"Gravity closing" before the D.B dent

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Jeff/1911
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"Gravity closing" before the D.B dent

#1

Post by Jeff/1911 »

Folks,



Regarding the spine lock designs... is it my imagination, or has the David Boye dent in the locking levers of these various knives so equipped, pretty much removed the possibility of "gravity closing" these models, as one perhaps could have before the dent was added?



I'm aware that the DB dent supposedly aids in preventing "accidental closings", but in my opinion, it seems to also preclude the possibility of one being able to push down on the locking lever and having the well-smoothened action of their favorite Spydie simply drop it's blade most of the way back towards it's resting, or closed position.



Without exception; the models I've tried without the David Boye dent in their locking levers have reliably done this, whereas the ones with this newer feature will unlock alright, but seem to need a bit of a "shake" of the hand to dislodge them from their physical position in which they were locked up.



It occurs to me that this is caused by a bit of drag on the top of the locking portion of their blade by pressure from the spring loaded locking lever. This semms to be because the lever is only being depressed as much as one can do so once some of the lever has been ground away, such as is the case with those modified in the David Boye style.



Your thoughts, fellow Spydercoians?



Jeff/1911.
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J Smith
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#2

Post by J Smith »

I've noticed that too.The only one I have with the dent is the native and I handled three before I found one that closed right.The frist one would not disengage at all unless you pressed real hard on the forward part of the lock and then shake it.

}{ Jeff }{
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vampyrewolf
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#3

Post by vampyrewolf »

That could be the reason my Calypso jr lt doesn't seem to close as easy as my Delica. The delica just takes pushing on the lockbar to get it halfway, while the calypso(if held at anything but parralel with the ground) takes a small shake. This is with both freshly oiled.
Pachucko
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#4

Post by Pachucko »

I like mine to have a little "bias towards the open position." Ie..., When it takes a little effort to close them.

Just my 0.02 worth...
Pachucks
ThinkOfTheChildren
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#5

Post by ThinkOfTheChildren »

Haven't noticed the correlation at all. It shouldn't matter as long as you're fully disengaging the lock bar. My Calypso Jr, Native, and Merlin all have the boye dent. Only the Merlin fails to close under gravity.

It has more to do with blade mass, pivot tension, and breakin than the boye dent if ya ask me.
Jeff/1911
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#6

Post by Jeff/1911 »

TOTC,

Perhaps you are right that the effect is not related to "the dent", this is why I posed the question. I was questioning whether or not the effect seeemed to be related to dent or no-dent design. In my limited experience, it seemed to correlate perfectly.

I am pleased however, to hear that there are some examples out there of Spydies with the DB dent that will still fully disengage, and thereby allow the free closing effect. It's a relief to hear this, as the David Boye dent seems here to stay with Spyderco, and this tells me that I may still be able to find curently produced knives that will operate the way I desire them to.

Jeff/1911.
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#7

Post by yog »

I think it is a knife by knife thing.

My Calypso Jnr Lwt with the dent is one of the easiest gravity closers I own, but I have found with my G-10 Native that I have to press the front of the lock and give it a slight shake, pressing from the back often leaves the lock engaged.
My G-10 Standard w/o the DB dent requires a slight shake, whereas my SS Delica swings free and easy.
My G-10 Harpy w/o the DB dent is the free'est swinger next to the Calypso, but the SS Harpy w/o dent is one of the stiffest I own.

With my knives I find the G-10 handles produce more drag than the rest (usually), but the DB dent only noticably makes a difference on one knife, which coincidentally also has a G-10 handle.

There's a hole in the sky where the rain comes in, it's a very small hole that's why rain's so thin - In memory of the Goons
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J Smith
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#8

Post by J Smith »

On the native that I handled the dent was cut to deep.You could press the lock as far down as you could with your finger in the dent and it was not far enough to disengage.You had to move your finger up out of the dent and press on the corner of where the dent started.This was uncomfortable and took at bit of concintration to do.The native I have has the dent but it has no problems at all.Yog the native problem I had was like your G10,only to the extreme. I don't think I would order one that had the dent.I would have to handle it and inspect it first.

<img src="spyder.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0> Jeff <img src="spyder.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>

Edited by - J Smith on 3/24/2002 8:06:20 AM
spydieman
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#9

Post by spydieman »

My Native is the only knife I have with the Boye dent. My other spydies without the Boye dent only have to be pressed 1/3 to 1/2 of the way in before completely unlocking, where the Native lever has to be pressed flush with the grip, which requires a bit more effort. When my Native was new, I had to press the lock release above the dent, but now it will unlock if I press in the dent as well, maybe because I have become accustomed to the dent or maybe because of break in. As far as the gravity closing question, IMHO it is more dependant upon friction between the grip panels and the blade. My older Spydies without the Boye dent would not gravity drop when they were new, but, after some breaking in, most will close freely when the lever lock is pressed. Some of them still require a slight flick to get the blade to drop. My Native still requires a flick to get it started as well, but it is much looser than it was three weeks ago when I got it. An occasional drop or two of oil seems to help considerably as well.

Mark
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#10

Post by yog »

There is a bright side tho.
Wouldn't you rather have a knife that took some effort to close, rather than one that closed too easily ?.

It's like old age. The prospect of it may not be good, but the alternative is worse.

There's a hole in the sky where the rain comes in, it's a very small hole that's why rain's so thin - In memory of the Goons
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AllenETreat
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#11

Post by AllenETreat »

To : Jeff/1911 & ALL

I have a "Merlin" C 08BK <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0> with the DB "dent" as it is refered to ; I rather like
the pre DB model(s) as I like to close mine
by gravity. Rather strange that <img src="spyder.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0> should
use the DB "dent" then come along with the
C 64 "Meerkat". But then, what do I know ?

"...and let him that has no sword sell his
robe and buy one..." Luke 22:36 <img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>

ATE ( alias A.E.T. ) <img src="tongue.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>
jaxon
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#12

Post by jaxon »

Just remembered this post and got interested in the issue. Without going into all of my Spydies I think two examples illustrate my theory that it's mostly the degree of break-in and individual knife 'personalities'. My 50/50 blade FRN Endura (Boye dent lock) gravitied first time out of the box. Bit my finger that time with its teeth. On the other hand, my Calypso Jr. II (without dent) was very stiff when received, even though it was a mint condition factory rep's display piece. After a period of careful action break-in play it is now a very slick gravity closer. Different as they are, both Spydie-Drop effortlessly. Just my HO.
Jaxon

Weekend yet?

Edited by - jaxon on 3/28/2002 7:24:05 AM
Jeff/1911
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#13

Post by Jeff/1911 »

jaxon,

Thanks for your reply. I agree that it seems to be a matter of many variables, whether or not the Spydie will gravity close or not.

Jeff.
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