Spyderco Millie has a weak detent???

jesseaction

jesseaction

Joined
Jun 6, 2009
Messages
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I just got mine in the mail, brand new, after reading, wanting, searching fruitlessly for a user, and finally just going for it. It is one of the new orange ones in S30V, and I was not disappointed to clench it in my fist and for the first time get to feel what so many people gush about. Yeah, it feels wicked awesome.

So I was a little surprised to realize that it has quite a weak detent... I searched around a little and found that people have accused the Para-millie of the same thing. It isn't so weak that the blade will fall out, or that the handle will fall down if you grab the hole; but you don't have to shake hard at all for the handle to come down in that position, and it is not a heavy handle at all. So what is the consensus...is it this way by design, or by mistake, or did I get a bad one? :eek::eek:

(I still love it...also just got a Chinese Lum in the mail (thanks Bill!!) and love that too...then there are my BMs and Kershaws...so much to love:p) Cheers guys...and gals, if you are out there :thumbup::thumbup:
 
the para millie has a compression lock the std millie is liner lock, i know some of the early compression locks had detent problems, but spydie fixed that long ago, though all my millies are earlier than yours i doubt the newer ones have a weak detent, i would say if yours is weak its a bad one and ya should send it in for them to fix.

i have an early Ti ATR which did have a very weak detent, its a compression like the para, i sent it in and its fine now, i have 2 other Ti ATR's and one SS ATR and all of them are fine in that regard but they were later models,

i have never heard millies had weak detents and none of the probably 6 or 7 i have had had that problem.
 
Based on my most recent Military models, the cpmD2 versions, I'd say the blade detent isn't comparatively weak.
 
I've had several of both models and a weak detent has not been a problem with any of them.
 
All of my newer Military's have a strong detent. I have an older 440V model that has a detent that is somewhat "weaker", but I would not call it a problem.

Tom
 
The two Millies I've had and the one I currently EDC have all had GREAT closed retention... I think this one may have slipped by QC...

I would take a light and peek inside to see whats going on... make sure the ball sticks out of the liner enough...maybe even take the blade out and look at the detent hole... there could be a little crud in there.

All things considered, you have just bought what I consider the best EDC of all time. I hope it works out for ya!
 
How loose is the pivot screw?

Some folks like the pivot looser than others.
Personally, I tighten mine just enough so that even if it didn't have a detent, the blade still wouldn't just fall open from merely holding the handle.
 
Thanks a lot guys. Yeah I was pretty surprised after I noticed it. I will definitely take a look inside in case there is something blocking the hole, but the blade has a bit of up-down play when fully closed anyway, so I wonder if the ball isn't hitting the hole right. Again, the blade isn't falling out by itself, but I expected this design, so evolved and refined after all the years of being one of the cornerstones of the Spyderco lineup, to be rock solid no matter how you look at it. So, guess I'll have to send it in for a fixup.

Btw, will pulling the knife apart and putting it back together void the warranty?

Thanks again :thumbup::thumbup:
 
jesseaction said:
Btw, will pulling the knife apart and putting it back together void the warranty?
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Click to expand...

I don't have personal experience with this either way, but it wouldn't seem to by reading their warranty. It does say:

"Spyderco's warranty does not cover damage caused by abuse, misuse, loss, improper handling, alterations, accident, neglect, disassembly, or improper sharpening, or normal wear."

That says to me though that if you break something while taking it apart, its not covered. It does not imply that just taking it apart voids the warranty.

Its maybe a question to pose over on the Spyderco manufacturers board.
 
So here is an interesting followup question. Given that a new knife has to be returned for fixing or replacement, is it better to spend the postage returning it to the seller for a new one, or back to the manufacturer (in this case Spyderco) for a fix/refit/replacement at their discretion? I would hate to get it back from Spyderco still with a weak detent (as I've heard people getting when they send their Dejavoo's back to BM), however it seems like they wouldn't let it come back without making sure it is all good. OTOH, it would suck to get a replacement from the seller which is also lacking in some department....
 
If you send it to Spyderco, they will check it out. If there is a real problem, they will correct it, even if it means replacing the knife. If the knife is within the factory specifications, they will send it back as is. The warranty doesn't cover your expectations, it only covers defects in material or workmanship. I've read a lot of posts by people who sent knives in (for things I probably wouldn't have noticed), whining because they didn't get a new knife or the "problem" didn't get fixed.

I will say that the S90V Military I'm carrying right now has a very strong closed detent, almost strong enough to require two hands to open the knife. It does sound to me like yours has a real problem that Spyderco needs to see.
 
Mine's an S30V that I got a couple years ago, and the detent is certainly strong enough to hold the blade into the handle with enough force that it doesn't come out unless I open it.
Clean yours out... maybe there's crap stuck in the tiny blade hole. If that doesn't help, call the Spyderco CS line, and send it back if they tell you to.
 
FWIW, I've got an orange Military from the early bunch and it's detent is very strong.
 
Thanks again guys. The guy I bought it from offered to take it straight back and give me a new one so I'm going to go that route. I tried to see inside but the tolerances are so tight I couldn't even get close and I don't want to take it apart since it is still totally new. I have a feeling that the ball is actually missing the hole just barely by the way it seems to catch a little then play a little. Sounds like this doesn't happen too often with these guys. I can't wait to get a hold of the real thing now. Y'all rock :thumbup::thumbup:
 
Yeah that's really weird, the closed retention on mine is incredibly strong, maybe a little too strong. Glad you got it worked out, it's a great knife.
 
My S30V Military is a little weak, but my FG Para Military has a strong one. I couldn't get it to Spydy drop for the longest until it broke in!
 
jesseaction said:
I just got mine in the mail, brand new, after reading, wanting, searching fruitlessly for a user, and finally just going for it. It is one of the new orange ones in S30V, and I was not disappointed to clench it in my fist and for the first time get to feel what so many people gush about. Yeah, it feels wicked awesome.

So I was a little surprised to realize that it has quite a weak detent... I searched around a little and found that people have accused the Para-millie of the same thing. It isn't so weak that the blade will fall out, or that the handle will fall down if you grab the hole; but you don't have to shake hard at all for the handle to come down in that position, and it is not a heavy handle at all. So what is the consensus...is it this way by design, or by mistake, or did I get a bad one? :eek::eek:

(I still love it...also just got a Chinese Lum in the mail (thanks Bill!!) and love that too...then there are my BMs and Kershaws...so much to love:p) Cheers guys...and gals, if you are out there :thumbup::thumbup:
Click to expand...
I recently purchased a Spyderco Millie as well. Black blade and s30v. I've had zero problems with the detent. In fact, the knife as zero issues so far. Yes, the gush happened and friends gushed as well. Its an "all business" folder.

Just my 2cents.
 
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