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Showing 1 of 25 conversations about:
AFD_0
127
Jun 16, 2018
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Looks just like the Boker Ti Pelican (Brad Zinker Mini Tanto Flipper design), only a slight bit bigger..
https://www.bladehq.com/item--Boker-Plus-Pelican-Frame-Lock-Knife--35785 https://www.bladehq.com/item--Brad-Zinker-Mini-Tanto-Flipper--25364
Almost bought the Pelican, but ended up getting the smaller (and slightly cheaper) Wesn Ti Microblade instead (great little knife that MD should do a drop on)..
https://wesngoods.com/products/wesn-microblade
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Jun 16, 2018
bookworm13
677
Jun 17, 2018
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AFD_0I got the WESN in AUS-8. I generally like it but it takes two hands to deploy the blade. I saw their tip to push out on the frame lock but it's still stiff to open up in one move. If I loosen the pivot screw any more, the blade touches the framelock. Seems like a mixed bag on production value but hopefully something they can straighten out.
This weekend I was trying to do an emergency repair with a slip lock knife and almost had it close on my fingers a couple times. So glad they make these micro knifes with a frame lock.
Jun 17, 2018
AFD_0
127
Jun 17, 2018
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bookworm13When I first got mine, I couldn't open it at all (either by flipping or pulling). Wesn recommended adding oil and bending the frame lock outward to loosen the tension (also let mine sit 48 hours half-opened), but what ultimately worked was loosening the pivot screw about a quarter turn and then re-tightening it back to where the blade was centered. After this, the blade was still a little stiff, but could finally be flipped open without incredible force. Then spent a lot of time opening and closing the blade to 'break it in', which really seemed to help (read that this helped with other stiff flippers, so I worked the action over 100x).
Flipping one-handed is still tricky, due to the small size (flipped the whole knife open and out of my grasp a few times), but at least now I can just lightly hold the end of the frame with my left hand thumb and fingers (not putting pressure on the lock!) and use my right index finger to easily flip it open every time by pushing in/down at a 45° angle. Pulling the blade out by using the thumb screw is still nearly impossible, but I'm okay with that, since I only use it to close the blade when working the lock. So, yeah.. it took a bit of effort, but I absolutely love working the action on the knife now.
Jun 17, 2018
JeremyHeld
47
Jun 18, 2018
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AFD_0The WESN is to me a terrible rip-off. I could barely open it (and it's not a matter of breaking it in or loosening the pivot - if you loosen the pivot at all you get blade play and I worked the hell out of it to try and break it in to no avail whatsoever), the blade wasn't sharp, and the blade would not lock (it was clear that the lock was too high and unless I forcibly pushed it in it wouldn't lock at all). When I tried to reach out to return or get an exchange on it I didn't hear back from anyone for weeks. Even now I haven't received a refund even though I returned the knife weeks ago. Would not recommend.
Jun 18, 2018
AFD_0
127
Jun 18, 2018
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JeremyHeldDefinitely think their QC is majorly lacking, and really hope they're sincerely looking into US manufacturing for future production runs. Personally didn't have any issues getting in touch with the owner, who responded within hours to all of my emails during the first weeks of shipment. And just to clarify, I basically loosened my pivot screw and re-tightened it to almost the same position. For me, that was the difference between basically not opening at all, to at least opening without insane force.. the rest of the way was just a lot of break-in (really did make a difference for mine), which appears to be a common problem for small flippers. My blade wasn't very sharp out of the box either, but good enough for cutting tape off of boxes.. I'll eventually just sharpen it better myself.
Dunno.. absolutely hated the thing at first, but I really do like it now and use it every day. Hope you get your refund or a properly working replacement!
Jun 18, 2018
JeremyHeld
47
Jun 18, 2018
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AFD_0Yeah, I'm sure if I would have kept it, I could've figured out a way to break it in/open. And I of course could've sharpened the knife myself. But don't know what I could do to fix the lock other than disassemble it and sand it down or something. But more than anything I think I was just disappointed and then had a bad taste in my mouth from not hearing anything from the owner when emailed (and feeling that I was getting ripped off). Having said all that I really like the design/looks of the knife (as I do this Boker).
Jun 18, 2018
AFD_0
127
Jun 19, 2018
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JeremyHeldYeah, everything aside, it definitely sounds like your lock would still be an issue - especially considering they recommend bending the framelock outward to help with overly tight actions, whereas you needed to press yours inward to even engage the blade (think an engagment point where the blade lock face is sitting half-on and half-off of the framelock should be about right).
Peronally, I really want that orginal Brad Zinker mini tanto, but there's no way I could ever justify spending $400 on a micro knife. This Boker Chap and their Pelican are quite the steal in comparison!
Jun 19, 2018
bookworm13
677
Jun 20, 2018
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AFD_0Your tips motivated me to take another crack at my WESN. I took it completely apart (against the warranty I know) and used some gun oil at the contact points. I don't think that did much to be honest.
I've been practicing and with a downward flick of my wrist at the same time I push hard on the flipper I can get it open in one move one-handed about half the time. Now I get the appeal of flippers. Reminds me of playing with butterfly knives when I was younger. Anyway, thanks for your tips.
Jun 20, 2018
JeremyHeld
47
Jun 28, 2018
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AFD_0So I still have not received my refund from WESN. According to tracking the knife was delivered back to them on June 8th (20 days ago) and I've checked in with them once a week since then with no response. Beyond frustrating and a little infuriating. And at this point they may just not give me my money back and I'm not sure what recourse I would have.
Jun 28, 2018
bookworm13
677
Jun 28, 2018
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JeremyHeldThat's kind of the problem with crowdsourcing a project. You don't really have any idea if the creator is not only good at their marketing, but their manufacturing, fulfillment and customer service. I go into Kickstarter only if I'm willing to take the chance that I might not get anything for my money.
Jun 28, 2018
AFD_0
127
Jun 29, 2018
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JeremyHeldHonestly not sure if he's under any obligation to give you a complete refund on a faulty product (unless he stated he would), so I'm guessing that he's probably just going to either repair or replace it under their lifetime warranty. Since they're still backed up 2-4 weeks for new orders, I wouldn't expect to receive anything for at least a month. After that, I'd consider posting about it on his Instagram, as he seems more active with the customers there. He's likely trying to run this company without much help and probably trying to work a regular job at the same time (not trying to excuse anything, just thinking about it realistically). Either way, I still wish you luck!
Jun 29, 2018
JeremyHeld
47
Jun 29, 2018
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AFD_0Just to clarify, they did say they would issue a refund if I sent it back to them and provided the tracking info - so it's not like I just sent it back to them blindly or like I've had no communication with them whatsoever.
Jun 29, 2018
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