Caribbean Adjustment?

[DBCajun]

Hey folks, got my new Caribbean in yesterday. Really like it. I noticed that the scales have a little play in them to an audible degree. I’m assuming the screws need tightening? What should I do to fix this? Get a torx set and tighten? Thanks for your help.

[wrdwrght]

Get a torx set and tighten. That set will serve you for other Spydies, too.

[Coastal]

Hey folks, got my new Caribbean in yesterday. Really like it. I noticed that the scales have a little play in them to an audible degree. I’m assuming the screws need tightening? What should I do to fix this? Get a torx set and tighten? Thanks for your help.

Yes, tighten them. Weird that they're loose.

Which Caribbean did you go for? I'm betting the plain-edge leaf.

Wiha makes a great Torx set, btw, but any of them will do.

[DBCajun]

Hey folks, got my new Caribbean in yesterday. Really like it. I noticed that the scales have a little play in them to an audible degree. I’m assuming the screws need tightening? What should I do to fix this? Get a torx set and tighten? Thanks for your help.

Yes, tighten them. Weird that they're loose.

Which Caribbean did you go for? I'm betting the plain-edge leaf.

Wiha makes a great Torx set, btw, but any of them will do.

I got the plain edge leaf.

I was thinking of just overlooking it, but feel like it shouldn’t be doing this so I thought I’d ask. Not trying to be an obsessive over-analyzer. What if I tighten it and it persists? Would it be better to return it and exchange for another?

[Coastal]

If it persists, I'd use blue Loctite on the screws.

[DBCajun]

Update (if you’re interested): I returned the Caribbean. I dropped the knife on my living room carpet and it came open. Not a knife I can see on a boat or in a camping environment. You’re on the bow of the boat and it falls and slides to the back while open? You’re rigging something overhead at a campsite and it falls and opens as your kid is helping you? Granted, these things might not happen, but they certainly could. It just wasn’t safe enough for me. That, plus the loose scales and black discoloration on the inside of one of the scales and I had to let it go. The grip was also slick east-west. For the price those things shouldn’t have existed. Beautiful design. Really liked that blade and all that cutting edge right up to the handle. I’d certainly buy one if it had a safer mechanism. Back to the drawing board…

[greyshrike2]

I purchased a Caribbean in Feb 2024.
Pressing/holding the handle firmly caused a clicking sound (specifically from the LH scale only).
I could tighten the hardware enough to stop the noise, but only after making the pivot extremely hard to close. All screws were tested at various tensions. Note loctite was applied from the factory and by myself.
Ultimately, I fixed it by adding a small drop of superglue between the nested G10 and metal liners on the LH scale.

[R100]

Update (if you’re interested): I returned the Caribbean. I dropped the knife on my living room carpet and it came open. Not a knife I can see on a boat or in a camping environment. You’re on the bow of the boat and it falls and slides to the back while open? You’re rigging something overhead at a campsite and it falls and opens as your kid is helping you? Granted, these things might not happen, but they certainly could. It just wasn’t safe enough for me. That, plus the loose scales and black discoloration on the inside of one of the scales and I had to let it go. The grip was also slick east-west. For the price those things shouldn’t have existed. Beautiful design. Really liked that blade and all that cutting edge right up to the handle. I’d certainly buy one if it had a safer mechanism. Back to the drawing board…

Hello DBCajun, any compression lock knife is likely to come open if you drop it. The best way to avoid this is to buy a lockback - they have strong self closing bias. Probably the best alternative to the Caribbean would be a Siren which is also in the Salt series and has an LC200N blade with similar length of cutting edge. This version has been discontinued but is still available. Here is a link: https://www.bladehq.com/item--Spyderco- ... ck--102051 .

People will have varying opinions on this but I think the Siren is a better knife than the Caribbean. Have a look and see what you think.

Here's a photo of mine accompanying me on my last desert motorcycle trip.


Dan

[SaltyCaribbeanDfly]

Update (if you’re interested): I returned the Caribbean. I dropped the knife on my living room carpet and it came open. Not a knife I can see on a boat or in a camping environment. You’re on the bow of the boat and it falls and slides to the back while open? You’re rigging something overhead at a campsite and it falls and opens as your kid is helping you? Granted, these things might not happen, but they certainly could. It just wasn’t safe enough for me. That, plus the loose scales and black discoloration on the inside of one of the scales and I had to let it go. The grip was also slick east-west. For the price those things shouldn’t have existed. Beautiful design. Really liked that blade and all that cutting edge right up to the handle. I’d certainly buy one if it had a safer mechanism. Back to the drawing board…

Hi DB, yeah the detent is too weak on the Caribbean so I made some adjustments to strengthen it and spent hours modding the scales for a better grip but it still doesn’t get as much pocket time as it would were it a backlock…still one of my favorites though and I’ll never sell it…you might wanna try the Siren as mentioned above or maybe a Pacific in lc200n…the knife that is currently my favorite large folder is the Stretch lw salt (H2 SE)…idk how you feel about serrations or H2 but they’re hard to beat

[DBCajun]

Thanks Dan and Salty. The Siren looks interesting. This’ll be mainly my surf fishing and camping knife. I 100% plan to dunk it in salt water to wash it out as I’m cutting bait. I started off with a Stretch 2 XL, but wasn’t wild about the side-to-side flex. But after looking at all the options, I probably should have stuck with it. I wish it was offered in LC.

