That darn Subvert!

[TheGiant80]

During the flash Spyderco sale every retailer seemed to be having a few days back, my local one marked the orange S30V Subvert down more than $100. I had been humming and hawing over it for a while, and now was my chance to strike! I had read/watched every review I could find online, and the negatives seemed to be three things:

-it’s HUGE (which doesn’t bother me)
-light Taichung detent
-the pocket clip leaves something to be desired

I received it this morning. Upon opening the box, my wrist articulated a certain way to get a better grip….and the knife flew open and locked. I was (and still am) in disbelief! Having handled a GB2 and Caribbean in the past, I knew the Taichung models suffer from light detent but this is crazy! The force I applied was less than a wrist flick. It was an extremely light and small down-up motion in order to move my hand to a better position.

I know the blade is big and heavy. I know I could rip it apart to alter it via YouTube How To videos. I already anticipate whatever argument is coming my way in the knife’s defence. I’ve contacted the retailer and requested a return number. I’m just heartbroken because this design is AWESOME in the true sense of the word. I’m a big Nati Amor fan and this was a way I could actually afford one of his designs.

I just needed to vent here. Share your thoughts if you’d like.

[HolySteel]

I can easily flick mine open with my wrist with the blade facing either down or up, yet it still locks into place safely when I close it. It was 2nd-hand, so unsure how it arrived from the retailer. Nonetheless, I tightened the pivot screw just a touch. This is true of my Magnitude as well.

[ABX2011]

I had the orange one too. I love the design but also had complaints. The lockbar is too heavily relieved so it's not very strong. This effects detent and also just feels too wimpy given the thickness of blade, liners, and scales. And then there's the lack of a steel insert. Locks up too late and can be sticky. The pocket clip works fine but it's too basic for a high-end knife.

[ladybug93]

i don't have this knife, but in my experience, one man's light detent is another man's smooth operation. i like the taichung detents i've experienced.

[TheGiant80]

i don't have this knife, but in my experience, one man's light detent is another man's smooth operation. i like the taichung detents i've experienced.

Like my post said, I have Taichung experience. This was beyond light detent. This was dangerous.

I agree everyone’s mileage varies, but this was the worst detent I’ve ever experienced by a large margin.

[nerdlock]

In my experience with my Taichung Spydies, it seems that the ones with liner locks have the lightest (and most dangerous in the case of my Gayle Bradley 2, where a simple shock movement would open the knife easily) detents, while the comp locks have the best detents in all my Taiwan made folders. But I have also read reports here that some Taichung comp locks have light detents like the Caribbean (I don't have a Carib so I can't confirm this). It's really a hit-or-miss with detents in that factory I guess.

[ladybug93]

i don't have this knife, but in my experience, one man's light detent is another man's smooth operation. i like the taichung detents i've experienced.

Like my post said, I have Taichung experience. This was beyond light detent. This was dangerous.

I agree everyone’s mileage varies, but this was the worst detent I’ve ever experienced by a large margin.

i'm not trying to criticize you. my caribbean has a light detent, but it translates to such smooth operation that i love it. it could just be the difference of a much heavier blade in the subvert though, as you pointed out.

[Zipper]

Hey Giant. No judgement from me on the make, model or maker. I don’t own one and never handled one.
I have one Spyderco I had a similar experience to you. A sprint that I bought, largely on the opinions of others. Being on the other side of the world, I had no chance of try before you buy. Like you, I knew the quirks that came with the model. Took the gamble anyway. I didn’t send it back. It forms part of my little collection and brings me joy because of its uniqueness. It also serves as a reminder to me to not get swept up in the sprint thing again. At least on expensive models that are largely unknown to me.
My thoughts on the experience? - It sucks when you fall in love with a design and some part of the execution lets you down.
Thankfully it’s only a knife worth a couple hundred dollars and the retailer will take it back. Like others have said, someone else may think it is the ‘bee’s knees’.

[JSumm]

Kinda hit or miss. My GB2 could shake open. My Watu was just light. My Kapara and Sage 5LW are strong detents while operating extremely smooth with those pivot bushings. The last two operate ideally for me.

[TheGiant80]

I appreciate the all input folks. And please note; I don't feel like you were criticizing me. I was just trying to make clear I've experienced the spectrum of detent strength, and this pretty much existed outside of it on the weak end.

Have a fantastic weekend y'all!

[Fireman]

Look at some videos about how to improve to make a stiffer detent and if you don’t want to do that there are some modders who can do that for you.

[Fireman]