Kershaw: crappy screws?

M

migo

Joined
Dec 28, 2001
Messages
243
My Scallion which I got as a gift I had to deal with warranty directly with Kershaw, they quickly shipped me a full set of screws, locks, clip and torsion bar, but of the 4 screws I needed to undo, 2 of them just wouldn't work, try as I might, I could loosen them at all. Contacted them about it, and they're having me ship it back to them under warranty.

Now, on my Zing that's close to brand new I figured I'd try moving the pocket clip around to see if that makes a different, and one of the two screws on the clip won't come loose. Same problem (and incidentally I'm using the screwdriver provided by Kershaw in all cases).

Looking at some of the screws it seems that they're not all made that well, with the grooves being a little off centre, almost like they've got the shape stamped with a machine and the metal is soft to allow it - I've apparently stripped the grooves on a couple of the screws trying to loosen them, while others went fine.
 
Kershaw makes their screws in-house, and in my experience, they've been exceptionally good. I'm surprised you have this issue, I hope they didn't change anything.
When you say grooves, do you mean the threads, or the heads of the screw?
 
I can't say I had any problems with any of the screws in a dozen different Kershaw knives. They work fine with my T6 and T8 drivers.
 
Itch Blade said:
Kershaw makes their screws in-house, and in my experience, they've been exceptionally good. I'm surprised you have this issue, I hope they didn't change anything.
When you say grooves, do you mean the threads, or the heads of the screw?
Click to expand...

Heads, there's pretty much a round hole now.
 
Migo.

The bulk of my knife collection consists of Kershaw , most of which I have taken apart and modified in some fashion to my liking :)
I too , have never had a problem with their screws.

Is it possible you are experiencing Loctite issues ?

Tostig
 
Entirely possible, I was unsure of what to do when it was recommended in warranty instructions and figured I'd have to ask about it on here, but I only got as far as trying to take the screws out, and nothing for putting them back in.
 
Kershaw doesn't Loctite from the factory in my experience.

Are you sure you were using the correct size Torx bit? Sometimes an oversized Torx bit can sit on top of a screw, and chew up the star pattern. Torx heads are very good until you get the slightest amount of damage.

Kershaw screws are unusually hard steel, it's part of why I really love Kershaw's in house, all USA production, we get spoiled with things like that.
 
Migo,

One of the forum members--Thomas?--works for Kershaw and mentioned in a post they make all of their screws in house. I've swapped clips around, adjusted pivots, disassembled for cleaning, etc. and never had an issue.

Couple of things maybe? Were the screws going into aluminum scales? Aluminum can strip in the blink of an eye.

Also, those small screws can be easy to crossthread and over torque.

Looks like Kershaw did a good job getting the parts to you, and now they're stepping up to make it right in the end.

If anything, your experience would only solidify my feelings about Kershaw--heck of a product, heck of a company.

Hope things are sorted out soon.

Best,

Heekma
 
heekma said:
Migo,

One of the forum members--Thomas?--works for Kershaw and mentioned in a post they make all of their screws in house. I've swapped clips around, adjusted pivots, disassembled for cleaning, etc. and never had an issue.

Couple of things maybe? Were the screws going into aluminum scales? Aluminum can strip in the blink of an eye.

Also, those small screws can be easy to crossthread and over torque.

Looks like Kershaw did a good job getting the parts to you, and now they're stepping up to make it right in the end.

If anything, your experience would only solidify my feelings about Kershaw--heck of a product, heck of a company.

Hope things are sorted out soon.

Best,

Heekma
Click to expand...

He had posted it was the heads, not the threads that stripped.

Does Kershaw use designs with threaded aluminum? I think most knives have steel standoffs if not liners or handles.
 
Itch Blade said:
Kershaw doesn't Loctite from the factory in my experience.

Are you sure you were using the correct size Torx bit? Sometimes an oversized Torx bit can sit on top of a screw, and chew up the star pattern. Torx heads are very good until you get the slightest amount of damage.

Kershaw screws are unusually hard steel, it's part of why I really love Kershaw's in house, all USA production, we get spoiled with things like that.
Click to expand...

Well, if I'm using the wrong size Torx it'd be because they sent me the wrong sized ones. Was pretty cool of them to include it along with the pieces, but that would I think rule out the wrong size issue.
 
migo said:
Well, if I'm using the wrong size Torx it'd be because they sent me the wrong sized ones. Was pretty cool of them to include it along with the pieces, but that would I think rule out the wrong size issue.
Click to expand...

Only asking because I've done it myself!

It's the 3 piece Kershaw set, right?
 
heekma said:
Looks like Kershaw did a good job getting the parts to you, and now they're stepping up to make it right in the end.

If anything, your experience would only solidify my feelings about Kershaw--heck of a product, heck of a company.
Click to expand...

I agree, I've had nothing but good experiences with them standing behind their products, after I had the torsion bars bust too many times they were fine with swapping the knives out with different ones of equal value (at time of purchase!), so I've got quite a hard time considering knives of other brands already. I'd expect most knives to have the same potential for problems anyway, so warranty support really makes the difference.
 
I buy loose torx bits in the 1/4" hex size (male). They fit in any 1/4" hex driver or wrench (female). Some are brand names like Chapman or Wiha. Others are of dubious pedigree. The thing that I have noticed is that there seems to be variation in fit on bits of the same nominal size. My advice is to put a bit in the TORX recess and try to wiggle it back and forth. If there is a lot of play, switch to a different brand.
 
I don't know about knives coming from Kershaw without LocTite. I've had two Torx bits snap on me because of the LocTite on the screws. Hit the area for a second or two with a torch lighter or a soldering iron and you're good to go.
 
Tony8179 said:
I don't know about knives coming from Kershaw without LocTite. I've had two Torx bits snap on me because of the LocTite on the screws. Hit the area for a second or two with a torch lighter or a soldering iron and you're good to go.
Click to expand...

At least on Leeks (the only Kershaws I collect) there's no Loctite. We'll have to get Thomas to give the word on this.
 
They all use Loctite, even the Leek. Sounds like the OP had poor Torx tools or tool technique, fwiw. I have only stripped Kershaw heads when being sloppy. And Ive disassembled and reassembled Kershaw knives (dozens of models) at least 200 times.
 
J_Curd said:
They all use Loctite, even the Leek. Sounds like the OP had poor Torx tools or tool technique, fwiw. I have only stripped Kershaw heads when being sloppy. And Ive disassembled and reassembled Kershaw knives (dozens of models) at least 200 times.
Click to expand...

As I said, mine does not. I just took one of my Leeks apart for the first time yesterday, and the threads were clean. This was a Random Leek.

I suspect they do not use Loctite because the body screws run through the plastic backspacer, and will not loosen.

The pivot screw also did not have any Loctite, this may be because of the free-spinning pivot.
 
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