What's the deal with Kershaw and lock failure?

But what if I need to baton my Blur through a large log because I'm in a survival situation where I need to survive with survival and then my lock fails and I can't survive for that one specific reason!?!?
 
The lock on my 0550 fails (without whacking the spine) about half the time I try it. If I push hard enough on the jimping it pops out. Lockup is super early, though. Considered sending it in, but I figure I'll just be careful with it. I can't figure how I'd be cutting hard enough and pushing in exactly the right way to get it to fail during use, but like I said, I know it has the potential to fail so I'll be careful.The 0550blk I just traded away had really solid lockup, couldn't get that one to fail by just pushing it with my thumb. Never tried to whack the spine, tough...
 
If the locking angle is too large, it could cause the lock to fail. I would make sure there is not any oil or grease on the locking mechanism.
 
I was trying to baton my Leek through my 8" bench vice with my 24oz. framing hammer and it developed some blade play. I'm done with Kershaws!
 
I had a kershaw shallot lock fail on me . I was cutting straps of a boxes . Did not cut my self but I got scared when it happen . I did a search on YouTube and found out I'm not the only one that it had happend to . Sold it .
 
I'm probably harder on my work knives than most and have yet to have a Kershaw lock fail me.
I'm having a little trouble understanding how a 'spine-whack' test serves any practical purpose. It's like a brick into window test to see how well the window will keep rain out.
 
i've got maybe 99% confidence on a ZT folder not collapsing on me...the only folders i have 100% confidence on are my striders and HEST's...every other folder i got either hasn't been pushed that hard to know or i definitely won't push them anywhere near their limit...

no way would i put a blur near the limit..
 
Reminds me of that Fancy Nuts guy. Always complains when knives fail when he batons them, then when he has a sturdy knife like a ZT 0350 he complains it is too heavy.
 
what's the deal with people still spine-whacking folders? a knife is a tool, use it properly. spine-whacking doesn't replicate any type of real-world knife use. check the folder for dirt or foreign objects that might impede its proper operation. I can easily picture something getting in between the liners of a folder when in a dirty, hard-use situation that might lead to the liner disengaging from the lock face.
 
Hi Bear -

I have not found the Kershaw/ZT brand to have any problems with lock failure, nothing endemic anyway.

I would say that, having seen the factory and the folks assembling knives, they do perform a spine-whack test on the knives once they are assembled to make sure the lock does not disengage.

For clarity - the assembler does a simple smack or two on the edge of the bench, they don't stand up and give it all they have, it is more of a tapping, but they do indeed DO it.

AS some others have stated, I don't spine-whack my folders, fearing that I will put a hammering force on an area that could be harmed by such.

Instead, I grasp the blade and work it to see if I can get the lockbar to disengage. I don't remember ever having lock problems with any of the many Kai products I have handled.

best

mqqn
 
Ya know I've had folders all my life that didn't have a lock on them and never had an occurrence of cutting myself. Of course I don't go around hitting my knives that have a lock on the back of the spine either........ :rolleyes:
 
whats the deal with people complaining before they even give kershaw a chance to make things right?

edit: kershaw always goes the extra mile to make sure customers are satisfied.
 
Something is wrong here, I've heard of a few squeezing through quality control (something that happens to all manufacturers on the rare occasion). That said I have 5 zt's and 20 kershaws and have never had any of their locks fail. If you try hard enough you can make anything fail and it sounds like that is exactly what you are doing.
 
I find it strange that the act of beating something on a table can cause it to malfunction. I have to give this some additional thought. Thats not why your printer stopped working, is it?

I joke - sort of. We should not be able to overcome the lock with our bare hands. But to me, hitting it on a counter top is a little outside its intended usage.
 
I agree, spine whacking a blade to see if the lock works properly is like driving into a wall to test the air bag. If it holds or works you've damaged the knife. If it fails you've damaged the knife. It's lose, lose.

Even Andrew Demko of Cold Steel says you should never spine whack a blade. Sure, this could have to do with liability issues too but I think he has integrity and is honest about locks and how to treat and not treat them. He strongly advises against it.

One thing that I don't agree with is that oil or grease on the lock face would be the cause of failure? If oil makes the lock slip then I say its out of spec or tolerance and needs to be fixed or adjusted. A properly working locks performance should be enhanced by oiling not cause for it to fail. I don't think it's realistic for a "working knife" not to be exposed to oils, greases, and other slippery fluids. If it's design inherently allows for slippage then I think it severely limits its usefulness. But I don't think that's the case...
 
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