Spyderco Chokwe lock failure

Z

zuzja

Joined
Aug 5, 2008
Messages
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I recorded video how integral lock of my spyderco chokwe fail under thumb pressure (sorry for russian lang.)
[youtube]53soW5wGER8[/youtube]
this is a good folder, i really like it (maybe more than military), but what should i do to fix my chokwe? i don't want to send it to spyderco, because it very costly for me, is it any way to avoid failure in the future?

upd:
After some tests and their analysis I can say: while I'm pushing the blade with straight middle finger (or, unbend finger?) i can't fold the Chokwe with my super-thumb. So, maybe knife folds because of light touch. But why it doesn't pass spine-test at first test series?

In any case, now i know the limits of this knife and would like to say many thanks to Sal and co for this REALLY beautiful knife! Oh men, how it cuts, my grandpa's lightsaber getting rust when see it! It hasn't neither vertical nor horizontal blade-play, there is no gaps between G-10 plate and steel liner. Chokwe fits well for my hand, handle doesn't disturb and rub me in any grip. The only one thing - it looks like some anatomic feature of my hand can leads to lock failure Maybe it's because of too deep and wide cut at handle above spyderhole... If so, i should buy new Gayle Bradley folder

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Hard to tell from the video, but, as is common with RILs/linerlocks, is it possible that you disengaged it by gripping it too hard? Certain kinds of grips will easily disengage these locks.
 
Call me cynical but it looks like he nudges it unlocked, accidentially of course..

I'd like to see a clear picture of the engagement of the lock before it unlocks too, to compare to mine. Why is it doing fine under thumb pressure until the quick flip where it unlocks?


I've got no dog in the fight but that video doesn't show me a true lock failure, just what looks like a quick unlocking movement. I'm not saying that's what is happening, but it looks like it.

I'd Send it in though, if I had one that failed. The warranty takes care of problems. Good luck
 
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It almost looks like the grip isn't being squeezed but the index finger is being pulled towards the lock release. Maybe I am seeing it wrong.
 
Lol, I love the Part 2 video especially.
"oops, I did it again".
Lol. Sorry братан.
Spyderco will fix it, no problemo. Still sucks to see it hapening on such a high end folder. I did notice though, that Spyderco seem to be having QC problems with their new 'made in Taiwan' knives. Maybe it's just me...

удачи.
 
i don't know for sure, but for me their Taiwan-made knives have very good fit & finish - even better than some Japan and USA-made folders.
 
From your second vid, I'd say the locking part of the handle is just a bit too thin to lock really firmly. On my Seb, it takes real effort to disengage it and it would certainly not fail in your situation. I've handled the Chokwe once and its action is really smooth, truly excellent - I hope this is not a built-in downside of that smoothness.
 
After seeing this i just needed to know if my own Chokwe would do the same, but it didn't.
Not after a very gentle locking of the blade, and not after a rather hard locking of the blade.
I used the exact same technique like in the vid, but the lockbar does not slip, does not budge, doesn't do anything but stay put in the exact same spot under the bladeramp.

But now my thumb hurts, so i need to be compensated for that.
I think i'm going to pour myself a drink, :D
 
"Oh baby, I did it again"-love that! Sorry about the lock failure, it's still a bit hard to see but I'm sure Spyderco will take care of you. It sucks that you're in Russia which means shipping might be a pain from your end but I would contact their warranty department.
 
I don't know the model too well, but it looks like it's set for tip down carry. The pocket clip does not let you get a good grip on the handle (to take full advantage of the frame-lock) when most knives are set for tip down carry. Actually, a misplaced pocket clip can actually make a frame lock into what is essentially a liner-lock. -And I'm never surprised to see a liner-lock not working well.
 
zuzja, good video! I watched it a few times in full screen. I am sure your knife is fine, your technique released the lock. In fact, your technique is exactly how I unlock my liner locks and integral locks when I want to close them.

I put my thumb on the top right side of the blade and use my index finger to pull the lock to the rght. The thumb puts slight downward pressure on the blade so when the lock is released, it blocks it and the knife can be closed.

Try the same thing but keep your thumb off the blade. It should stay open even though your index finger may pull on the lock. With an integral lock, you need to keep your grip completely on the lock, not allowing a finger to rotate against it.

