Well, I received my sixth Byrd Cara Cara 2 FRN (plain edge) yesterday. The Amazon box was a nice welcome to a crappy day. Everything looked great, but I noticed that no matter how much I loosened or tightened the pivot pin screw, the blade had slop in it. I used Tuff Glide as lube, then tried again. There was a definite grinding feel, and I couldn't eliminate side-to-side blade play. After using a flashlight to inspect everything, I found out why: there were no phosphor bronze bushings in the knife. There were no bushings at all! So, it's into the spare parts box to find some. Not a problem; I found some that weren't too thick or too thin, with the right center hole size.
Taking the knife apart to get the bushings in was impossible. I've taken apart many Byrds and Spydercos, but this was different. The pivot pin screw came out just fine, as did the first handle screw. The other handle screws, however, were stripped. Perfectly rounded in the middle. I don't have a way to get them out, and I'm not going to Dremel some slots in them to make a $20 knife a little better. So, I removed the pivot pin and used a flathead screwdriver to pry the handles apart a little bit. Pivot pin goes in just enough that it is over the first liner, then drop the first bushing on and line it up. Then put the blade over the bushing and push the pivot pin in a little past the blade. Then the second bushing. I had to use a small set of pliers to get the second liner / handle scale lined up, then test the lockback. It works. The handle screw goes in next, then the pivot pin screw. Tighten. Everything is good. Take out the pivot pin screw, apply a drop of Loctite, then tighten. Tuff Glide the pivot. Everything is fine now; the knife is what I expected from Byrd.
I'm wondering how this knife passed inspection though; missing both bushings is bad enough, but three out of four handle screws are stripped from the factory?
Taking the knife apart to get the bushings in was impossible. I've taken apart many Byrds and Spydercos, but this was different. The pivot pin screw came out just fine, as did the first handle screw. The other handle screws, however, were stripped. Perfectly rounded in the middle. I don't have a way to get them out, and I'm not going to Dremel some slots in them to make a $20 knife a little better. So, I removed the pivot pin and used a flathead screwdriver to pry the handles apart a little bit. Pivot pin goes in just enough that it is over the first liner, then drop the first bushing on and line it up. Then put the blade over the bushing and push the pivot pin in a little past the blade. Then the second bushing. I had to use a small set of pliers to get the second liner / handle scale lined up, then test the lockback. It works. The handle screw goes in next, then the pivot pin screw. Tighten. Everything is good. Take out the pivot pin screw, apply a drop of Loctite, then tighten. Tuff Glide the pivot. Everything is fine now; the knife is what I expected from Byrd.
I'm wondering how this knife passed inspection though; missing both bushings is bad enough, but three out of four handle screws are stripped from the factory?
