WayLander
 
I wouldn't try it underwater. I'm sure the tension would be enough to open under water. But, I'd worry about the torsion bar getting wet, rusting out. And, doesn't the torsion bar sit in an oiled pocket or something? I'd worry about lubrication being washed away.

Purely academic of course, as I'm not super knowledgeable about the inner workings of the SPeed Safe mechanism!
 
Wouldn't the shallow-nocity ( :D ) of the bucket/sink/tub's low water pressure affect its opening pretty dramatically in comparison to a real Jacques Cousteau adventure?


Edited to add: Then again, even a shallow water experiment would give you a good idea.
 
Just tried it in the sink--Leek still had most of its kick (standard finish leek if that matters), but my BC coated chive was a little sluggish.
 
I recall reading that part of the speedsafe mechanism is held in place (from rattling) by a dab of grease. So, the knife would get a little noisier if the water managed to wash away that grease (at least until you disassembled it & reapplied the grease).

I think you could prevent rust well enough with the rest of the knife IF you could dry it thoroughly everytime.
 
there's a fair amount of grease in that "pocket." plus, although it's definately not watertight or anything like that, i feel like it'd be difficult for the grease to wash out.

and if it rusts or breaks, send kershaw an email. they'll speed you a replacement spring free of charge. at least, they did for me. :P
 
Hi!

I carry my Leek in a work environment full of dry, fine abrasive sand (I work in a titanium minerals processing plant) and it finally got too sluggish for the blade to fully deploy on its own. I partially opened it up (without removing the pivot screw) and found the greased pocket around the spring. I am soaking the knife in mineral spirits to remove the contaminated dust.

I believe that the grease is acting as a dust magnet, so I am considering reassembling the mechanism dry. Do you think that the grease is in there for its lubricating properties, or is it in only in there to quiet the mechanism down? Any suggestions for a lubricant that won't hold dust?

Thanks for your advice!

Geoffrey
 
You could try graphite from a pencil. Most lubricants that I know of will make the dust stick. Good luck.
 
Hopefully this pic will hel answer your question, the torsion bar is not stainless and rust will weaken it.
attachment.php
 
Thanks for the help, guys!

I found an old bottle of Hoppe's teflon powder so I'm going to dust the inside of the spring recess pocket with that. I'm sure that it will rattle when I'm done but maybe it won't wear too badly.

Thanks again!

Geoffrey
 
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