Unassisted Heat

roshi

roshi

Joined
May 3, 2001
Messages
1,501
Any plans for an unassisted version of the Heat? Anyone out there removed the assist feature from theirs?

Don't get me wrong, I think it's a great idea and I love the Heat I just bought. However, there are some areas where I travel where assisted opening is pretty much considered to be a switchblade. You might get away with a cutsy itsy bitsy girly assisted opener like some manufacture but not a Heat. ;)

I am very impressed with the Heat. Fit, finish, feel, overall quality, lock up, are great. One of the sharpest knives out of the box, I've ever had. Looks good too.

Now if I could carry it in San Antonio or New York City, it would be perfect.
 
I decided to answer my own question. It's extremely easy to remove the assist spring in the Heat. Took me less than ten minutes.

I now have a non-assist flipper opened knife. I tightened the pivot enough to prevent centrifugal opening from the fully closed position but it will still flick open once the flipper is pulled back.

It's now an NYC legal folder. :rolleyes:

No need for a non-assist Heat, the knife as it comes from Camillus is easily convertible.

Excellent design and quality manufacture. :)
 
You didn't even need to remove the spring. Just use one of the longer screws provided, in the right place. OK everyone, discuss. ;)
 
Dirk, what do you mean by "...using longer screws in the right place"?
Give us a little more details!
 
Dirk said:
You didn't even need to remove the spring. Just use one of the longer screws provided, in the right place. OK everyone, discuss. ;)
Click to expand...


I assume you mean use one of three screws holding the scales together as the single liner retention screw such that it extends through the liner and pushes the spring out of contact with the blade?

I don't remember the scale screws being significantly longer than the single liner screw.

For my purpose, I prefer to remove the spring but the idea of being able to convert the Heat by simply replacing screws is interesting.
 
Camillus supplied each Heat with an extra set of screws for left handed clip mount. Due to the design, one side of the liner sits deeper in the handle then on the other. Thus the need for the second and longer set of screws. This should work on most Heats. I have seen on where it wouldn't. On the spring side of the knife, take out the center screw, replace it with one of the longer screws provided. Do this with the knife closed. That way the spring is compressed and out of the way. Also, make sure you put the screw all of the way in. Once the screw is in, open the knife. The first time open it this way you will get a little kick from the sping and you will here a funky grindind noise where the spring is making contact with the screw. Close the knife again and then open it. It should be all manual with no noise or kick from the spring. Sometimes, the sring may not clear the screw hole when closed and you might not be able to do it that way. However, that should be a rare occurence. If you want the assisted opener back, just reverse the steps. :D
 
Do you need a special bit to open up the heat?
Does Camillus sell extra parts for the heat?
Does someone have pics of the heat's internals?
 
nonbox,

1. Yes, you need an extra bit to disassemble the Heat. Camillus supplies a tool for small bolts that hold up the handles together and also the pocket clip. But you do need an extra bit to unsrew the central axis bolt. It is a torx bigger than N10 and smaller than N15 - I don't know the number.
2. Camillus supplies a small tool (see above) and three bolts to reverse the clip.
3. Unfortunately I don't have a digital camera - so I wasn't able to take pictures. But the knife internals are very simple. Once you unscrew it, you will not have a problem with cleaning, removing the assisted openning spring (if you need to) and re-assembling it back.

The Heat works as good without the spring. This is good 'cause it is on the edge of being illegal in the place where I live with its assisted openning feature.
 
BTW, in my case the spring does not clear the screw hole (see Dirk's post)... so I preferred to take off the spring completely. It works fine without the spring.
 
Anybody know if the Dominator can be converted this easily? I know A.G Russell sells a non-assisted version, but it is pricey.
 
The way the dominator is set up, removing the spring is the only option to make it manual, at this time. If you wanted, you could drill and tap a hole like the Heat. However, that probably wouldn't blend too well. If you remove the spring on the dominator, you will need to some type of spacer for that stand off. The spring sits directly under a standoff.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top