Why is my new knife so stiff?

TommyBBQ

TommyBBQ

Joined
Mar 13, 2013
Messages
612
I just recieved my new Native 5 Moonglow and of all my other knives, this one is the stiffest when opening and closing it. Iv'e opened and closed it continuously but hasn't helped with the stiffness. Iv'e never taken one apart and I don't trust myself in doing so. Hell, I can't even build a decent dog house. Any suggestions?
 
use compressed air or some wd 40 to spray out the pivot, might have some grit in it. then put a drop of oil in the pivot and work it in for a bit. Is this your first back lock? they normally have a bit more resistance than something like a liner lock.

If it remains stiff for over three hours consult your physician.
 
It's my first Native 5 knife but not my first back lock. Although the knife is brand new and was on preorder, is it possible to have grit in it?
 
I have 2 moonglow Natives, and they are both smooth and easy. Were it mine, I'd go straight to the pivot adjustment. Take out that pivot screw, clean off any oil or gunk, apply a drop of the correct flavor of Loctite, and then adjust it to that perfect spot of easy opening plus little or no blade play. Then don't play with it until you think the Loctite has dried.
 
Adjust the pivot screw some.
Also, some back locks can be a little stiff at first.
Give it time to break in.
 
I thought the Native 5 used a pivot bushing like on the PM2 so it wouldn't ever get "too tight". It's possible the tolerances are a bit off, although perhaps there's just some crud inside.
 
As already suggested, adjust the pivot to the sweet spot. Also, in my experience a drop of nano-oil does wonders for knives that are tough to open.
 
Take it apart, clean it and lube it. I'd be surprised if it has a pivot bushing, but if t does, then that works to your advantage. Put some blue or purple loc-title on the pivot screw and tighten down to find that sweet spot. What that is, screw it down to where its smooth, but without sacrificing blade play. Use good tools!!
On some of the knives I ave had, or have, that were VERY tight, I would polish the washers to speed up the break in process. NanoOil is great and so is Chris Reeve grease. Lately, I've been experimenting with Wilson Comat's gun lube. Pretty happy with it so far.
 
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