Lockback spring on Japanese models too strong?

[liko]

I currently have a rather small collection of a Native (35/65), Rescue Jr, and Calypso Jr. (Plainedge). I have noticed that my USA-made Native has a much softer lock spring than the other two. I like the softer spring, especially with a David Boye dent, because it allows for a much faster closing technique. To open, I grip the blade firmly by the hole with thumb and forefinger and flick the handle out and down. To close, I hold the handle with thumb and three fingers, press the locking lever with my forefinger, and flick it closed. While admittedly more dangerous and not advised around non-knife people (if you open a knife like that, many people immediately assume you're a thug), it is much faster than the method Spyderco advises.



My question is, do all the Japanese-made Spydies have this stronger lock? Is the softer spring a feature of knives made more with martial blade craft in mind than others? Having a dent in the locking lever doesn't seem to make a difference in the strength of lock used, because my Calypso Jr. and Native both have the dent.

[Carlos]

Hi Liko,

Welcome to the Spyderco Forum.

[liko]

Thanks. Looks like a good place to get more info on my three knives.

Anyone with a good collection and some experience care to comment?

[sam the man..]

Howdy Liko,

Welcome aboard! <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle> Well, I do find the lockbacks a bit stiff, not sure if they have diferrent strength... I used to own a coupla natives, they are fine cutting tools! <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>

Sam

have spydies will travel

[J Smith]

I own a Native and Native ll.I also noticed that.The funny thing is I think the lock is fine on both even though they feel completely differant.I carry the Native more offten love the 440v.

Jeff

[Flinx]

Well, as they say, &quot;different strokes, for different folks&quot;. I actually feel that the Native's spring is too weak. I love lockbacks for the simple reason that I love tip-up carry and I want to be sure that the knife doesn't open before I want it to. Also, if things ever get really bad in this country, and the politicians go after any and all &quot;gravity knives&quot; and such, I want to have a knife with me that CANNOT be flicked open by the nice police-man who happened to see it sticking out of my pocket. And if you think that won't happen, just look at the custom's incident with Columbia River Knife and Tool. Oh, and FYI, if you think that Spyderco's japanese knives have strong springs, check out a Cold Steel Voyager or Gunsite model sometime!! They are made in Seki City, Japan, just like the Spydies are.

Flinx

Edited by - flinx on 2/1/2002 12:09:19 AM

[liko]

Well, I can reverse-drop open any of my Spydies. If that's the only criteria used for the definition of a flick knife, we're all in trouble. I was more concerned with closing the knife. My Native is very easy and fast to close (the only one I have that can be easily flick-closed), but the lock is more than strong enough that I can't close it just by gripping the handle, and it doesn't come open in my pocket. My Calypso Jr, which carries tip-down, has a very strong lock spring. Why not just deepen the locking pin and groove on the blade and lighten the spring? Then it would still be nearly impossible for the lock to fail while open, and yet still be easier to close, even with a lever dent. Having the knife open in your pocket is IMHO not a conern at all with a tip-down. There is still a bias toward the closed position until it's halfway open, and even if it were to open, you'll close the knife back up as you reach in to grab it.