New Assisted Knifes "Sticky"- How to Unleash their Speed?

C

changomono

Joined
May 3, 2014
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Hi BladeForums users. I'm a new knife owner, one is a SOG Mini Aegis, the other a Kershaw Blur. I bought the Mini for my wife, who is very petite, the Blur for me. I wanted two fast-deploying knives, and the reviews I read were very clear that these knives were FAST! :thumbup:

I bought them new, but neither seem fast at all. I have two other Kershaws -one is spring-assisted, the other a folder-both are faster than these new, otherwise quality knives. These new knives seem very stiff, slow to open, and require especial amounts of torque to open them. That's not at all how they appear on video reviews I watched, and that's why I bought them.

The Mini is actually the harder blade to open, and for my wife, it's rather dangerous, because she really has to put a lot into it to get it to open.

Is this because the knives are new? Or do they need to be adjusted ? (I didn't do that with previous knives that were fast out of the box). Should I contact their manufacturers, or return them?

Perhaps it's because I'm not used to buying knives that much.

I would love to hear your advice, comments, and suggestions.

God bless you..and thank you very much
 
Of the past 50 knives I've purchased maybe only 5 did not need some kind of adjustment. Some were complete take downs.

I have found the assisted flippers often need the pivot screw adjusted with a torque driver.

Mist folders need minor adjustments to suit different likes. I like my blades loose and do as much as I can without giving up blade centering.

If you feel you have a defective knife....send it back.

Mike
 
ahh.. that's a perspective I've not had, EyeDog. I've bought maybe 5 knives (including some real junkers) in the past ten years. One was a Smith & Wesson assisted blade that was very fast out of the box, but frequently had to be tightened. I didn't trust it. The junkers never stayed center, and I didn't trust them at all.

So, you're saying that the vast majority of your blades had to be adjusted--you like them loose--so I assume you mean that they had to be loosened. Right?

The SOG Mini Aegis is for my wife, and she has small hands, and thin, delicate fingers. It's hard for her to open, and even me a bit. So I will try some additional adjusting, and see how it goes. Im a bit nervous, becuase I don't want to make it unsafe.

By the way, is there a fast, smaller, light, spring-assisted knife that you would recommend for a woman with small, delicate hands?

Thanks again!
 
I've only had 2 SOG assists, a flash 1 and a trident. Both needed to be tweeked a bit, as the tension of the main pin could really easily overcome the last part of the spring. The trident once adjusted usually only needed a little bit of work a couple more times in the few years I used it. I would say just play with the pivot a bit, you'll be able to get the speed back out of it without it feeling loose.
 
Thanks, GadgetGeek,

The tool I need then is the torque screwdriver...is that a standard size item that I can get at a hardware store?
 
You should be able to get them at any hardware store or even Walmart. You will most likely have to get a full set as they come in different sizes. Just make sure you dont accidentally get hex bits.The best way i have found to do it is to tighten to until to tight "you seem to be there already", and then do very minor loosening adjustments until you get the speed you want without creating blade play.
 
I have used this method for adjusting the pivot screw with great results. Tighten the screw with the knife open. Place a wedge between the liner or frame lock and the opposite frame to remove all the tension from the locking liner. Now loosen the tension until the blade just falls by it own weight. No side play and centered blade. Some new knives might not be clean in the pivot area and this would take some maint. beforehand.
Ron
P1010460-vi.jpg
 
assuming the knife has three body screws on the spine and one pivot screw (bolt-thru, not two-way) try this. Loosen all four. Tighten the MIDDLE body screw down all the way. Tighten the Pivot down all the way. Tighten the FRONT body screw (closest to pivot) all the way and then the REAR (closest to tail) body screw all the way. Then go back and loosen the pivot screw about a quarter-turn so it's just barely not binding, maybe even less than a quarter. This evenly torques the body of the knife down so you don't have tiny amounts of binding. pop a drop of your choice of metal oil on either side of the pivot, I use 3-in-1 and am sure that's terrible but it's always done the trick. Like others said you want to balance between the blade being "loose" and opening very fast but having side-to-side play, and being "tight' with super solid lockup but not being able to open via the spring. Good luck!
 
I own a Kershaw Scallion and Chive, and both open lightning fast. They are all-metal, but are small so they don't seem very heavy. Either would be a good choice for a woman I believe. The Chive hardly requires any pressure on the flipper to open. I don't care too much for the design of the plastic lock on them (to prevent the blade from accidentally opening). It would sometimes move into a half-closed position and get in the way of the blade closing until I tightened it. My Benchmade Barrage opens very fast, but needed some break-in, maybe 20 opening/closing cycles. My Kershaw Cryo G10 opens a tad slower than the other 3 knives, but it doesn't feel slow. I also have a ZT 0770CF. It requires the most pressure on the flipper and opens the slowest, but is still acceptable. All are assisted-openers and none have been adjusted.

I suggest opening/closing them a bunch of times. If that doesn't help then loosen the pivot screw with a torx key (not a hex key). If that doesn't help then return/exchange them.
 
changomono said:
Hi BladeForums users. I'm a new knife owner, one is a SOG Mini Aegis, the other a Kershaw Blur. I bought the Mini for my wife, who is very petite, the Blur for me. I wanted two fast-deploying knives, and the reviews I read were very clear that these knives were FAST! 👍

I bought them new, but neither seem fast at all. I have two other Kershaws -one is spring-assisted, the other a folder-both are faster than these new, otherwise quality knives. These new knives seem very stiff, slow to open, and require especial amounts of torque to open them. That's not at all how they appear on video reviews I watched, and that's why I bought them.

The Mini is actually the harder blade to open, and for my wife, it's rather dangerous, because she really has to put a lot into it to get it to open.

Is this because the knives are new? Or do they need to be adjusted ? (I didn't do that with previous knives that were fast out of the box). Should I contact their manufacturers, or return them?

Perhaps it's because I'm not used to buying knives that much.

I would love to hear your advice, comments, and suggestions.

God bless you..and thank you very much
Click to expand...
I'm trying to understand how a good folder with a thumbstud can possibly be 'slow'? Assisted knives are for weirdos and the cast of Grease.
 
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