Tatanka stiff lock?

[PineChaos]

I just received my new Tatanka and am liking it thus far, but I have noticed the lock is very stiff/ sticky. It takes a lot of force to depress the lock lever and makes a very audible click sound.

Is this normal for the Tatanka? I have tons of lock back spydies and none were ever this stiff.

 

[spketch]

I handled one and noticed right away that it was surprisingly easy to unlock (in a good way). Much easier than a new triad lock from cold steel for example. There was an audible click but no sticking or excessive force needed.

ETA: it wasn't brand new, so maybe the owner had broken it in already.

 

[Esav Benyamin]

From the start, my Tatanka was exceptionally easy to unlock. Very smooth, blade drops down by its own weight.

 

[Charlie Mike]

I have had 5 pass through my hands. They start out stiff. My personal Tatanka softened up after a week.

 

[Sosa]

Well they say to leave a triad half open for a week to break the spring in. Don't know if it works with a tatanka.

 

[stabman]

Mine isn't stiff at all.
Wasn't when it was brand new.
Of course, I'm not Spyder-dropping it open, so I don't know what that does.

But Charlie Mike should know what it's like after being opened hard, since he waves every knife he gets.
(and it looks from what he says that doing so makes it hard to close for about a week).

 

[Charlie Mike]

I think I just got a stiff one. I took it apart and polished all the contact areas. Now it's much better.

 

[stabman]

I think I just got a stiff one. I took it apart and polished all the contact areas. Now it's much better.

That could do it do.
Mine was slightly gritty on opening at first, but I just flushed some Tuf-Glide into the pivot, worked it open and closed a bit, and it was good to go.

 

[logman]

Just recently acquired one as well. The blade was very tight, so release was hard, but adjusting the pivot, and the stop pin screw allows easy deployment. First, I loosen the stop pin so it's out of the equation, and adjust the main pivot to my liking, then tighten the stop pin screw just to the same.

I find the lock interesting, but a bit protracted. It is very sensitive, with the mechanics stacked against it. I notice the few I've seen, that the lever and lock are below the liners, and go past being parallel with the liners when locked open firmly. Upon careful inspection it can be seen that while the lock will pivot further with wear it then causes the lock to be even more out of aesthetic alignment with the liner edge. A couple thousandths changes everything considerably. Not a forgiving design, but am enjoying it for what it is.

LOG