Is Spyderco getting to loose on their detents?

Knifeaddict · #1

I have been seeing alot of comments on different knife forums about weak blade detents on Spydercos.

do you think its an intentional thing based on customer demand? Or just Spyderco being less strict on tolerances/manufacturing?

I cant understand why anyone would want a weak detent on a folding knife in the first place though I see many who like it . To me it just makes the knife unsafe and gives law enforcemnt an easy time of calling your knife a gravity flick knife which is despised throughout the land .

I know all the "affecianados" have to have the "smoothest ,buttery " action or the knife is unacceptable and many also want to be able to flick their blade open to impress all their Junior high school friends and that self professed "expert" NutnFancy is always blathering about deployment speed

But I want a knife that is safe first . I have had a folding knife with liner lock open in my pocket and I got stuck good. I would rather have a slower knife than a bleeding body. Its for me similar to the choil dispute that tends to go back and forth endlessly. Those guys that have to have that extra 1/8" of edge or the knife is inferior.

And the funny thing is when you look at what most are doing/cutting with their knives its boxes/tape and envelopes!!!! I mean when I need to cut open a bag of mulch or something its ok if my knife takes an extra 1/8 of a second to open . I dont foresee any mulch ninjas attacking me anytime soon and even if i had to deploy my knife quickly I would probably fumble and drop it in the process long before opening it anyway

I just hope Spyderco isnt falling prey to this nonsense about blade deployment speeds needing to be like a switch blade but I guess if the consumer demands it then they have to give them what they want but to me its just silly and really makes the knives less safe and more prone to legal troubles which means i wont buy them .

as a side note the Millie I just bought has a nice strong detent and its wonderfull. I really dont like carrying linerlocks tip down but i am confident this one will be safe enough . I might even tighten the pivot up a bit just for good measure though

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CarbonFiberNut · #2

So you don't actually have any REAL evidence that the detents have actually gotten weaker, yet you blame people like Nutnfancy and teenage mall ninjas for a problem that may or may not even exist, while speculating that Spyderco is catering to this crowd, and throwing in a shot at people who have preferences in the choil/no choil debate while you're at it?

This seems to me to be nothing more than an excuse to throw jabs at people for no real reason - everything in your post read like an attack or an insult, and not a question - are the detents getting weaker, and if so, why?

Less vitriol and more constructive discussion would be nice, IMHO.

gbelleh · #3

Aside from the new Starmate, all mine have good detents.

Opening in a pocket isn't an issue if you keep the spine against the pocket seam.

Shakyamuni · #4

Well, there have been a few threads about the Para 2 detent.

I hadn't had any detent problems until I recently bought a customized Southard and it is definitely looser than I'm used to with spydies. I did find it open in my pocket one time (spine against pocket seam) and am a little afraid now. I can deploy it if I hold it upside down and thrust forward, but it does require a decent amount of force.

I will say that I returned a Benchmade 940 that had practically no detent (I could deploy it holding it rightside up and thrusting forward) and that made me very uncomfortable. But I think this is common with the Axis locks.

LC Kid · #5

Hey Folks!

I can't complain anything about some 'weak detent' on any of my Spydies. Actually, some of them are pretty stiff to open.

I never understood why some folks like their blades to open 'like butter' or something, because it always implies some kind of damage to the blade detent mechanism, and that is just like an accident waiting to happen... :eek: For those guys who want to have a 'lightning flash fast' opening blade, my advice would be: get a Balisong. And a very good insurance.

Blerv · #6

No knife I've received has had a "problem" with detent pressure. Namely the small ball bearing on those knives is doing it's job and has to be overcome for smooth opening.

Every official response I've heard was attempting to keep detent pressure proper so that knives down open in your pockets and cut your appendages up. This is way different than an officer grabbing your knife and inertia opening it or flicking it open and calling it a gravity knife. That's asking way too much from a tiny ball bearing. What you need in that case is a tighter pivot. This is why some people who have knives sent to Australia have the dealer tweak down on the pivot (I've heard).

I haven't read an official response. I'm guessing just a few people with what they deem a few loose knives.

