Schempp Tuff - issues?

tonyteosound · #1

Hi, everyone. I have been handling my Schempp Tuff for a couple of weeks. I love the beefiness of the blade, and it is a beautiful knife to look at. I have a couple of issues with it, though.

It is pretty hard to open single-handedly, though obviously still possible. What I almost can't deal with is how hard it is to disengage the lock. You almost need thumbnails of steel to be able to do that.

Anybody else feel that they have similar problems?

Onionman · #2

I have had the same experience. I have been trying to work it in for the past several weeks and even though it has gotten easier, I still don't feel comfortable carrying the knife where I think I will need 1 handed opening. Its looks as if the ball detent is too big or the titanium lock bar was bent inward more than necessary. One thing I have been doing besides opening and closing repeatedly is putting it away with the blade half open, so the lock is pushed out. This has helped somewhat and I am hoping it gets better over time. However, my thinking is that if I can't break it in to the point where I can open and close it comfortably, I may have to contact Spyderco to send it back or suggest a fix.

Evil D · #3

Consider what this knife was designed to do. Would you want a knife built to be a tank to have a lock that was too easy to disengage? Would you want a knife with a blade that big and heavy to have a weak detent and come open in your pocket? This isn't a Sage...it needs that strong detent to keep it from flicking open and becoming illegal in many states and to keep it from opening in your pocket. That translates into a not so easy opening movement and a lock tab that really engages the blade tang since the lock tab is responsible for both blade lock up and detent pressure against the blade. This is a knife that was designed to be as close to a fixed blade as possible, so you have to expect that it won't be as gentile on your thumb as a Sage or Para 2 would be.

Blerv · #4

Yea. I don't own one but recall Ed only had the requirement of it being able to fold. Everything was sacrificed for strength hence the non-stainless blade.

Even if its a two handed open and deliberate close knife it's still a beefy piece of engineering.

KardinalSyn · #5

For me, it is now as easy to open and close. The latter can be done single handed. I like the tension that's there on this knife. No I don't have nails of steel but I do eat a bit of Spinach. The only issue I have is that the inner handle slabs are a bit too sharp and could have been chamfered a little.

Been carrying it since I got it. No major issues at all for me.

tonyteosound · #6

Evil D - Your point is very valid. Or maybe I just have abnormally weak thumbnails :) Perhaps if there had been a bit more purchase for the thumb. As it is, i can only get my thumbnail to dig in.

Onionman - You can try the flicking the knife open. Since the blade is pretty heavy, it comes out quite easily. Kind of like a gravity knife. So do not demonstrate this procedure in front of LEO's. :)

nightburn · #7

I have 2 suggestions:

For opening, use the fuller instead of the spydie hole, at least to get it started.

For closing, use your forefinger on the lock instead of your thumb - much much easier imo.

gbelleh · #8

My Tuff has gotten slightly easier to open, but I've adopted a specific closing technique for this knife. From a normal, right handed grip, I place the right thumb so it covers the right side of the Spydie hole, then use the right index finger to release the lock and begin closing the blade with the thumb. I can get plenty of leverage that way, and it's much more comfortable than trying to unlock it with the thumb, like an average liner lock.

rodloos · #9

Mine is a bit stiff opening, but I haven't had too much trouble closing. On any frame lock, I do have to make a conscious effort to keep my grip from holding the lock in tight. I notice that on my Techno too.

JudasD · #10

Mine isnt that bad to open. The initial ball detent is a bit tight, but then after that i can flick my wrist to open it. Not by any means a "flicking" knife, but i can still do one handed if i really need to. I only own 3 framelocks total, but closing feels about the same as my other framelocks. it's not super easy like a liner lock, but still doable with one hand. It doesnt seem to be getting easier as a i mess with the knife. It still feels about the same as the first day.

