I got a stiffy

Hoyt Buck produced the first Buck Knife in 1902. Hoyt and his son Al moved to San Diego and set up shop as H.H. Buck & Son in 1947. Al Buck revolutionized the knife industry in 1964 with the infamous Model 110 Folding Hunter. The company's innovative history and attention to quality have made for many great collectible knives.
Post Reply
LibertyKeeper
Posts: 84
Joined: Sun Oct 31, 2021 9:12 pm
Location: Iowa

I got a stiffy

Post by LibertyKeeper »

::uc::

My new Buck 285 Bantam Flag is so stiff I can hardly operate it with one hand.

I've tried working it back and forth, back and forth... Even lubed it.... And still no relief :)

Seriously... I carry another 285 Bantam knife often (in a different handle color) and it operates smoothly.

Is there no way to loosen it a bit?

Thoughts welcome
1118211023.jpg
charlesf20
Posts: 129
Joined: Mon Sep 27, 2021 3:45 am

Re: I got a stiffy

Post by charlesf20 »

keep workin' at it? ::paranoid::
User avatar
cody6268
Posts: 3869
Joined: Fri Apr 10, 2015 7:51 pm
Location: Southwestern Virginia

Re: I got a stiffy

Post by cody6268 »

I get a few like that. Typically, the first thing I do is oil it. Then if that doesn't work, I wash it in soap and water to try to flush out grit and metal shavings from the pivot leftover from the manufacturing process.

And if it's none of those, there is a chance it was pinned too tight at the factory. I love the Bantam series as it's American-made, but inexpensive. I have three of the 285, a 284, and three 283s; and none of them are really what I'd call tight. The worst problem I've had out of any of them was a thumb stud that worked loose.
LibertyKeeper
Posts: 84
Joined: Sun Oct 31, 2021 9:12 pm
Location: Iowa

Re: I got a stiffy

Post by LibertyKeeper »

cody6268 wrote: Fri Nov 26, 2021 2:36 am I get a few like that. Typically, the first thing I do is oil it. Then if that doesn't work, I wash it in soap and water to try to flush out grit and metal shavings from the pivot leftover from the manufacturing process.

And if it's none of those, there is a chance it was pinned too tight at the factory. I love the Bantam series as it's American-made, but inexpensive. I have three of the 285, a 284, and three 283s; and none of them are really what I'd call tight. The worst problem I've had out of any of them was a thumb stud that worked loose.
Thank you. I will try the soap and water then re-lube
bigshot

Re: I got a stiffy

Post by bigshot »

You can immerse it completely in mineral oil for a few days. Sometimes that helps. Ballistol might free it up a bit too.
User avatar
herbva
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 1865
Joined: Thu Oct 11, 2018 7:18 pm
Location: The Old Dominion

Re: I got a stiffy

Post by herbva »

Try a drop or two of "Quick Release". I find that it works much better on stiff knives than general purpose oil. If there is any rust in the pivot area (unlikely on a new knife), a few drops of Kroil works well to dissolve the rust.
"Better to do something imperfectly, than to do nothing flawlessly." ~ Robert H. Schuller

Herb
User avatar
Mumbleypeg
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 13409
Joined: Fri Apr 18, 2014 1:28 am
Location: Republic of Texas

Re: I got a stiffy

Post by Mumbleypeg »

All good advice. Thoroughly clean it, oil the joints. +1 on Quick Release oil. If it still doesn’t function correctly send it back to Buck. Their warranty is second to none. It will be fixed to your satisfaction or replaced with a new knife.

Ken
Member AKTI, TSRA, NRA.

If your religion requires that you hate someone, you need a new religion.

When the people fear their government, that is tyranny. When government fears the people, that is freedom.

https://www.akti.org/
jmh58
Posts: 13448
Joined: Wed Apr 02, 2008 11:22 pm
Location: Pgh,Pa

Re: I got a stiffy

Post by jmh58 »

Mumbleypeg wrote: Fri Nov 26, 2021 4:52 pm All good advice. Thoroughly clean it, oil the joints. +1 on Quick Release oil. If it still doesn’t function correctly send it back to Buck. Their warranty is second to none. It will be fixed to your satisfaction or replaced with a new knife.

Ken
👍🍻👍
John 🏁
Not all who wander are lost!!

Of all the paths you take in life,
Make sure some of them are Dirt!!!
LibertyKeeper
Posts: 84
Joined: Sun Oct 31, 2021 9:12 pm
Location: Iowa

Re: I got a stiffy

Post by LibertyKeeper »

Yep... I too have had great service from Buck when I sent in a knife for repair previously.

Since this model is discontinued... I'm just afraid they'll keep it and send me another Bantam 285 for a replacement... without the flag design handle.

So this one won't be going back to Buck. I'll keep working in it. I've tried everything and it looks like it was pinned way too tight.

It may be destined to become a "two handed opening only" knife... And I can live with that... Just a bit dissapointed

Can I loosen the pins somehow?
Captain O

Re: I got a stiffy

Post by Captain O »

Lay off the Viagra? ::dang:: ::facepalm::
User avatar
herbva
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 1865
Joined: Thu Oct 11, 2018 7:18 pm
Location: The Old Dominion

Re: I got a stiffy

Post by herbva »

LibertyKeeper wrote: Fri Nov 26, 2021 7:18 pm Yep... I too have had great service from Buck when I sent in a knife for repair previously.

Since this model is discontinued... I'm just afraid they'll keep it and send me another Bantam 285 for a replacement... without the flag design handle.

So this one won't be going back to Buck. I'll keep working in it. I've tried everything and it looks like it was pinned way too tight.

It may be destined to become a "two handed opening only" knife... And I can live with that... Just a bit dissapointed

Can I loosen the pins somehow?
My answer to your last question is "maybe". It depends on how that knife is pinned. If the pins are conventional with peened heads, you can loosen it a bit. But the risk is that the pin heads will then show and look a bit sunken into the bolsters. If you want to try, with the blade open, slip a small flat head screwdriver into the blade well against the base of the blade tang and twist the screwdriver (or other flat metal tool) a little bit in each direction. Go very easy. This may create just a very tiny bit more space for the blade to pivot. Don't overdo it, or you'll have a wobbly blade and possibly a damaged liner. This is risky and I expect that some here will disagree with doing this at all. ::hmm::
"Better to do something imperfectly, than to do nothing flawlessly." ~ Robert H. Schuller

Herb
Post Reply

Return to “Buck Knife Collector's Forum”