Wearing out a compression lock

T

Tuco23

Joined
Dec 29, 2014
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Is it possible to wear out a compression lock through normal use? I got a PM2 a while ago and have been flipping it open a lot. A lot like to the point of ridiculousness. I do it so much that I even annoy myself :rolleyes:. Probably in the neighborhood of 10,000 times in the last couple of months… will this thing keep going or will the spring fail eventually?
 
While I'm not sure, i think you will begin to see the locking tab migrate over to the opposite side of the lock face until it reaches 100% Kind of like a frame lock will. At that point I'm not sure what you would do with it if you got blade play. Of course i could be totally wrong here, I'm just speculating. I'm not sure I've ever heard of this happening though.
 
Welcome to the forums.
I suppose it is possible if all you do for the rest of your life is sit on your can and flip open and close your knife. Most folks don't really do such things as a job, school, family, and other social activities tend to occupy their time. If that sounds like you, might be time to find something to cut with that knife, rather than flick it all day long. A job, is also a good use of time and can lead to more knives if done correctly. ;)
 
Thanks for the replies. I have a job (working from home) that allows me to flip knives open all day, lol.

I have to say I am impressed with this knife and very impressed with the compression lock! I wish more knives came with them. Just curious on the long term durability.
 
Should be good to go! I haven't had any problems with my Para 2s. If you're enjoying it, keep on flipping :D
 
While what you are describing doesn't necessarily reflect "normal use", if lock up is still tight I would say flip it another 10000 times.
 
Anything with moving parts will wear out eventually. Beyond that, it comes down to what you consider normal use. To me, that would be opening and closing a knife a dozen times a day or less and using thumb pressure against the side of the blade, rather than flicking or flipping, to open it. Used like that, and properly cared for, I'd expect any Spyderco compression lock model to have a service life of at least 20 years, and probably a good deal more. Flicking a knife open causes the blade tang to slam violently against the stop pin and will eventually deform one, or the other, or both, and reduce service life.
 
The Deacon said:
Flicking a knife open causes the blade tang to slam violently against the stop pin and will eventually deform one, or the other, or both, and reduce service life.
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Learned that the hard way with a Mcusta. Nice little dings on the scales where the thumbs studs hit when flicked open. Only took a time or two flicking and the damage is barely noticeable, but I know it's there lol.
 
I picked up a Superleaf used last year that must have been owned by a compulsive flipper.
Lock engagement was fine at about 50% even with obvious deformation of the lock tab. It was mushroomed pretty good.
Even with this level of abuse it leads me to believe the compression lock will last a very long time.
 
It won't be nearly as bad for it if you flick it gently (I can thumb flick mine open lightly enough that it barely makes it...soft enough that I can open it harder the whole way with my thumb if I want to), and I don't use any wrist movement at all. If you're really firing it open hard you'll wear it out faster than if you're more gentle with it.
 
Barman1 said:
I picked up a Superleaf used last year that must have been owned by a compulsive flipper.
Lock engagement was fine at about 50% even with obvious deformation of the lock tab. It was mushroomed pretty good.
Even with this level of abuse it leads me to believe the compression lock will last a very long time.
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Or possibly a compulsive spine whacker.

I could be wrong. I'm no engineer and some would say I'm not even very mechanically inclined. However, given the mechanics of a compression lock, I'd still inclined to think flipping would deform the stop pin or the blade tang at their point of contact, since they absorb the initial impact when a blade is opened hard and fast. At that point, the lockbar, stop pin, and tang only have to absorb the rebound impact, which should be considerably less, at their points of contact.
 
The Deacon said:
Or possibly a compulsive spine whacker.

I could be wrong. I'm no engineer and some would say I'm not even very mechanically inclined. However, given the mechanics of a compression lock, I'd still inclined to think flipping would deform the stop pin or the blade tang at their point of contact, since they absorb the initial impact when a blade is opened hard and fast. At that point, the lockbar, stop pin, and tang only have to absorb the rebound impact, which should be considerably less, at their points of contact.
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That's a possibility as well.
It was an easy fix though. I removed the lock liner, peened it back into shape, touched it up with a file, then carbidized the contact surfaces.
That brought the lock engagement back to about 25% and it still operates like a new knife.
I've got a few of them and this one is my user. Strong compression lock model.
 
I think you may have an addiction...and a problem. lol

I flick my open a lot but I don't slam them. I open them til they click. lol

The nice thing about the compression lock is that is a piece of steel sandwiched between two points....so even if you were to "wear it out" to the far side of the knife....you'd still have to then compress 3-5mm of hardened steel. Not really an easy task. So I'd say have fun! Its your knife, do with it as you please.
 
Consider it like you've bought yourself a $120 novelty flick toy.
If you get 20,000 or 50,000 flicks out of it before any kind of failure, would you feel like you got your money's worth?
How many flicks would it take to make you feel the value?
I guess there's only one way to truly answer your question, and that's for you to keep on flickin' that thing til something noticeable happens, then report back here. That way, when you buy your next PM2, you'll know how much is too much.

Flicking open a PM2 is fun, I admit :P
 
Rasco said:
Consider it like you've bought yourself a $120 novelty flick toy.
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That’s a good idea. Although the lockup is just as tight as the day I bought it so maybe nothing will break. I don’t do this to any of my other knives, there is just something inherently fun about the compression lock. Good job Spyderco.
 
RevDevil said:
Welcome to the forums.
I suppose it is possible if all you do for the rest of your life is sit on your can and flip open and close your knife. Most folks don't really do such things as a job, school, family, and other social activities tend to occupy their time. If that sounds like you, might be time to find something to cut with that knife, rather than flick it all day long. A job, is also a good use of time and can lead to more knives if done correctly. ;)
Click to expand...
How does telling him to get a job answer his question, i have very demanding job and I still fegit with my knife a lot after I have used it all day and my spyderco para 2 has last me a couple years.
 
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