AG Russell Lock Really Tight!

[L8Tagain]

A vendor that I have known for some time recently gave me this knife. He had sold it and the customer brought it back due to being too tight to unlock. Using two hands it is still very hard to unlock. It was not like this when I used to handle it, before he sold it. He gave it to me, but I would really like to fix the problem, if possible, and give it back to him. The only thing attempted so far is some oil, and that did not help.

So, any suggestions would be appreciated. I do not want to take it apart because I don't think I could return it to its current pristine condition.

I recently fixed a lock-back, but it wasn't locking. This is certainly locking.

Thank You.

[Dinadan]

If it was working properly before, then it sounds as if something is down in the blade well jamming the spring. Maybe a session in a sonic cleaner, or a bath in some gun solvent? I do not recall ever having a lock back go from normal to very hard.

[Railsplitter]

IMG_E1613.JPG

A vendor that I have known for some time recently gave me this knife. He had sold it and the customer brought it back due to being too tight to unlock. Using two hands it is still very hard to unlock. It was not like this when I used to handle it, before he sold it. He gave it to me, but I would really like to fix the problem, if possible, and give it back to him. The only thing attempted so far is some oil, and that did not help.

So, any suggestions would be appreciated. I do not want to take it apart because I don't think I could return it to its current pristine condition.

I recently fixed a lock-back, but it wasn't locking. This is certainly locking.

Thank You.

Mister Russell had some of his models made with a coil spring for the lockbar instead of a leaf spring. If yours has the coil spring, you will probably need a flashlight to see it because it’s way down at the butt of the handle just below the lock release.

Check to see if yours has the coil spring and if it does, shoot some lubricant directly on the spring. Maybe blow it out with compressed air first in case something is lodged in the spring.

[L8Tagain]

Thank you for the replies. I'm going to start with cleaning and go from there.