What do you guys think about VG10 or other steel for salt water use if rinsed once I get back from the beach?

Edit: I’m interested in the SE after everything I’ve read regarding its durability in H1/2. But I saw Surfgringo mention that he likes PE for cutting braid, which it what I use. Maybe I can keep a line nipper separate from the knife for line cutting.

[DBCajun]

Do y’all think a Tenacious or Resilience could survive surf fishing if I rinse it after the trip?

[xnmw]

Do y’all think a Tenacious or Resilience could survive surf fishing if I rinse it after the trip?

I’d stick to the salt line for that kind of use. I think you’d get spotting and rust if you’re out there for hours with the seawater drying on the blade and hardware. I’d go for a lockback, maybe serrated like the others said. Some deals to be had lately

[Doc Dan]

That clicking sounds weird. If you take the scales off and lay them flat on the table and press, is there still a click?

[Wandering_About]

Get a Stretch XL Salt or Pacific Salt in H1/H2 and you'll be doing great. LC200N will also work just fine. Pick plain edge or serrated based on your sharpening experience or preference. I did have a Siren for a time and the stiffness of the G10 scales was a plus, for me, but Spyderco's FRN handles are very tough despite any flex.

[DBCajun]

Hey Doc,

I didn’t fool with trying to fix it. I didn’t think it was appropriate to mess with it then return it, so I left it as it was before sending it back. It was probably just loose scale screws, but if it was something more I wouldn’t know how to fix it. If I moved the knife back and forth in my hand there was an audible clicking sound, more pronounced to the rear of the scales. If I pinched a scale screw with the thumb and forefinger of my left hand, and wiggled the knife with my right hand, there was definite movement I could feel around the screw. So probably loose screws. But, if it was a poorly drilled hole or something, I didn’t want to get in the weeds with it. Though some Locktite probably would have sorted it out. Regardless, the safety factor also influenced my choice to return.

[DBCajun]

Get a Stretch XL Salt or Pacific Salt in H1/H2 and you'll be doing great. LC200N will also work just fine. Pick plain edge or serrated based on your sharpening experience or preference. I did have a Siren for a time and the stiffness of the G10 scales was a plus, for me, but Spyderco's FRN handles are very tough despite any flex.

Yeah, I think you’re right. Stretch 2 XL seems like the most cutting edge bang for the buck in the Salt line. I probably jumped the gun worrying about the flex. I’ll likely order the Stretch.

[Wartstein]

Get a Stretch XL Salt or Pacific Salt in H1/H2 and you'll be doing great. LC200N will also work just fine. Pick plain edge or serrated based on your sharpening experience or preference. I did have a Siren for a time and the stiffness of the G10 scales was a plus, for me, but Spyderco's FRN handles are very tough despite any flex.

He already had the Stretch XL Salt but did not like the slight side to side play (see here viewtopic.php?f=2&t=96161&start=20#p1768818)

@DBCajun:

- I just would ike to assure you again: A Pac Salt or Stretch XL Salt is a really strong knife and will not cause you ANY problems even if bearing down on it and despite you perceive that slight play

- A backlock or CBBL just has a better closing bias (and stays closed more firmly) than a comp.lock or linerlock by design...(one of several reasons why the backlock is my favorite one and the CBBL a close second)

- So, my new recommendation for you... Manix 2 LW Salt
+ Magnacut (very rust resitante)
+ Yes, linerless like the Stretch Salt or Pac Salt, but feels a lot more solid (FRCP feels somehow harder than FRN and every CBBL I tried so far locked the blade super solid and blade play free)

- Since the Siren got mentioned: Great knife, but discontinued, so you´d have to look around.
And: In a tight hammer grip the blade can get a bit loose and rattly (yes, also in the improved second version)

[Wartstein]

Get a Stretch XL Salt or Pacific Salt in H1/H2 and you'll be doing great. LC200N will also work just fine. Pick plain edge or serrated based on your sharpening experience or preference. I did have a Siren for a time and the stiffness of the G10 scales was a plus, for me, but Spyderco's FRN handles are very tough despite any flex.

Yeah, I think you’re right. Stretch 2 XL seems like the most cutting edge bang for the buck in the Salt line. I probably jumped the gun worrying about the flex. I’ll likely order the Stretch.

Read this only AFTER I posted my reply above!

Good choice, give it another try!!! - The Stretch XL Salt (in SE) is a knife I definitely will get too eventually! (Have the ffg VG10 version already - also in SE of course).