Are Full Size Alox Hard to Open?

hard.times.lures · **on:** February 17, 2019, 02:20:52 AM

I have purchased two different Victorinox brand new in box Electrician models. All were nail breakers to open main blade and electrician blade.

I like the way the knife feels and cuts, but hate the hard, nail breaking opening.

Are all Alox full size models this hard to open? Is there a fix?

Thanks kindly, Bryan

zrxoa1 · **Reply #1 on:** February 17, 2019, 02:31:56 AM

I have bought a few new alox and none were hard to open.

How old are they?

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Huntsman · **Reply #2 on:** February 17, 2019, 03:48:25 AM

I have never had any problems with new or old alox - Although my nails are quite tough

Have you tried the usuals
1. Work the blades too and fro in running water - quite a lot
2. Dry
3. Oil and work some more.

If no effect it's possible that a rivet was over riveted - I suppose.

Rapidray · **Reply #3 on:** February 17, 2019, 05:41:39 AM

I haven’t come across any that were hard to open. I just picked up an ‘08 today BNIB and it opened right up!

hard.times.lures · **Reply #4 on:** February 17, 2019, 05:30:40 PM

The knives were new and purchased during past year. Yes, I have tried washing in hot water with soap, drying, and oil. Surprising to me, was they seemed better before the oil (just a drop)

Steinar · **Reply #5 on:** February 17, 2019, 07:54:37 PM

Weird. Never heard of nor experienced that problem. Keep us posted?

Butch · **Reply #6 on:** February 17, 2019, 08:17:24 PM

You can try washing all the oil out, then pickup some lapping compound powder. Put it in the joints & work them, but be careful it takes off extra metal faster than you might think.
Almost any machine shop would have it,

Fuzzbucket · **Reply #7 on:** February 17, 2019, 10:10:48 PM

Quote from: Butch on February 17, 2019, 08:17:24 PM

You can try washing all the oil out, then pickup some lapping compound powder. Put it in the joints & work them, but be careful it takes off extra metal faster than you might think.
Almost any machine shop would have it,

What an excellent piece of advice.

BerkshireHunter · **Reply #8 on:** February 17, 2019, 11:04:06 PM

I would say that compared to the cellidor 91mm’s, the large alox knives generally have a bit stronger spring tension. I thought the same thing when I got my first Pioneer and it now has perhaps the weakest pull of my collection.

But you get used to it and they break in a bit over time.

If one tool is particularly stout, you angle your finger nail to avoid mishaps. You can learn some techniques to help open nail-nicks with a strong pull.

McStitchy · **Reply #9 on:** February 18, 2019, 12:03:25 AM

I second what BerkshireHunter said

Additionally the Soldier & Standard Issue models seem to have even stronger springs/snap.

I sometimes use the other thumb to even the burden. But for a strange reason I like it