Spyderco Forums

So I just got a green pm2 and the action and lockup were PERFECT! I switched the clip around for tip up carry and instantly the action was notably stiffer. I also believe there was a tiny bit of side to side play when I set it to tip up. The play could be my imagination but it DEFINITELY affected the action. So I switched the clip back to tip down and BOOM, the action was perfect again. Weird huh? Has anyone else experienced this? I think I'm just going to roll with it tip down. As long as I'm not using a lanyard on the knife I have no real preference between tip up or down.

I've noticed a similar, but different, effect occasionally. Namely that positioning the clip for tip down carry made the action stiffer. Think the cause is the same in both cases - the clip screws are a hair too long. That's not a problem when the knife is set up for TU carry, but when set up for TD they press against the washer (or directly against the blade on Moki knives). On your PM2 that may be beneficial, removing up some play that would otherwise exist, but on some other models it just causes excess drag.

The Deacon wrote:I've noticed a similar, but different, effect occasionally. Namely that positioning the clip for tip down carry made the action stiffer. Think the cause is the same in both cases - the clip screws are a hair too long. That's not a problem when the knife is set up for TU carry, but when set up for TD they press against the washer (or directly against the blade on Moki knives). On your PM2 that may be beneficial, removing up some play that would otherwise exist, but on some other models it just causes excess drag.

Yes Paul, that's along the lines of what I was guessing. I also think maybe the clip, when screwed in, could have a minute effect on how flush the liner sits against the scale? Anyway, just a curious observation. Might be worth remembering when we get one of those OCD "my pm2 action is stiff" posts.

I concur with you, Paul - and I've noticed this one my PM2s as well. In fact, this was a major problem with the original Goddard. That was an unlined Micarta scale with tapped holes in the Micarta for the clip screws. If you tightened the screws down too hard (especially in tip-down configuration), it slightly warped the scales, making the action very tight. This was really bad because the Goddard was pinned and couldn't be adjusted...

TedP

I've noticed the same with both Military's and PM2's, as you guys said above, it's due to slight shifting of the liners and different pressure points being created in the liners. Those will affect action of the pivot, etc. Thankfully, in my case putting the clips on made the knives work properly. I got a good deal on some Micarta Millie scales because the seller didn't have the clip attached and the knife didn't lock up right (liners were off a bit), it was nicely solved by replacing the clip. Good luck!

That's a pretty interesting phenomenon, and one that I haven't noticed before. Seems that knife is really tied together where each part has an effect on the whole, even thought you'd think it wouldn't. On the para 2's I've tinkered with I have found that I usually have to adjust the stop pin in addition to the pivot to get the action and lockup dialed in the way I like it.

Yes, if I over-tighten the screws in clip, the blade is even off center. Backing off slightly, fixes it. Changing the clip from tip up to tip down can change everything too. Shouldn't, but does? Both of my PM2s do this. Doesn't bother me really.

I've noticed similar problems with my PM2 and Millie after reassembling them. I have to tweak all of the screws a little until I get it "just right". Also, with yours being NIB, it may need a few thousand flicks to help it break in anyway. :D With mine being a few years old, it opens and closes like a dream, and the stiffness/tweaking seems to be less of a problem the older it gets.

jalcon wrote: Shouldn't, but does?

Remember that the screw holes are tapped in the liner, and thus when you tighten the clip down, you are pulling the liner towards the clip with the scales sandwiched in between. It's entirely possible that there is a slight space between the liners and the recess in the scales, which would allow the clip to change the position of the liner. This could have consequences on the tolerances around the pivot, even if you were moving the clip away from the pivot.