Help please: problems with a CRKT Hissatsu Folder

J

jebib

Joined
Apr 21, 2011
Messages
166
I just received it today, and it is a real good lookin knife. However, either I'm doing something wrong or the knife needs adjusting. Since what I excel in is stripping screw heads, and scratching finishes I thought I'd solicit some advice first. It appears to be either the autolowk system or the outbust system. Regardless, when I pull back on the little tab for the autolawk and attempt to push the blade, literally nothing happens (other than my thumb getting sore). Now, if I hold the button and then with my other hand pull the blade out it wll come out somewhat difficultly. I've got other assisted open knives where it is relatively easy to open the blade. I have cleaned out the blade with gunscrubber and then put a couple of drops of gunzilla on it to see if it helps. It doesn't. Any suggestions on what to do will be appreciated. bib
 
I'm not really sure what it is that you're doing but from your description it doesn't sound right. I don't own the Hissatsu folder but if the Autolawks and Outburst systems on the knife are anything like the other CRKT knives with those features, they work like this.
The Outburst system is just a torsion bar that puts pressure on the tang of the blade.To deploy the blade, simply use your thumb and push the thumb-stud away from you as if you were flicking a marble. Once the blade opens a bit, the torsion bar will do the rest of the work. You shouldn't need to touch the Autolawks tab to deploy the knife.
The Atuolawks system is basically your run of the mill liner lock with a little piece of metal that goes between the liner and the scale, preventing the lock from slipping and failing. To close the knife, pull down the tab with your index finger and hold it down; this moves the little piece of metal out of the way to allow the liner lock to move out from under the tang. With the tab held down, use your thumb to move the liner lock and then close the knife as you would a normal liner lock knife.

Hope this helps.

P.S. your knife should have come with 2 small pieces of paper that explains the use of the Autolawks and Outburst features.
 
Thanks for the comment aznpos531 and yes I am doing it properly based on your description. Seems like it is just a real snot to open. I've contacted CRKT and asked them for assistance. I'll see what they say. Perhaps I will be able to send it in to them for a re-do?
 
I also have a Hissatsu folder, and I had problems with the small thumb-disc. Here is a copy of the Facebook conversation:

Dann Fassnacht
I received the (brand-new) Hissatsu folder today that I traded for, and I like it alot...EXCEPT for the VERY small thumb-disc. What were you guys thinking? It is VERY hard to open the knife with that flea-sized thumb-disc. I am going to have to adapt something bigger to this knife.
Like · · September 7 at 2:56pm

CRKT Dann - Thank you for your feedback. We have had a lot of very positive feedback about the design. http://www.crkt.com/Hissat​suFolder
September 7 at 3:09pm · Like.

Arthur Teng I can open it easily.
September 7 at 3:19pm · Like · 1 person.

CRKT Dann - There is a thumb groove on the handle that guides your thumb down into the pre-open position. I love opening mine, it just snaps open with a very distinctive and formidable click. I am not an operator...but when I need to impress a friend when we talk about CRKT knives and my work...this is one of my primary "go to" knives. JB
September 7 at 3:27pm · Like · 1 person.

James Williams Dann you can use a file and "shape" the thumb groove to work for you by changing the size, angle, and depth. It is quite easy to do.
September 7 at 3:30pm · Like · 1 person.

Dann Fassnacht Arthur...I'm guessing that you aren't built as large as I am....(5'11", 275 lbs.). I have catcher-mitt-sized hands with thick fingers & thick thumbs, so that might be part of my problem. Also, I'm guessing that it will get easier to open with some practice.
September 7 at 3:31pm · Like · 1 person.

CRKT Dann - Those are pretty good size hands you got there! :) JB
September 7 at 3:33pm · Unlike · 2 people.

Dann Fassnacht James...Thank-you for the tip! But, since I work at a college that has a good vocational program, I think I'll have one of the machinest students fabricate a larger (wider) thumb-disc for this otherwise EXCELLENT folder. Like all CRKT knives, the more I "play" with 'em, the more I like 'em!
September 7 at 3:36pm · Like · 2 people.

Jason Wiant Dann, I had the same issue when I received my Hissatsu. I was trying to push the blade away from the body in a perpendicular direction and it was very hard to get the knife to open. Try pushing the thumb disc in a direction parallel to the body, as if you were trying to spin the disc. Should fly right open. This worked for me, hope it works for you!
September 7 at 10:14pm · Unlike · 3 people.

Arthur Teng Dann... I checked both Hissatsu and Hissatsu2 folders. Indeed the former has a smaller thumb-disc than the smaller H2 folder. I wonder why?
September 8 at 4:50am · Like.

Dann Fassnacht Arthur...Maybe someone along the way figured out that the thumb-disc on the larger Hissatsu folder is way too small, so they "fixed it" on the Hissatsu 2...
September 8 at 9:09am · Like.

Dann Fassnacht I wonder if there is any way that I can get a thumb-disc that goes on the Hissatsu 2 so I can adapt it to fit my Hissatsu 1?
September 8 at 9:11am · Like.

CRKT Dann - We checked it out here and the larger thumb stud does fit in the Hissatsu. The screws are the same, the stud is just a little wider. I'll have one of the larger thumb studs sent out to you today. It's not black though, it's silver. JB
September 8 at 11:42am · Like.

Dann Fassnacht JB...THANK-YOU!!! Do you still have my mailing address?
September 8 at 11:47am · Like.

CRKT I do, I'll have it sent out to you today Dann!
September 8 at 12:41pm · Unlike · 1 person.

Arthur Teng Great. Problem fixed.
September 8 at 1:37pm · Like · 1 person.

