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vintage English soldier's pocketknife

I recently picked up a couple of these pocketknives and plan to clean and make them usable for everyday carry. I own probably ten of these things (see the clasp-knife in the link below, not the bayonet) and none of them are easy to use; all the accessories are just too hard to open. I have used penetrating oil, 3-in-one oil, silicone grease, frog-lube... lube doesn't work. I've put an open blade in my bench-vise and bent the knife back and forth on the plane of the pin, trying to spread the side panels apart to loosen the blades. The main blade didn't loosen appreciatively; the sail-ripper broke off at it's haft. I drove a scrap blade between the knife blades to spread the parts on the pin. None of this helped.

Does anybody have any suggestions to make this knife a pleasant, useful, easy-to-open tool for the pocket?

---Bryan OShaughnessyhttp://http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/162278505341?lgeo=1&vectori...

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Replies to This Discussion

In MemoriamPermalink Reply by D ale on November 19, 2016 at 14:44

Bryan .. I can't get the link to work .. can you post a pic ???

Permalink Reply by Derek Wells on November 19, 2016 at 15:10

Bryan, like D ale I cannot get the link to work.

A stab in the dark but considering everything you have already done it seems the pivot pin could be tight in the blade and the back spring is perhaps exerting too much pressure on the blade. One of these or a combo of both is most likely the issue.

Dismantle and smooth all the parts up is probably the best option.

Derek

In MemoriamPermalink Reply by D ale on November 19, 2016 at 15:31

Bryan .. I suggest using the "LINK" feature @ the far left of the toolbar @ the top of this comment box. Otherwise .. the link gets truncated & becomes unuasable. If you were to respond with just the word .. link .. then highlight that word & activate the link feature of the toolbar .. then cut-n-paste the actual link into the indicated box .. the result will be usable.

IF .. the blades have been well used ..&.. not properly lubricated .. galling between the mating of surfaces of the blade & backsping will occur .. causing a situation such as you describe. However .. it is unlikely to occur on all of the blades in the knife ..because.. not all of the blades usually see that much use.

I would agree with Derek ... sounds like the pin was struck too many times in the peening process ..&.. is now simply too tight. Like Derek .. I would suggest dismantling the one that already has a broken sail ripper & post pics of what you find.

D ale

In MemoriamPermalink Reply by D ale on November 19, 2016 at 15:41

Sheffield-SHE023-British-Army-Clasp-Folding-Knife-2-5-034-Blade-4-034-Closed

I believe this ..or.. something quite similar .. is what you are referring to.

Is this correct ???

I have a couple "similar" knives.

They are an absolute bear to open.

The spring tension is simply unbelievable.

Permalink Reply by John Bamford on November 19, 2016 at 16:01

I was told that these knives are always hard to open , never had one myself so I don't know if that is true . I never fancied one cos they were all over the place when I was young , usually covered in paint and rust . They had likely been WD issued in the last war .

Permalink Reply by john6553 on November 19, 2016 at 20:12

They are made that way. All of my sailing knives are not easy open. Nevertheless, they are awesome knives. They're well made. They are one of my most favorite folder styles.

Permalink Reply by Bryan OShaughnessy on November 19, 2016 at 22:24

D ale: Thanks for the explanation for adding links; next problem I have, I'll use your advice.

Yes, this is the knife I'm fighting with..er, trying to improve. I can't imagine the usefulness of these knives to soldiers/sailors in the British Commonwealth services. They are impossible to open, even with a blade lifter; I'm using pliers to move the blades while cleaning/sanding file-marks off the badly sharpened blade/polishing the metal surfaces. The weight and shape of this knife is a worthless addition to the burden a soldier must carry, besides being useless in a battlefield situation. Why do I find these tools so cool???

Thanks for all the suggesions and advice. I will disassemble the damaged knife and formulate an opinion about how to improve the function; but not too soon; I cut my hand---twice!---trying to open the fid and then the sail ripper. Both substantial puncture wounds! ---Bryan O

D ale said:

I believe this ..or.. something quite similar .. is what you are referring to.

Is this correct ???

.

I have a couple "similar" knives.

They are an absolute bear to open.

The spring tension is simply unbelievable.