pen knife locking mechanism - pictures?

[ulix]

Hi,

I'm looking into buying a spyderco uk penknife.
I wanted to ask, can someone make a picture of the locking mechanism of the actual model?
Is the pin to fix the knife one metal bracket or does it look like diapason?

Thank you very much

[Snorky]

There isn't a locking mechanism on the UKPK. It is a slip joint design. The metal spacer that separates the two FRN scales is a back-spring.

It's designed that way because UK law views a locking knife as a fixed-blade knife, making it illegal to carry without good reason.

[ulix]

Yes you are right, sorry for mixing up the slip joint mechanism.

Does the actual slip joint mechanism look like this?


Or like this:


Thanks a lot :spyder:

[The Deacon]

Yes you are right, sorry for mixing up the slip joint mechanism.

Does the actual slip joint mechanism look like this?


Or like this:


Thanks a lot :spyder:

One or the other, depending on how old it is. Originally, the FRN UKPK's backspring looked like the one in the top picture. Some folks had issues with them breaking, so they changed to the type in the lower picture some years back.

[ulix]

Ok, thanks paul.
Was thinking of buying a new one...

But can't descide between the ukpk and the urban. The urban lookslike it has a much more rugged slip joint mechanism.

[ulix]

Hi,
I still hope someone can post a picture of the actual (2017/18) mechanism. I'm doubting from a engineering point of view the mechanism holds up well... here (in the forum) was mentioned breaking one in 2017.

Thanks a lot

[The Deacon]

Hi,
I still hope someone can post a picture of the actual (2017/18) mechanism. I'm doubting from a engineering point of view the mechanism holds up well... here (in the forum) was mentioned breaking one in 2017.

Thanks a lot

I doubt there have been any noticeable changes made to the mechanism in the last 13 months. As for a report of one breaking, could have been an older knife, the result of abuse or an inept attempt at disassembly/reassembly, or a lemon, and even Mercedes Benz and BMW turn out the occasional lemon. Pretty sure if it was a widespread issue, there'd be more than one report. Besides, Spyderco warranties their knives, and would replace a knife with a broken backspring.

[ulix]

Hi The Deacon,

thanks a lot, I know Spyderco does a very good job with warranties. But for me its problematic, because I am not in the usa... (and shipping would be :eek: )

[The Deacon]

Hi The Deacon,

thanks a lot, I know Spyderco does a very good job with warranties. But for me its problematic, because I am not in the usa... (and shipping would be :eek: )

Understandable. But there's a point where being overly risk averse reduces your ability to enjoy life. To me, deciding against purchasing a knife that's been selling well enough to remain in Spyderco's lineup for 8 years based on a single thread on this forum in the past six years regarding a broken spring would be doing that. Especially since that instance involved an overseas user like yourself and was apparently resolved to that owner's satisfaction (dissatisfied people generally keep posting after a solution is offered). It's your money, but I think you're over thinking this.