Dann Fassnacht Customer SERVICE really doesn't get any better than CRKTs'...They are THE BEST!
September 8 at 1:45pm · Like · 2 people.

CRKT Thanks Dann! Just confirmed the thumb stud is being sent out to you today.
September 8 at 1:57pm · Unlike · 1 person.

Dann Fassnacht I received the Hissatsu 2 thumb-disc this morning, installed it on my Hissatsu 1 (it fit perfectly!), and I swear that it's at-least a 100% improvement!...Just that tiny bit of it being wider makes all the difference in the world (for my big thumb). THANK-YOU, CRKT!!
September 10 at 11:18am · Like · 2 people.

Dann Fassnacht I'm thinking that CRKT should put the (larger) Hissatsu 2 thumb-discs on the Hissatsu (1), as it really does make a (big) difference in opening the knife...For me at-least, it makes opening easier and more positive. I REALLY love my Hissatsu folder with this larger disc!
September 12 at 5:45pm · Like · 1 person.

CRKT Dann - Good to hear that it worked out well for you! Thank you for your feedback too! JB
September 13 at 8:11am · Like


Jebib...I know that this isn't the same problem you are having with your Hissatsu, but I just wanted to demonstrate that CRKT (as well as the designer of the knife, James Williams) WILL take care of your problem.
 
BTW...You DON'T hold back the autolawks when opening the knife, only when closing it. To open, JUST give the thumb-disc a hard push up & outwards.
 
The first thing you need to do is clearly describe your problem. I read twice but don't seem to get it.

Regards, Arthur
 
jebib said:
Thanks for the comment aznpos531 and yes I am doing it properly based on your description. Seems like it is just a real snot to open. I've contacted CRKT and asked them for assistance. I'll see what they say. Perhaps I will be able to send it in to them for a re-do?
Click to expand...

If you're sure you're doing it right then there may be something wrong with the knife. Like Dann said, whatever the issue is, I'm sure CRKT will take care of you.
 
Thank you all, yes, you are correct the first time my description was poor. And upon your subsequent discussion I was not doing it properly. I see clearly the button lock does not have to be engaged. However, the basic problem remains and that is that it is very difficult to open. Unlike the prior cases of mine I haven't done any damage. I'm waiting to hear from CKRT next week to see if they will take a look at it. This really is an excellent forum and I thank all who have responded. regards,
 
Maybe I am lucky. Both my hissatsu and HEIHO folders open in no time..,a small push along the groove, they will ly open.
 
BTW, since you mention that you strip screws often, I'm guessing you have cheap hardware store Torx bits? I highly recommend you get a higher quality driver, like Wiha's. They don't cost much more, but they last many times longer and are better-made. Whereas a cheap Torx driver might strip a screw or even not fit the screw (had both happen before I got a Wiha driver), a better driver will fit well.
 
My hissatsu folder was next to impossible to open when I bought it... I dissasembled the knife and filed/reshaped and polished the end of the torsion bar and polished the blade's tang where the bar rests.

I made sure to work slowly that way I didn't remove too much material from the bar and had to re-assemble and repeat the process to test opening the knife a few times. The end result? Flawless, easy, 100% deployment of the blade. :thumbup:

I cut myself exactly four times prior to tuning the knife because of how challenging it was to deploy the blade but now it's awesome and works perfectly!

Good luck with your hissatsu; it's a great folder once it's got the bugs worked out of the deployment.
 
My Hissatsu is a bear to open and I'm a machinist with thumbs of steel. Every other part of my body is in terrible shape but I'm freaking buff from elbows to fingertips. The opening will get somewhat easier as it breaks in, but it will never be as easy as say a BM Barrage or Kershaw Blur.

Otherwise I agree with Czechmate:
Czechmate said:
My hissatsu folder was next to impossible to open when I bought it... I dissasembled the knife and filed/reshaped and polished the end of the torsion bar and polished the blade's tang where the bar rests.

I made sure to work slowly that way I didn't remove too much material from the bar and had to re-assemble and repeat the process to test opening the knife a few times. The end result? Flawless, easy, 100% deployment of the blade. :thumbup:

I cut myself exactly four times prior to tuning the knife because of how challenging it was to deploy the blade but now it's awesome and works perfectly!

Good luck with your hissatsu; it's a great folder once it's got the bugs worked out of the deployment.
Click to expand...
 
I bought a Hissatsu knowing fully that it would be difficult to open, and also based on some feedback that:
1. it would get easier
2. it would be even easier with the torsion bar removed (changed to non-assist)

Both are true, but not before I got callouses on my thumb(s), and poked/cut a few times. The instructions also point out something interesting. Don't push the thumbdisc away from the spine. Instead push it upwards towards the point of the blade if it were open.

I had the torsion bar fully broken in - over some months, then removed.

It's still just as fun, even non-assisted. Have fun!
 
As a final note I thought I'd let you know that I contacted CRKT and they couldn't have been more helpful. Said send it back and they'd smooth out the action or replace it for me with one that will work properly. They did acknowledge that they had some kind of design problem with the knife and "would make it right". What more can you ask for? When I get it back from them, I share what happened. Thanks all for our assistance.
 
hmmm...good update from you, Jebib. And also good to hear that CRKT is listening and also provide adequate customer care to buyers..... Luckily, I am not in that situation, otherwise my shipping cost will be cost like half of the knife value easily.
 
I recently had a small cosmetic problem with a M4-02S.
Everyone at CRKT wasmore than helpfull. Sent the blade back to them today.
They said they would either correct the problem or replace it.
I have never had any problem with a CRKT knife before and I own a ton.
One of the best companies out there, regardles of where they were made.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top