My Navaja Caracas Broke :(

[jonUSA,EARTH]

Hey all,

First off, I love this knife.The f&f is amazing and the quality is superb.I've only had it for about a week and haven't even used it.I've really just been opening and closing it to hear that beautiful Caracas sound.

Well i woke up the other day and of course the first thing I grab is my Spydie, I opened it and no sound.I tried it a few more times and nothing.

I was very curious and a bit frustrated as it was less than a week old.
I took the bolster off and lo and behold the little spring that makes contact with the rachet had snapped in two places(where it contacts the rachet and where its screwed into the bolster)

To be honest I wish I had done more research before buying as I'm not a fan of mechanisms that require thin springs to operate(axis lock...etc).

I contacted Spyderco and its so early in the release that they don't have replacement parts yet.I was told it would be a few weeks or more.Oh well, atleast the knife still functions perfectly :)

Also, I voided my warrenty by taking it apart(my own fault) so no re-placement.

I was just curious to see if anyone else has had issues with their Navaja, or was I just un-lucky.


Heres a Pic of the knife with the bolster off and the broken spring.



Aclose up of the broken spring.It snapped in two where it screws into the bolster, and also a small portion of the tip broke causing it to not make contact with caracas.


Heres what it looks like when inside the bolster.The tip is placed through a small hole that is above the caracas.The tip then conects with it as the knife opens.The circuler part is screwed down, holding the spring in place.I think maybe there was to much torx on the spring and thats why it snapped.


A pic of the spring in place and the bolster top ready to be put in place.Notice the amazing machining :) The inside of the cut-outs appear to be jeweled

[unit]

Wow dude. That blows on so many levels.

I feared I would hear such stories of the parts failing...

[bh49]

I am sorry to hear about this.

[Donut]

Can you take a macro picture of the broken spring, maybe next to a ruler. Maybe one of the parts experts can suggest where to get a new spring.

[tacticooledc]

Just when I was inches from ordering my navaja, I see this :eek:
Looks like this is one spydie I won't be getting

[mule skinner]

is the spring made in taiwan??

[gbelleh]

That's one risk with adding complexity to anything. It's one more thing that can break. At least the knife still operates if this part breaks. Hopefully this was just a bad part, and won't become a trend.

Mine is still clicking away.

[gunnut35]

I have been opening and closing mine since friday and its still going strong.

[angusW]

This is the only one I've heard breaking. No need to get in a panic and not buy it. Even the most expensive, well designed devices and machines have parts that break. I'll be picking one up in two weeks.
===============

Sorry to hear about that jon. I'm sure you feel some disappointment. I'm sure either Spyderco will fix it or like Donut said, maybe someone can point you to a good place to get a replacement spring. I bet Spyderco would like to take a look at it though just to see if they can determine how it broke so it won't happen again.

[Jay_Ev]

Would it be possible to post pics of this mechanism for those of us who are curious? Many here would like to see how it is constructed. :)

[chuck_roxas45]

This is the only one I've heard breaking. No need to get in a panic and not buy it. Even the most expensive, well designed devices and machines have parts that break. I'll be picking one up in two weeks.

I'm sure I agree but it sure sucks when you're the one it happens to.

[Jackson]

That sucks man! Hopefully they can get some parts in soon and have you back in business!

[O,just,O]

Hey jon. Why not find a similar spring, even if you have to re-bend it a bit ? If you put a bit stronger one in there maybe the noise will be louder. Go full on Tim the tool man on it, hot rod the sucker :) .
O.

[unit]

A few good points have been raised here...the ones about this thread needing pictures anyway (or video).

There are a bunch of threads gloating about this knife and this is the first failure thread...I would not everyone to start screaming about the sky falling just yet.

Regardless, it blows when you hear stuff like this...it is not good for anyone involved. Word to the wise though (as learned in this thread from this incident)...if this happens to you, do NOT take it apart, calmly and coolly call Spyderco CS and wait for them to take care of you...they will

[Armalite Native]

This is a tad worrying. I have one on the way. The problem where I am is that its hard enough to get stuff past customs let alone sending it back for a second repair. If mine stuffs up I am going to do what one of the other posters suggested and beef up the spring.

A week of playing shouldn't have caused such a mechanical failure...especially at that price point. They are going for over $200 where I am (parity with the US dollar also).

[cckw]

Wait a minute: I do not know the OP, But I have attention to detail. OP goes to bed at night and the knife is fine, wakes up and sound is gone.. spring broken in 2 (two!) places overnight while sitting on the night stand? tooth fairy? OP only took it apart 'after' it quit in the dark of night. Sorry doesn't add up in my head. I can imagine some scenarios that would add up better.

Edit: below "unit" vouches for the OP and I'll concede these discrepancies could be for brevity of the story. But, I stand by my skepticism on the as told version.

[unit]

Wait a minute: I do not know the OP, But I have attention to detail. OP goes to bed at night and the knife is fine, wakes up and sound is gone.. spring broken in 2 (two!) places overnight while sitting on the night stand? tooth fairy? OP only took it apart 'after' it quit in the dark of night. Sorry doesn't add up in my head. I can imagine some scenarios that would add up better.

IDK, the dude has a pretty strong rep as a knife reviewer on YouTube and he strikes me as someone that is not the type you seem to suggest.

I do not know for sure, but I think that generally that is the way springs break...they work just fine up to the instant they snap. It seems entirely plausible that he woke up, started to open the knife and the spring snapped.

It also seems entirely plausible to me that this could be one in many (an isolated rare occurrence) and not something that everyone needs to freak out about.

Further, Jon is not lamenting or otherwise spewing sour grapes. He seems to be asking if anyone else has experienced this (so far no one reports such) and he seems to be freely taking the hit for voiding his warranty and not seeking handouts or lynch mobs.

I could be totally wrong...I often am.

[Ed Schempp]

Sorry about your experience with the broken spring. The good news is this is probably the least expensive part in the knife and is easily replaced.

I've personally sold about 20 of this model and not had any problems, yet.

This still a precisely made knife and I expect good service from the piece.

I'm sure that Spyderco will be all over the repair and service of this product...Take Care...Ed

[JCP1969]

I still want me a navaja. Sorry to hear about the spring. I am sure they will have to just get an ample supply together for spares . Maybe they will have to get a better quality if it seems this is becoming the norm.

[avoidspam]

I could be wrong here so please don't jump on me but I thought I had read on another thread that the click mechanism was there for effect and would wear out in time anyway but that the knfe was designed to function perfectly happily without it. I guess wearing isn't the same as breaking but if I bought a knife of this design I would be fully expecting the mechanism to wear out. Perhaps not as quickly!