The Deacon · #7

IMHO, the detents have, if anything, gotten tighter in the past few years in response to various countries policies on "flick knives". But you can't please everyone, and what meets a manufacturer's standard for a "acceptable" knife is almost certain not to meet every single user's. It's kind of a Goldilocks situation, User A will complain that knife X is too stiff, user B will complain it's too loose, and user C will proclaim that it's just right.

throwback8 · #8

I am coming at this from the viewpoint of someone new to the world of knives so I don't have a ton of things to compare. That said, both my Sage 1 and Tenacious have great retention, while also allowing for incredibly quick and smooth deployments. My para 2 was just shipped a few hours ago so I will have definitely see if there is any validity to the statement that the detents on them are weaker than normal.

Knifeaddict · #9

Not looking to offend you Carbonfibernut. You must be one of the two categories I stereotyped maybe? (once again just joking so please dont go postal on me) oh no I did it again and insulted postal workers. I better just shut up :)

and I watch Nutnfancys videos for entertainment but he does come across a bit over the top sometimes but i agree with alot of his core thoughts and philosophies. I do get annoyed with every video having an ad in front of it now .

I am not saying it is true . I have just seemed to have found some posts especially about the Para 2 about weak detents and such. I must say my Superleaf though i love it does have a much weaker detent than my Millie. And I just dont see why there is so much pushing for super fast laser deployment I think its kinda silly .

Not trying to bash anyone and my deepest apologies to all Mall ninjas postal workers and Nutnfancy cause I am sure he will be reading this in between making another review video :)

chuck_roxas45 · #10

Why do us mall ninjas always get blamed for what people don't like about their knives?

Evil D · #11

Ugh. I think ONE thread on BF has stirred up a bunch of stupid crap about a non issue.

ZL1 · #12

Can never take anybody seriously who uses the word ninja regarding knives

Speaks more to their particular point of views rather than what might actually be.
All things aside, it's just speculation. You can definitely test this theory by buying up all the Spydercos you can find :D

zhyla · #13

I had my Manix 2 open up in my pocket somehow and when I went to put my pants on it cut a good length of my leg up. No real damage. But I wouldn't want the detente to be any stronger, it's smooth but strong on my particular Manix 2.

phillipsted · #14

The detents on the Terzuola Slipit are quite the opposite - they are extremely...aggressive... In fact, mine hasn't loosened up to a comfortable level since I got the thing a couple of years ago.

TedP

BAL · #15

Since when is a smooth opening knife considered to be a weakness.

Since when do people agree with everything that is written on some
forum, even this one.

Since when does anyone really care what anyone with the words NUT
in their name has to say.

Blerv · #16

chuck_roxas45 wrote:Why do us mall ninjas always get blamed for what people don't like about their knives?

Ok that was awesome :D

*ties bandanna in mirror*

dbcad · #17

I have absolutely no problems with the closed detents on any of the models I posess. Quite frankly I don't give a R*** A*** what folks in other forums write.

Spyderco is secure in their vision and goal of providing reasonably priced cutting tools that are ergonomically designed and use the best materials available. This opinion is borne out by every model I use and own :D Sometimes I think afi's of other brands are just jealous

Knifeaddict · #18

wow, why do people get so bent out of shape over nothing? I wasnt bashing Spyderco. All I asked was if people were seeing weaker detents and also my own opinion about the seeming obsessions with blade deployment speeds. I have owned at least 12 different Spyderco models all having varying degrees of blade retention but also was wondering if it depends on the model and intended purpose of a particular model or if after reading the numerous threads and such about it since it seems to be of particular importance to some if Spyderco was trying to favor that large consumer base by lessening the required force to overcome detents.

Evil D · #19

Nevermind.

To sum up, it's all about tolerances. The knife in question fell to one end of the tolerance spectrum. Simple as that.

twinboysdad · #20

New Terzoula, Tenacious, Para 2, and Yo 2 have been noted before. NEVER heard of a Millie having issues. Honestly the detent on the Para 2 has kept me away. I have seen specimens that can be shaken open easily, including the s35vn I sold. I am the weirdo that likes back locks best though...