Laci Szabo very Tight

[les_garten]

Some of the reviews have mentioned how tight the action is on the Laci Szabo's. Is there any way to tune this out a bit? I've try adjusting the pivot points but if you try to loosen them much the blade deviates wildly in the slot.

Any suggestions?

[Johnnie1801]

Obvious question but have you tried adding a drop of oil on the pivot?

If it's a new knife it's probably going to take a wee while to break in :)

[Liquid Cobra]

I've been carrying mine for a few months. I've done nothing to it except opening and closing. I would say that it's easier to open than when I got it, but it's still way stiffer than any other knife I own. I don't expect it to get much better, I just live with it. It will never open like a regular compression lock.

[les_garten]

I just found a Youtube post about a guy who cut off 3 coils off the internal spring to relieve this issue. No oil will fix this issue. You can oil till the cows come home...

If someone knows a good dis-assembly video, I'd like to see it.

Here's the mod video:https://youtu.be/BiNPRRsYlpU

[Liquid Cobra]

Yeah I thought about doing that to mine when I got it, watched a few videos. Decided against it though as I think it would compromise the knife. YMMV. I will say that I am able to open and close mine as easily as the person can at the end of their video just by working it in.

[les_garten]

Yeah I thought about doing that to mine when I got it, watched a few videos. Decided against it though as I think it would compromise the knife. YMMV. I will say that I am able to open and close mine as easily as the person can at the end of their video just by working it in.

I'm sure Spyderco errs on the side of Large folders to try to make sure the blade is closed in your pocket, but this one goes way overboard.

[dubya3]

My superblue stretch is the same way (it sounds like a few SB owners have the same issue) and nothing I did helped it and I went as far as lightly filling the scales near the tang thinking it'd relieve pressure but it didn't do a thing. I think that you sometimes just have to live with a not quite in spec folder.

[les_garten]

My superblue stretch is the same way (it sounds like a few SB owners have the same issue) and nothing I did helped it and I went as far as lightly filling the scales near the tang thinking it'd relieve pressure but it didn't do a thing. I think that you sometimes just have to live with a not quite in spec folder.

This is not your average tight knife issue that needs breaking in. I have about 40 Spydercos. Pretty familiar with them, this ain't new knife tightness. There is a huge coil spring inside the Szabo that is just too heavy.

[Liquid Cobra]

Although the lock is called a compression lock, I believe it to be different enough that it should have its own name. Operation wise it's not a compression lock, because of the tension from the spring. Once you accept that it won't work like a para 2, you'll probably not mind how it functions.

[MarcusH]

This is not your average tight knife issue that needs breaking in. I have about 40 Spydercos. Pretty familiar with them, this ain't new knife tightness. There is a huge coil spring inside the Szabo that is just too heavy.

I can speak only about the first production variant of the Szabo folder but this is intentional design.
Spyderco called it way back then “internal self-close mechanism”.
Pic of the spring just in case

[les_garten]

This is not your average tight knife issue that needs breaking in. I have about 40 Spydercos. Pretty familiar with them, this ain't new knife tightness. There is a huge coil spring inside the Szabo that is just too heavy.

I can speak only about the first production variant of the Szabo folder but this is intentional design.
Spyderco called it way back then “internal self-close mechanism”.
Pic of the spring just in case

Well, one man's self closing is another man's anti-opening!

You can see there that is a h*ll of a spring

[VashHash]

This is not your average tight knife issue that needs breaking in. I have about 40 Spydercos. Pretty familiar with them, this ain't new knife tightness. There is a huge coil spring inside the Szabo that is just too heavy.

I can speak only about the first production variant of the Szabo folder but this is intentional design.
Spyderco called it way back then “internal self-close mechanism”.
Pic of the spring just in case

Well, one man's self closing is another man's anti-opening!

You can see there that is a h*ll of a spring

You just need to get stronger. After awhile your muscles will adapt.

[les_garten]

You just need to get stronger. After awhile your muscles will adapt.

Do you have one?

[dubya3]

My superblue stretch is the same way (it sounds like a few SB owners have the same issue) and nothing I did helped it and I went as far as lightly filling the scales near the tang thinking it'd relieve pressure but it didn't do a thing. I think that you sometimes just have to live with a not quite in spec folder.

This is not your average tight knife issue that needs breaking in. I have about 40 Spydercos. Pretty familiar with them, this ain't new knife tightness. There is a huge coil spring inside the Szabo that is just too heavy.

I didn't know about the spring. My issue isn't new knife tightness either, it's definitely a tolerance issue.

[palonej]

That would drive me nuts. The main reason I have a bunch of Spydies is flickability!
When I need my knife while working, I ALWAYS need to open it with one hand quickly.
Bought a Pacific Salt for work......don't carry it.
Good luck finding a solution!
Joe

[Liquid Cobra]

Mine flicks open just fine with a little wrist movement.

[palonej]

I'm happy for you......the scales on the first one I bought rubbed the black coating off in 5 spots....really bad.
The second, satin finish, was so tight....scales rubbing blade....2 hands were needed to open.
Sometimes ya get bad ones.

[les_garten]

My superblue stretch is the same way (it sounds like a few SB owners have the same issue) and nothing I did helped it and I went as far as lightly filling the scales near the tang thinking it'd relieve pressure but it didn't do a thing. I think that you sometimes just have to live with a not quite in spec folder.

This is not your average tight knife issue that needs breaking in. I have about 40 Spydercos. Pretty familiar with them, this ain't new knife tightness. There is a huge coil spring inside the Szabo that is just too heavy.

I didn't know about the spring. My issue isn't new knife tightness either, it's definitely a tolerance issue.

When I tear mine down I may check that also. I'll put it together without the spring and see how it does. Mine seems to have a tolerance issue as well. I thought about sending it back first, but to be honest the reviews have the same issue.

[dubya3]

My stretch has been at SFO for about 6 weeks or so now. The letter said the knife is in spec (I disagree but whatever) but they're also replacing the FRN backspacer I ruined during a second reassembly.
To be honest, I'm not sure SFO will do anything about the knife being a tough opener, unfortunately. I think some designs with certain materials are more prone to tightness issue than others and I've decided just to enjoy the SB Stretch and beat the heck out of it when I get it back.

It does sound like your particular knife is prone to stiffness and there may not be a quick fix.

[les_garten]

My stretch has been at SFO for about 6 weeks or so now. The letter said the knife is in spec (I disagree but whatever) but they're also replacing the FRN backspacer I ruined during a second reassembly.
To be honest, I'm not sure SFO will do anything about the knife being a tough opener, unfortunately. I think some designs with certain materials are more prone to tightness issue than others and I've decided just to enjoy the SB Stretch and beat the heck out of it when I get it back.

It does sound like your particular knife is prone to stiffness and there may not be a quick fix.

I'll definitely clip the coils and see what happens.

I have tons of knives but I can't carry anything but my Stretch SuperBlue every day. My Fav for sure. Nothing can kick it out of my pocket. Never liked the look of it till I read a review and tried it. Now I'm sold on The Stretch for sure.