Spyderco Forums

Just got for a fair price a used Para, standard model, PE S30V, black G10 handles. Generally in good shape, both the blade and the handles, there were some small issues with the knife:

1. Quite a bit of vertical play;
2. The clip was tarnished;
3. The lanyard tube seems loose;
4. One of the clip screws is stuck, and damaged from trying to undo it;
5. Some patina on the hidden parts of the blade.

Now, #4 is not a problem, since I did not need to disassemble the clip to run it through some ScotchBrite and solve issue #2.

#5 is a also non-issue.

#3 will be dealt with soon, probably with a drop of superglue and a subtle hammering with a screwdriver. For now, I just wrapped a bit of paracord through the lanyard tube, and tied it, to make sure the thing doesn't come apart in use.

#1 was minimized by a full disassembly and wash of the parts, and putting them back toguether rotating the stop pin to a different position. The lock travel was going nearly to the opposite handle, now it's a little better. An overall adjustment of the screws also seemed to help. But, although the knife is perfectly usable, and reliability seems not at risk, I keep wondering if there's anything more that can be done to improve the lock. By looking at it, I get the impression that if the stop pin was a fraction of a milimiter wider, the vertical play would be solved, as the lock travel would be restored to full authority. Eventually, the cause of the problem may have resided either with blade ramp wearing, or stop pin being beaten to a smaller dimension... (inertia opening, anyone? Those not guilty throw the first stone...). On the other hand, I'm under the impression that the other pin that the Para has, the back one, is an identical piece. Since this one has never been subjected to lateral stresses, and in that respect is to be considered as new, perhaps just swapping the pins might do the trick.

Can anyone confirm that they are indeed similar and interchangeable?

Another question: this Para, like my SE one, has a type of rude jimping on the spine, and none on the choil. On the other hand, both my D2 and my black-bladed Paras have finer jimping on both sides. Is this a production timeline characteristic?

BTW, what is the consensus (if any) regarding lanyard tube removal?

Anybody?

You mentioned that you rotated the stop pin, I usually have to do this every 3 months or so on my hard use "beater" para.The stop pin does get peened over time,especially if you frequently use inertia opening.

If rotating the pin has not fixed your problem, flip it around 180 degrees as this will expose the other end of the pin which has not been in contact with the liner tang.

Fwiw the liner tang will wear a little over time, however there's not much you can really do to rectify that, as it does "self adjust " given that has lock recess is radiused.

While you could try and flange out the lanyard tube an easier fix would be to use a small amount of sealant or loctite.. this fix worked on my ATR.

And yes early models had the old style jimping you mention, not everybody's fan of that style , but personally I love it

Help this helps some.

Jez

Jezabel, thanks, indeed.

I answered my own question about the pin interchangeability, by taking them fully apart and realizing they are two different parts: the stop pin is much longer than the spacer pin, which allows it to be set through the liners, and therefore has a lot more resistance to lateral stresses, beyond the shearing tension on the screws.

I just got a para in the mail yesterday and I'm having a few issues with it as well.

*lanyard tube so loose it just falls out
*quite a bit of side to side play in the blade
*blade is not quite centered. some fit and finish issues
*the finish on the blade itself looks a little sloppy and the grind is not quite even on both sides.
*almost no blade retention

I mean it's a pretty decent knife overall and none of these things are deal breakers but when I shell out a little over a hundred bucks for a knife it's be nice to see some of the quality craftsmanship that I used to expect from Spyderco. I own a few others and haven't had any issues with any of them. Maybe I just got a lemon.

cobrahawk wrote:I just got a para in the mail yesterday and I'm having a few issues with it as well.

*lanyard tube so loose it just falls out
*quite a bit of side to side play in the blade
*blade is not quite centered. some fit and finish issues
*the finish on the blade itself looks a little sloppy and the grind is not quite even on both sides.
*almost no blade retention

I mean it's a pretty decent knife overall and none of these things are deal breakers but when I shell out a little over a hundred bucks for a knife it's be nice to see some of the quality craftsmanship that I used to expect from Spyderco. I own a few others and haven't had any issues with any of them. Maybe I just got a lemon.

Im assuming yours is used....Because, a new one wouldnt have lanyard tube falling out...but anyway... If its NEW, dont do anything except send it in to spyderco for warranty... otherwise...


1 try some epoxy for the lanyard tube, on one side only, so knife can still be dissasembled for future maintenance.
2 Check for the washers, if they are missing or damaged, get new ones. And make sure pivot screw is properly set, from the side opposite of the clip (adjustment side).
3 fit and finish judgment on a used knife is an unfair accusation or misuse of the term, as ive stated, im assuming your is used in which case its worn. If it is in fact new, you should send it in to Golden. Especially with "no blade retention".... :confused: Sounds weird.

If that's a new knife I'd send it right back to the place I purchased it from. Save yourself some time and money; a good dealer should have a replacement out as soon as they get the knife back.