Incidentally, I have many integral locks and some have thin lockbars and some thick. Thickness of lockbar does not particularly contribute to tight lockup. What matters is the friction of the lockface against the tang.

My Mission folder releases so easily, I hardly feel it. My Sebenzas take a serious effort. My Military linerlock takes an effort also.
 
I did the same and, fwiw, think the same. Either that or the OP has got digital strength not seen since Superman went off the air, really.

Esav Benyamin said:
zuzja, good video! I watched it a few times in full screen. I am sure your knife is fine, your technique released the lock. In fact, your technique is exactly how I unlock my liner locks and integral locks when I want to close them.

I put my thumb on the top right side of the blade and use my index finger to pull the lock to the rght. The thumb puts slight downward pressure on the blade so when the lock is released, it blocks it and the knife can be closed.

Try the same thing but keep your thumb off the blade. It should stay open even though your index finger may pull on the lock. With an integral lock, you need to keep your grip completely on the lock, not allowing a finger to rotate against it.

Incidentally, I have many integral locks and some have thin lockbars and some thick. Thickness of lockbar does not particularly contribute to tight lockup. What matters is the friction of the lockface against the tang.

My Mission folder releases so easily, I hardly feel it. My Sebenzas take a serious effort. My Military linerlock takes an effort also.
Click to expand...
 
This is kind of a common problem in some frame and liner lock folders. If the lock is somewhat flush with the the other side of the frame, it is easy to disengage the lock with a firm grip.. In my experience, I have found Emerson to be bad for this and some spyderco as well... The Boker armed forces tanto has a deep seated liner lock that cannot be disengaged with a any grip..

I guess its all in how you hold the knife, I'd rather have a lock back anyday, but when I choose a liner or frame lock, this is the first thing I check...
 
Hi Zuzja,

Would you do a light "spine tap"? Hold the knife edge up with your hand out of the way of the blade, should it close. Lightly tap the spine at the tip agains a table of a hard surface.

On the Taiwan knives. This maker has given us excellent quality. We did have some problems with the Spalted Maple hardwood on the Bushcraft UK, but the wood came from the US. The maker did a fine job, the wood did not.

sal
 
zuzja said:
I recorded video how integral lock of my spyderco chokwe fail under thumb pressure (sorry for russian lang.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53soW5wGER8
this is a good folder, i really like it (maybe more than military), but what should i do to fix my chokwe? i don't want to send it to spyderco, because it very costly for me, is it any way to avoid failure in the future?
Click to expand...

Yeah, no. That's not failing under "thumb pressure". Pretty easy to see the muscle in the top of your hand flexing to pull the lock bar back with your finger.

That would disengage just about any sort of frame lock as well as some liner locks.

"Doctor, it hurts when I do this!"

"Then don't do that."
 
Esav Benyamin said:
zuzja, good video! I watched it a few times in full screen. I am sure your knife is fine, your technique released the lock. In fact, your technique is exactly how I unlock my liner locks and integral locks when I want to close them.
Click to expand...

thank you! sorry, Esav Benyamin, but i didn't hear about your technique and this is my first ti-integral-lock folder that failed this way. i don't want try this technique with sebenza because it doesn't have finger-choil, but i tested another two ti-integral-lock folders (bigger and smaller) and they passed test. so, i'm not superman.



Sal Glesser said:
Would you do a light "spine tap"? Hold the knife edge up with your hand out of the way of the blade, should it close. Lightly tap the spine at the tip agains a table of a hard surface.
Click to expand...

yes, of cause!
first strike (wooden table) - its ok.
second (slightly stronger) - blade played but lock hold it up.
third (stronger) - lock failed:(
after two-three open/close tried again - hmmm, lock hold up! close/open, violent strikes, wife scream from bath-room "hey, what you doing?" but lock hold up the blade! tried to repeat thumb-test - and it's OK!!! maybe my superman-thumb tired, but i hope super-magician Sal cure it from the other side of planet:)
seriously - i really don't know why it so happens, maybe because of slightly curved butt of the blade tang? i put 5 hi-res photos, hope it helps you
http://picasaweb.google.com/romchak/SpydercoChokwe#

Masteroffajitas said:
It was doing fine until you moved your hand so we couldn't see the lock.
Click to expand...

try to look my second video
 
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