Spyderco Forums

I just got a new Etched SS Dragonfly (which I love), but the blade is VERY tight in the handles. It doesn't seem like there is anything wrong with the knife, just that the blade is tight.
I've tried TUF-GLIDE, and opening the knife a few hundred times, but it's still tight. Not something I would send in, like I said it doesn't seem as if there is something wrong.
Since this is my first SS handled knife (I have a new H1 Mariner on the way), do any of you have a way to adjust the blade on SS handles??
Thanx!!

just open and close it a bunch of times...it will eventually loosen up.

In my experience they lost this "tightness" with couple dozen of openings (and then they become bit too easy to open IMHO :) )

Couple of thoughts …

When opening, the resistance you feel typically is coming from a few sources. First and foremost is the lock back friction as it rides the tang of the blade. I have a theory that if you press the lock release button all the way in several times you might be able to lighten up the spring force a wee bit.

The second source of friction could be the scales and the pivot pin. On older and abused knives I have needed to file off a little material from the inside of the handle where the blade moves past and the handle was dimpled over. I don’t recommend this unless the knife has been drop or the like. I would agree with the others that normal wear will increase the clearances in the sliding surface and reduce the friction you feel. This might take some time, but it’s better than having a knife that’s too loose.

The third source of friction I have notice is from the oil itself. Depending on the oil, its viscosity will add a significant amount of resistance. You might consider cleaning the knife with a solvent (alcohol?) and switching to a dry lubricant. I use a graphite lube on my stiff knives. Note, any lube you use will reduce wear and increase the break-in time mentioned in the previous paragraph.

Yeah, what MountainManJim said. My SS Delica was very tight also when new, in fact towards the almost fully open position, it got much stiffer. Just open and close it, I would recommend without lubricant, to let the steel create a natural wear pattern on the moving parts. Once you are satisfied with the action, then lube it as you normally would.

tonydahose wrote:just open and close it a bunch of times...it will eventually loosen up.

That's what I did w/my SS Harpy. Also added Break-Free CLP to the pivot.

Agent Starling

My Lava was that way to but after a bunch of opening and closing its quite nice now.

I'm workin' on my new Kopa. It's pretty stiff right now too. Seems to be getting smoother with every open and close.

Spydiedrop that D/fly,if it stays shut,open and close a few hundred times while watching TV. OR,
if opening with one hand using your thumb in the spyderhole,is hard and sticky,then dunk the whole knife in some lube,for a while.

the ss 'fly is actually one of the worst for stiffness when new.

just lube it up and knifesturbate while matching your favorite show (is it just me or does that sound bad :p ). after a few hundred cycles it'll start to get easier.

if the edge of the hole is rough, grab the dremel (or sandpaper if you don't mind going for a while). just toss a small 30-45deg bevel on the edge of the hole.

still have to grab an etched one... have been beating on my ss/pe 'fly since fall 01, have a glasshart engraved PE waiting for backup when I finally kill this one. might as well complete the set :D

mine has been beat to **** and back. blade is thinned down as far as I can get it, as in put the blade flat on the stone to do anything, have about 5deg on top of that for the edge (think it's 12deg blade bevel, 20ish for the cutting edge). lock is rock solid after 6yrs of abuse, opening is butter smooth... either using the hole or dropping it.
Don't be afraid to use it.

McBain wrote:I just got a new Etched SS Dragonfly (which I love), but the blade is VERY tight in the handles. It doesn't seem like there is anything wrong with the knife, just that the blade is tight.
I've tried TUF-GLIDE, and opening the knife a few hundred times, but it's still tight. Not something I would send in, like I said it doesn't seem as if there is something wrong.
Since this is my first SS handled knife (I have a new H1 Mariner on the way), do any of you have a way to adjust the blade on SS handles??
Thanx!!

i bought three dragonflys in SS as presents for people, each and everyone of them are tough and hard to open, my only opinion is that in time after opening and closing it it will eventually get worn free and break open with due time.

Glad to see Im not going insane :confused: . I just got a Dragonfly SS and I find it really hard to open. I was beginning to think I didnt know how to open a Spydie, even though I have 3 others!! Or that I had a weak thumb . My friend has a an FRN and his just glides open, so I was wondering if it was my SS version - which it appears that it is. I will cycle it a bunch of times til it loosens up to my liking. Anyone know why the SS version would be so tight and not the others??

I'm surprised no one has mentioned that the D'fly has a very tight lock back as is, even in the FRN version. So if this is your first D'fly, it could be normal.... The lockback spring on my white one seems much more secure than the one on my E4

The SS Dragonfly (why I posted this way back when) is still very tight. It has loosened some, but no where near the way my Lava, Adventura and SS Police have. I don't find it a draw back whatsoever, I was wondering before if anyone had a way of adjusting SS (pinned knives).

Give it some use, I think I spent a few afternoons Spyder-dropping that knife, and it helped.

I'd say enjoy the tightness and deal with it two-handed if you must. Over time it'll loosen up with use. I've never been keen on loosening a knife up prematurely. Let it break itself in.

I had this problem with my kris. It is funny, but after a few hundred openings it just seemed to smooth out. I have since dropped a little breakfree in the pivot area and it is smooth and classy! I never thought that I would describe any of my blades as classy! :eek:

OK, I just spent the last weekend opening and closing my SS D'fly. Ive even kept it in the semi-open position to compress the spring and get it 'loosened' up a bit. Net result is that it is still really tight and hard to open. Ive been reading these posts and also reviewed some Youtube videos and there appears to be a real difference in opening tightness between the SS and FRN versions. To solidfy this hunch, I even went to my local knife store and tried out 3 FRNs and 1 SS. Same result. End game is Im not happy with the tightness of my SS D'fly and dont really think I should have to wait until it loosens up. What do you guys think I should do. Its too late to return it since it is technically used now that Ive been cycling it over and over. Im open to suggestions.

You could send it in and let the Spyderco crew take a look at it (give them a description what is wrong with the knife when you send it to them). If it is stiffer than "normal" or intended by Spyderco, they will call it defective and take care of you. If they come to the conclusion that your knife is within their specifications, they will send it back to you (most likey sharpened). You can then decide if you want to keep it until it breaks in to your liking finally, or sell it and get a different knife, for example a FRN D'fly.
FWIW, I am with you in your opinion that you shouldn't have to "make it work" yourself, it should be in at least "acceptable", working condition from the moment you take it out of the box. That said, all my SS handled knives came in such a condition ( I even own a SS etched Dragonfly), so if your D'fly is overly stiff, then there will be a happy ending after its trip to Golden. You should give them a chance to make it right, as we all know, s**t happens.

Dennis

Thanks for the reply. I going to do exactly what you outlined. I wanna love this knife!! If it ends up being in spec, I will keep it and put in my backpack or something - and get and FRN for EDC.

I just got a Kris that has some lateral blade play. Not alot...but enough to annoy me, especially since the knife was sold to me as new. If I shake the knife when closed I can acrually hear the blade taping from side to side. Is this normal? Can it be tightened?