Recently, i decided to try a Ti frame lock ( spyderco chokwe ) and it shocked me how complicated and annoying it is to maintain this knife.
On most of my knives, i barely need to use lube, i rarely put some because i like a perfectly smooth action ; on this Ti frame lock, i need not 1 but 3 different products to make it work properly and if i put just a little too much of 1 of them, it ruins the action and i have to do a total cleaning/maintenance.
These products are =
- permanent marker/graphite = necessary for smooth action
- lube = necessary for smooth action
- loctite = to avoid bladeplay
If the blade wasn't s30v but d2 for exemple, i would have to use 1 more product = mineral oil on the blade to avoid corrosion.
I thought balisongs were annoying with their need for loctite, but once it's done, it's done for a very long time because they are very easy to clean and lube. On The spyderco chokwe, every time i need to clean it ( happens quite frequently since i use it as a fruit knife ), i must avoid putting any water on the pivot because i can't lube it without taking it apart. ( any water/lube going on the lockbar would ruin the action of the knife )
It leaves me wondering : why would i choose such an intensive maintenance knife ?
For sure once it's all loctited and ready i could use it only for dry cuts but it's very limited compared to my other knives : most of them don't need any lube, loctite or sharpie, i can use them in any condition and then clean them with hot water and soap without ruining their action.
I know there are some Ti frame locks that don't need loctite or sharpie to function properly, but if they don't have a steel insert on the lockbar, any water/lube that will go here will ruin the action. When talking about Ti frame locks, people always say they are so " simple and easy to clean " but they forget to mention that you have to care about them a lot more than other locking mechanisms.
On most of my knives, i barely need to use lube, i rarely put some because i like a perfectly smooth action ; on this Ti frame lock, i need not 1 but 3 different products to make it work properly and if i put just a little too much of 1 of them, it ruins the action and i have to do a total cleaning/maintenance.
These products are =
- permanent marker/graphite = necessary for smooth action
- lube = necessary for smooth action
- loctite = to avoid bladeplay
If the blade wasn't s30v but d2 for exemple, i would have to use 1 more product = mineral oil on the blade to avoid corrosion.
I thought balisongs were annoying with their need for loctite, but once it's done, it's done for a very long time because they are very easy to clean and lube. On The spyderco chokwe, every time i need to clean it ( happens quite frequently since i use it as a fruit knife ), i must avoid putting any water on the pivot because i can't lube it without taking it apart. ( any water/lube going on the lockbar would ruin the action of the knife )
It leaves me wondering : why would i choose such an intensive maintenance knife ?
For sure once it's all loctited and ready i could use it only for dry cuts but it's very limited compared to my other knives : most of them don't need any lube, loctite or sharpie, i can use them in any condition and then clean them with hot water and soap without ruining their action.
I know there are some Ti frame locks that don't need loctite or sharpie to function properly, but if they don't have a steel insert on the lockbar, any water/lube that will go here will ruin the action. When talking about Ti frame locks, people always say they are so " simple and easy to clean " but they forget to mention that you have to care about them a lot more than other locking mechanisms.
