Caribbean problem

[aupiter]

I received my Caribbean (with black hardware) about a week ago and have since just played with it indoors. Today the opening/closing action suddenly became stiffer with a slightly "grindy" sound to it. I think the extra friction and sound goes away when pushing the lock bar all the way open and that it's coming from the blade tang riding on the detent ball. I can't see any debris in it (and it hasn't been anywhere dirty).

Since this is my first compression lock knife, I thought I'd ask if this is a known issue or if there is a known/easy fix, before I return it to Heinnie (I'm in the UK). I'm a bit concerned about reliability now (compared to lock-backs/Triad), though to be fair the lock still works and the knife is still usable.

Any advice welcome!

[Michael Janich]

Dear aupiter:

Welcome to the Spyderco Forum.

It probably is the detent ball. A drop of oil or dab of grease on the top of the ball should help.

Stay safe,

Mike

[Giygas]

If that's the only issue you've experienced and otherwise like the knife, I wouldn't return/exchange it since it's something any knife with a detent ball can develop.

It's not specific to your example, or the compression lock.

[JoviAl]

Mine did that until I lubed it. It took a while to warm to but now I consider it one of the best knives I own.

[aupiter]

Thanks all. Between posting the topic and having it approved I noticed that the problem seemed intermittent/variable.

I've now applied some Tuf-Glide to it and that seems to have made it much smoother, though I'm not sure if the ball is actually rotating or if the lube is just helping the tang move over a stuck ball. Will see how it goes!

[BornIn1500]

I'm not sure if the ball is actually rotating or if the lube is just helping the tang move over a stuck ball.

I don't think a detent ball ever rotates. It's supposed to be "stuck".

[soulspy]

Wash in hot soapy water if strange grinding occurs in the future.

[Fireman]

The real Caribbean problem is if you don’t have one

[JoviAl]

The real Caribbean problem is if you don’t have one

Truth

[aupiter]

I'm not sure if the ball is actually rotating or if the lube is just helping the tang move over a stuck ball.

I don't think a detent ball ever rotates. It's supposed to be "stuck".

Thanks, that seems to be the case here. From Googling it seems some detents do rotate and I think I have a liner lock somewhere where the detent does, but that most don't.

[aupiter]

The real Caribbean problem is if you don’t have one

I think my current problem is deciding whether it's worth the risk of disassembly to dye the scales.

Also I ended up getting it in SE but I feel I should pick up something in LC200N in PE to get the combination of decent plain-edge edge-holding with salt water resistance.

[Coastal]

No need to disassemble a Salt knife to dye it.

[aupiter]

No need to disassemble a Salt knife to dye it.

Even with G10 scales? I think the only examples of dying while assembled I've seen are with FRN, and examples with G10 seem to involve disassembly and applying heat. But would be interested to know the process people have used with G10 while assembled!

[JSumm]

FRN seems to take dye at lower temperatures. I have used a hot water tap (for coffee) in my kitchen to dye FRN. G10 I have to boil to get good results.

[Coastal]

No need to disassemble a Salt knife to dye it.

Even with G10 scales? I think the only examples of dying while assembled I've seen are with FRN, and examples with G10 seem to involve disassembly and applying heat. But would be interested to know the process people have used with G10 while assembled!

Well, good question. I'm not sure why it would matter, but it might. The only G-10 scales I've dyed have been "disassembled" because I dyed them before swapping, so I can't say I've dyed an assembled knife with G-10 scales. BTW, I always boil my dye, and then reduce the heat to simmer, so it maintains temp but doesn't bubble.

Coincidentally, I plan to dye a couple of Caribbeans soon, and I do plan to disassemble them. Bit of a pain, but Spydies are pretty easy.

[Wartstein]

The real Caribbean problem is if you don’t have one

No, it is that it does not have a liner-, but a comp.lock...

[Wartstein]

Wash in hot soapy water if strange grinding occurs in the future.

This, and you could also try washing it under the water tap (while moving the blade around the pivot) and giving the water jet more pressure by partly covering the opening of the tap - or perhaps compressed air could remove potential "gritty stuff" in there (IF this is causing the issue, don´t know).

[JoviAl]

The real Caribbean problem is if you don’t have one

No, it is that it does not have a liner-, but a comp.lock...

Heathen!