My Micarta arrived today. It's pretty smooth right up the point you mentioned. At the point just before the fully open position I can feel/hear the grit. It's not nearly as bad as the ones I handled at BLADE but I can feel it. It's not enough to be an issue though. Had it arrived like the ones I handled at BLADE I would likely have been disappointed. The knife is really cool and fits a niche that wasn't filled for me before. I love the micarta and look forward to getting it dirty and broken in.VolGrad had mentioned the gritty action of the Propers he handled at BLADE (along with the disinterested and unhelpful booth reps) and I must concur that mine definitely has a rough and gritty feel just before the fully open position where the raised portion of the tang rides along the closing spring. Two tiny drops of W10 NanoOil have smoothed out and eased the entire open/closing action and made entering and leaving the stop positions much better. I can still feel a little underlying grittiness at that spot when closing against the spring tension, but it's barely noticeable. It may well break-in. Jimmy-- Benchmade --maybe pass on to the factory that the guys polishing the springs could spend a little more time on them.
The ones at BLADE were downright gritty. It would be interesting for you to go find the freight boxes as they unpack them at the mothership and feel what we are talking about.They shouldn't be gritty as we polish the face of the spring.
Nice pics and really nice bead, Jeff! Do I assume correctly that 6/7 pull is stiffer than a 4/5? I have little experience with traditionals, though I am familiar with walk and talk, so perhaps you could explain the preferences for easier/harder pulls.I caught a butterfly at REI on Monday. I really like it, mine wasn't gritty at all. I oiled it up when I got home and its very smooth. S30v: check, Green Canvas Micarta: check, Modern "slipjoint":check! I was totally surprised by this model. I hope BM does a few more variations. I only have one complaint: The pull is about a 4(or a soft 5), if the pull was 6/7 with the walk and talk of a GEC, this knife would be perfect.
I have had it in my pocket all week, using it for food prep to opening packages. This is a pocket scalpel, great user and edc!
You guys are making it tuff to resist.
G2