Pocket Lint almost ruined my day.

Jenner 515 · #1

Pulled my PE Yellow handled Tasman Salt today to open a clamshell pack at work. I have been carrying the Tasman deep in my RFP as I have had the Captain clipped. I deployed the blade and it felt a little weird, but I proceeded to start cutting...and the blade alsmost slipped off the clamshell and towards my left hand...

Upon closer inspection, a big hunk of blue pocket lint had kept the tasman from locking. Ordinarily I check this kind of thing, today, in a hurry...almost got bit.

So everybody out there in Spyderland...check for pocket lint.

Padawan · #2

Did it make the characteristic solid "click" sound when you opened it?

Jenner 515 · #3

Padawan wrote:Did it make the characteristic solid "click" sound when you opened it?

Errr, Uhhhh,...No. :o

Civilian · #4

Jenner 515 wrote: So everybody out there in Spyderland...check for pocket lint.

I guess I always go by the sound as well. I only check knives when they come to me(new or used), and when taking them out of the display/safe and into the EDC rotation.

alguidar · #5

How were you holding the knife?
By the looks of the Tasman - I don't have one, yet :o - if you keep your forefinger near the end of the handle it stops the blade from closing more than 120 or so degrees, saving the fingers.
I always make sure to hold my Endura & Delica this way, just in case.

STR · #6

I knew before I opened the thread it had to be a lockback. Its one of the things to watch out for and one of the first things to look for if your lock doesn't feel right whether it works to hold the blade or not, particularly with folders you carry deep not using the pocket clip.

This is a common problem with little clipless lockback folders like the Loveless City Knife, the Fallkniven U2 and even a Kiwi on occasion. You rarely have issues with pocket clipped knives regarding pocket lint though.

STR.

Zac · #7

Pocket lint riding lockbacks have issues with lint. A dry lube will help this, like Tuff Glide.

flyguy · #8

alguidar wrote:How were you holding the knife?
By the looks of the Tasman - I don't have one, yet :o - if you keep your forefinger near the end of the handle it stops the blade from closing more than 120 or so degrees, saving the fingers.
I always make sure to hold my Endura & Delica this way, just in case.

That feature is the reason I didn't get a Centofante. (The Centofante doesn't have it)

What is that non-blade area of the knife called?

zenheretic · #9

I personally recommend a lint inspection if your knife went for a washing machine/dryer cycle. I found enough lint to make a kitten in the space of lock in my Stretch!

jaislandboy · #10

...that blasted pocket lint!.... :p
glad u escaped harm's way Jenner! :)

alguidar · #11

flyguy wrote:What is that non-blade area of the knife called?

I think it's called the "kick". The primary function is keeping the blade's edge from hitting the spring and back spacer.
The old :spyder: Cento's (C25+C50) don't have a protuberant kick in the tang either, and I was worried about buying one just for that reason.

carrot · #12

One reason why I hope debris-impervious locks like the compression lock happen on more models.

Jenner 515 · #13

I'm ok now (a double LaPhroaig after work calmed me right down).

The thing is, I'm always checking for lint and such in my lockbacks and I rarely carry them without using the clip, this is just one of those times when carry circumstances, the choice of models and pure human carelessness, ALMOST resulted in a bite.

And it would have been all my fault.

However if I had a Superhawk with its lock it might not have been an issue.

GarageBoy · #14

The spot behind the blade is the ricasso, IIRC