JD

mikerestivo · #11

I can now open mine one-handed but it is still difficult compared to my other folders. I have cycled it through about a thousand opening and closing motions in order to make it a bit easier and it seems to have helped. I need to lube the pivot but I have not done so yet.

nightburn · #12

gbelleh wrote:My Tuff has gotten slightly easier to open, but I've adopted a specific closing technique for this knife. From a normal, right handed grip, I place the right thumb so it covers the right side of the Spydie hole, then use the right index finger to release the lock and begin closing the blade with the thumb. I can get plenty of leverage that way, and it's much more comfortable than trying to unlock it with the thumb, like an average liner lock.

This is exactly what I was trying to convey but I just couldn't be bothered to articulate the exact steps. This is totally the way to unlock the knife, your thumb will thank you.

JNewell · #13

mikerestivo wrote:I can now open mine one-handed but it is still difficult compared to my other folders. I have cycled it through about a thousand opening and closing motions in order to make it a bit easier and it seems to have helped. I need to lube the pivot but I have not done son yet.

I agree with Mike and the others here. It is not your average one-handed framelock, but if you read some of Ed's posts here it's clear he didn't design it to be, either. It's an awesome piece of work and, I'd argue, a really good value for the money at $220ish, but after a couple of one-handed openings my digits are feeling a bit beaten up. :spyder:

Joshua J. · #14

Onionman wrote:I have had the same experience. I have been trying to work it in for the past several weeks and even though it has gotten easier, I still don't feel comfortable carrying the knife where I think I will need 1 handed opening. Its looks as if the ball detent is too big or the titanium lock bar was bent inward more than necessary. One thing I have been doing besides opening and closing repeatedly is putting it away with the blade half open, so the lock is pushed out. This has helped somewhat and I am hoping it gets better over time. However, my thinking is that if I can't break it in to the point where I can open and close it comfortably, I may have to contact Spyderco to send it back or suggest a fix.

Sorry to crash the party, but if you're not bending the metal past its elastic limit it's not going to affect spring tension. You need to re-organize the atoms a bit if you want to change the release pressure, and I assume this knife has a lock-bar stabilizer, so that means disassembly is pretty much the only way (well, you could use a torch, but I think bending it back is the better alternative).

gbelleh · #15

If it were easier to unlock, people might complain that it's not tuff enough, and could close when splitting logs or stabbing through steel plates. :)

Onionman · #16

tonyteosound wrote:Evil D - Your point is very valid. Or maybe I just have abnormally weak thumbnails :) Perhaps if there had been a bit more purchase for the thumb. As it is, i can only get my thumbnail to dig in.

Onionman - You can try the flicking the knife open. Since the blade is pretty heavy, it comes out quite easily. Kind of like a gravity knife. So do not demonstrate this procedure in front of LEO's. :)

I have gotten it worn in to the point that I have successfully flicked the knife open, but I typically do not like to do this with heavier knives as the weight of the knife can sometimes move the knife in the hand before you can secure your grip, making you have to reposition your hand on the knife. As it is wearing in slowly but steadily, I am sure it won't be a problem in another week or two.

xavierdoc · #17

Mine has worn in to the point where it is a satisfactory one handed open and close. Not a flick open but not intrusively difficult. Solid.

tonyteosound · #18

nightburn and gbelleh: Thank you for your suggestion. I tried it, but find that my fingers are neither nimble enough nor strong enough for that method.

I discovered that I can use the flesh of the thumb right at the tip of the lock where it is most pliable, to disengage it. Still slightly painful, but better than broken nails.

I will have to accept, and appreciate, the fact that certain ergonomics were sacrificed for strength. Thanks for pointing that out to me, some of you. :)

defenestrate · #19

Ed posted about this, and that while it will loosen a bit, it is purposely designed to lock up tight and be stiffer. This is normal and your fingers will get stronger with practice. I know that i can open and close various models more easily than I used to, though I have an advantage in finger dexterity and strength over many from playing guitar, among other things. So how much practice it may take to get to a desired result may vary.

KardinalSyn · #20

I think all us Tuff users currently have en edge when opening other existing Spydies. It is easier to open other Spydies now. A tad too easy for my liking but I can't complain :D