ALL THINGS BUDGET KNIVES

I have an EL01B and it’s lock is flawless, maybe the liner gets too far or build tolerance made for a stiffer fit, in which case maybe it could use some light (and I mean VERY LIGHT) grinding…?

I bet Steve has better answers, I think he’s da man as knife tweaking goes (kudos!).

Based on peoples reviews in this thread, I ordered the spyderco hungarian replica. Wow. I am not disappointed. For the price-point, that is a flawless, well put together, and RAZOR sharp knife. Can’t beat it for the money as far as I am concerned.

My el01 first gen (3 points on the pivot screw) grey colour blade is easy to disengage, without problems. My unique knife than it is really HARD of unlock is my enlan el08, it is a beast, but you must move the frame lock a lot and it is hard, to much hard.

Try to apply some graphite (ie pencil) on the locking surfaces. That usually works at frame-locks.

I stumbled upon this EL01 variant:

^^^^^^^^^^^ 8steve88, where are you? you know you have to have this EL01 Variant also.. :D

Couple of problems with that, I’d like to see the blade in a better set of photos - printed Damascus is getting really good. I’d like to know what steels were used. The product described in the directories read - Home>Store Home>Products>Butterfly fridge magnet.
The real kicker is both in the leader and the product description as an Enlan EL-01D - that model already exists as a satin blade and rosewood scales. There is so much that can go wrong on a Damascus liner or frame lock, if the lock face has been cut before etching and not been masked the lock would be very poor. That having been said, if more stores offer them for sale, Exduct and FastTech for instance as well as a couple of others, I’d give it a go. AliExpress satisfaction guarantee is a good thing.

Edit……………Who am I kidding I want at least one, double up on the ones I already have and buy one with a Damascus blade to swap the blades into all the variants, that’s not crazy, is it. :money_mouth_face:
Still be cheaper than a Medford. :bigsmile:

As isti already mentioned, graphite will stop it sticking, it is sometimes a problem with the black coated blades, not only on Enlans but SanRenMus as well, some knives are no problem, some stick. Keeping the lock without graphite will bed it in quicker but graphite will make it easier to operate, a good writing on with a pencil will be fine.
If that doesn’t seem to be working then slacken off the pivot, open and close a couple of times. Tighten until the blade swings free but is free of play, there is a sweet spot there somewhere. Try adjusting the pivot with the blade closed - if that doesn’t work well then try it with the blade open.
All this is assuming that there are no obvious burrs or coating left on the tang, most of the problems I’ve had has been with coating on the linerlock or framelock bar.
Even if you do nothing it will get better with use.
Just a thought but flipping the blade out really fast and hard does engage the lock very tight sometimes when broken in as well as new.

Ooh. Is this one large enough?

That’s a 35cm blade and 77cm open length.

It makes my Espada XL look small, indeed at 14” it’s the same length as my Cold Steel Smatchet machete.

They have a 22cm version too, at a bit more reasonable price.

Typical folder knife from my country!. Well, at ancient times, now it would be illegal (more than 11 cm blade long).
I do not know in english but this type ot knives were called “navajas de carraca o de siete muelles” due to its lock system.

Yes, I ordered this one from that company on eBay and it arrived today. It’s made in China to Spanish design, although I’d love a JJ Martinez Arabe Navaja.

It’s a lovely little knife (10cm).

I don’t know what the steel is, but it is shiny which suggests 420/440 which accords with the way European makers aren’t as steel obsessed as American ones. It’s sharp and very pointy. Mmm, so pointy.

We call them Navaja too.

It makes me laugh when we see people selling their “martial arts inspired folding knife” when they’ve probably never been in a knife fight. The Navaja (in its 15-25cm incarnations) was the weapon of the lower classes, cutthroats and thieves.

The carraca makes the hair on my neck stand up when I open it. Every knife should have that chilling metallic rattle.

Xatu, do you know any Spanish companies that sell the large “fighting” Navajas? I like the Arabe profile (it’s like a folding Bowie).

One with a website that’ll ship to New Zealand would be good.

Really i do not know wich companies can make that old designs, but i can recomend you companies like “muela” and “cudeman” high quality spanish companies, especially fixed knives (Aitor, exposito, nieto… other companies too).

Thanks.

@steve or isti:
I got my orange EL01. It has two white nylon washers - every other EL01 of mine one white nylon washer and a metal one. Which one do yours have?

My torx 7 screw doesn't fit perfect (I ruined my screwdriver a few weeks ago and need a new one, to remove the screws).

One White Nylon one brass like metal. Do you have the means to measure the pivot, I’ve discovered something strange about mine!

If you mean you chewed the end of the torx screwdriver, just file it back some. It might fit better after filing too because they usually get wider further back.

^ Nice tip CRX. I need to remember that one.

Mine arrived with two nylon washers too. It doesn’t bother me because the knife flips quite well right out of the box.

Have you had a look at the pivot pin?