Heavy spring on new Dragonfly....

[Gadget]

Hi,
I was very happy to receive my Dragonfly with G10 scales in the post yesterday and cannot fault the fit and finish or how it feels in my hand.... but is it normal to have the spring so heavy that it can't be unlocked and closed without it actually being painful and leaving a mark on my thumb?
My two Native 5s require about 1/2 as much preasure to unlock and close their blades.... just wondering what others have found with their Dragonflys?

Cheers, John

[Jazz]

Only on my stainless one. That and the different clip placement than the FRN ones makes it hard to one hand open.

[mb1]

I haven't had one with too much spring. But when I picked up a second one (both FRN), the snap was noticeably stronger than my first one which was a couple years older and well used.

[Gadget]

I'll try it on my trigger weight gauge when I get home from work and compare it with my 2 Native 5s..... seems VERY heavy.
Cheers, John

[Evil D]

Maybe the pivot screw is too tight.

[farnorthdan]

Could be it just needs to break in a bit.

[Doc Dan]

Check the pivot screw.

[Gadget]

Hi,

I just backed off the pivot screw until it was loose, still very heavy (the same)...... it is definitely the spring, I'll have a look with my trigger gauge and see what it shows and check against my Native 5s........

cheers, John

[Evil D]

I'm not sure what comparing it to another model knife is going to tell you. They all have different spring weights for different reasons. It would be better to compare it to another of the exact same model knife.

[bearfacedkiller]

There are two pivot screws. Don't forget to check the lock bar pivot too. If that doesn't work then you only have a few options. You can hope it breaks in over time, you can send it into Spyderco or return it to your dealer, you can take the spring out and "adjust" it or you can just live with it. My Chapparal was painful to open and I took it apart and lighten up the spring tension. However, it was a factory second so it came without a warranty. I don't usually like to suggest DIY options but it appears as though you are across the pond and I know returns can be tough sometimes. They do break in over time but I also don't know how stiff your is. If you do adjust it yourself just remember that less is more and that springs do not like to be adjusted back and forth to the point of taking a set too many times so try to go a ittle at a time until it is livable and then just let it break in.

disclaimer: DIY lock tuning voids your warranty and could potentially make your knife dangerous

[Gadget]

There are two pivot screws. Don't forget to check the lock bar pivot too. If that doesn't work then you only have a few options. You can hope it breaks in over time, you can send it into Spyderco or return it to your dealer, you can take the spring out and "adjust" it or you can just live with it. My Chapparal was painful to open and I took it apart and lighten up the spring tension. However, it was a factory second so it came without a warranty. I don't usually like to suggest DIY options but it appears as though you are across the pond and I know returns can be tough sometimes. They do break in over time but I also don't know how stiff your is. If you do adjust it yourself just remember that less is more and that springs do not like to be adjusted back and forth to the point of taking a set too many times so try to go a ittle at a time until it is livable and then just let it break in.

disclaimer: DIY lock tuning voids your warranty and could potentially make your knife dangerous

Thanks for the info, I am an instrument tech and know what I'm doing most of the time.. It is easy to tell that it is a very heavy spring and yes, I purchased the knife from the US, before doing anything else I might find an AD here and check another Dragonfly........ it is painfully heavy!
I just spent 1/2 an hour looking for my trigger gauge in the garage, no luck.

Next thing I need to know is... has Spyderco an international warranty? If I do take it to an AD and it is found to be faulty, are they bound in any way to help someone who purchased a knife overseas?

cheers, John

[Sharp Guy]

I have 3 Dragonflys here including a G10. The lock spring on the G10 is heavier than the FRN models but not much. It's certainly not heavy enough to cause pain.

Like BFK, the lock bar on my Chaparral was way too heavy and was actually making my thumb sore. I finally ended up taking it apart and when I put it back together it was noticeably easier to push the lock bar. I did not adjust the spring and put it back in the slot exactly where it was originally. I don't know for sure but I suspect that the lock pivot needed a little adjustment.

[Gadget]

Thanks Sharp Guy,

it is just the spring, it is so heavy that it takes away any interest in opening and closing the knife, I'd like to have another in my hand to see if it's the same as mine, if it is then Spyderco should look into this.
cheers, John

[Donut]

I had a knife that I was under the impression that the spring was too strong. It ended up being that the screws that pivoted the lock bar were too tight.



I kind of prefer a stronger lock spring because my mind thinks it is safer, but the dragonfly is usually a heavy user for me and painful is too strong for me, too.

[Gadget]

Ok thanks everyone...
I can really feel the lock bar end pushing hard against the pivot part of the blade.... Donut, the screw that you have circled is the one that I have already backed right off, it was no help with the heavy spring...
Cheers, John

[Doc Dan]

I think I would send it in. My G10 DF is the second smoothest Spyderco I own (the smoothest being my Caly3) and it is close to the best.

[SpeedHoles]

Boye dent (dragonfly) vs. No Boye dent (Native)

May feel like you have to push down further..

[Gadget]

Boye dent (dragonfly) vs. No Boye dent (Native)

May feel like you have to push down further..

But 'further' is not the problem, it's the huge amount of force needed just to push the bar down even a little, I know what heavy spring tension feels like, it's not friction from tight screws..... looks like I might have to send it back to the US...... or would a Norwegian AD be able to look at it or exchange the knife?

I wish I could just get another spring from Spyderco and try it because to send it back to the US will cost me at least $40 post for the round trip.

cheers, John

[Evil D]

I would talk to the place you bought it from and see if they can help.

[Gadget]

I would talk to the place you bought it from and see if they can help.

I live in Norway and I bought it from Outfitter Country in the US, I just sent them a message and wait for a reply.
cheers, John