Extrema Ratio RAOII Review continued...

Ok so now I've had the Extrema Ratio RAOII for over a week now and getting to really know it. I have to say I really like this knife and it is of course an evolution of the existing RAO models and evolution is what Extrema Ratio is about, evolving existing models rather than trying to totally re-invent the wheel.

Here's what I think so far.
This region (two images below)

End view showing well lubricated surface end of tang and roller bar
 locking mechanism from the Extrema Ratio RAOII

Side view of Extrema Ratio RAOII showing protruding knife tang

show the end view and the side view of both the roller lock (kind of axis lock if you think the axis is now perpendicular to the blade axis) could be designed slightly differently. 

Why do I say could be designed slightly differently??

Ok so those that carry folders, no matter what make or model, will be aware that all of those moving parts are required to be nice and clean and well lubricated in order for the folder to work properly. I mean look what happens if you let your Swiss Army knife (generic, please don't comment that there is no such thing etc) get clogged up with grime. Yep , you have trouble opening and closing it.

So this brings me to the point of the RAOII, it too, like any folder can be subject to this but in a slightly different way. Any sand or small grit or small stones etc that find their way into the roller region (where you can just see that small spring), is going to interfere with the workings of the locking mechanism.

Roller lock (Axis type lock mechanism (Torx head and spring area)

For the RAOII to work properly and smoothly it is necessary for both surfaces of the protruding tang and that of the roller to be smooth and remain undamaged. Having the tang protrude past the grip seems to place it in a position now to get a damaged surface should the knife be accidentally dropped onto this end. Something which is not impossible during normal use. Having the 6082 handle scales protrude just past the exposed tang would help to:

 A) Protect this region against physical damage, should the knife be dropped against a stone or other hard abrasive surface.

B) Adding more material   (by removing less material during machining) might possibly serve to increase the overall strength of this already beefy folder. We are talking about a very small weight increase by doing this, something which would be negligible for a already weighty (but not heavy) folder.

C) With the tang exposed like it is, I'm going to get oil on my fingers and or clothing every time I grab for this knife and maybe when I'm putting it into my pocket instead of the sheath. (this can be more convenient sometimes).
Also these two actions only serve to remove lubricants from this area and that's not what you want to do as you steel in contact with steel.

By the way I'm using high quality Mountain biking oil for lubrication, (the stuff you put on your chain) doesn't attract dirt and mud, designed for high surface pressure use, works like a dream too.

D) Less likely to get rubbish into this region. The caveat being maybe more difficult to remove rubbish from this region? But I don't think so.

Also I'd like to remove the knife from the lanyard end but this is not possible as the sheath is asymmetric when carrying the RAOII in the folded position. Why do I want to do this? Well if I have a small lanyard loop I can remove the folded knife quickly and more securely as I'm less likely to drop it if I have a finger or two through a lanyard loop.

If you carry a folder and know your knives then basic maintenance comes as routinely as carrying a knife.

Ok here is an update 19/6/2015

After two weeks of solid use of the RAOII there was the ever so minutest play in a sideways motion. Absolutely nothing in terms of movement but I'm fanatical about this, especially in such a heavy duty folder. I carefully removed the small locking screw (it's held in by some sort of thread locker) and adjusted the main pivot so there was ZERO play in the blade, then applied a very small amount of LOCTITE 243 medium strength thread locker material. If you decide to do this sort of maintenance DO NOT use Loctite 2701, otherwise you will never be able to adjust things again. 243 is perfect for Aluminium and stainless steel coated ( as in this case via the anodizing ) or uncoated, it resists some organic oils etc as well if the threads are slightly contaminated, which could happen if you are a bit clumsy applying lube to your main pivot.