Replies to This Discussion

KnifeMakerPermalink Reply by CaptJeff Saylor on May 16, 2010 at 14:00

ok me first..... a gentleman gave me a pocket knife today he got at a yard sale for $.25. it does not have handles, and the blades are very badly worn, and rusted. i plan on fixing this knife, and will be my first "repair" job.

Here is my question:
the backsprings are very worn, and the blades open very easy, but almost fall back closed. is there a way to get the "snap" back into the springs? can these be bent, and how do you do that? is the metal worn, and causing the problem? what am i to do here?

thanks guys,
Captain Jeff Saylor
CJS Knives

KnifeMakerPermalink Reply by CaptJeff Saylor on May 16, 2010 at 14:07

Here are some pics of the pocket knife i got....

Permalink Reply by Slade Ingram on May 16, 2010 at 14:09

Usually when the springs lose their snap, it is caused by worn pins or wallowed out holes in the blades or springs. Two ways to go. First, and easiest, is to drill all holes out to next larger pin size, or secondly, weld up holes and redrill and use original sized pins. To take knife apart, use a thin blades kitchen knife, and drive blade into frame (between blade and liner) and shear the pins. then proceed with repairs.

KnifeMakerPermalink Reply by CaptJeff Saylor on May 16, 2010 at 14:12

cool Slade, thanks for the advice! i never thought of the pins bieng worn! i plan on replacing them anyway, so that might do the trick! awesome!

In MemoriamPermalink Reply by D ale on May 16, 2010 at 18:39

Jeff .. if you can post pics of the knife dis assembled .. close-ups of the pivot area .. that'd help bunches !! also, if possible, keep pics throughout the repair process .. helps the next guy/gal .. :)

KnifeMakerPermalink Reply by CaptJeff Saylor on May 16, 2010 at 21:11

no problem Dale i will do. ill post them on here when i get to them.

Permalink Reply by Terry Waldele on May 17, 2010 at 2:21

Hi CaptJeff,
I like your idea of starting this discussion, but humbly suggest that its title might give folks the idea that you personally have a question and need some advice. May I suggest that you change the title or add a subtitle to it, something like:
"YOUR iKC HELP DESK - This is the iKC HELP DESK for Knife Repair, Modification, Restoration and Improvement - your iKC discussion board for asking knife-related technical questions, answering them, and giving advice to those seeking it." (The wording is your choice, of course.)
Just food for thought. Maybe I'm being picky, but that's what retired engineers do.

KnifeMakerPermalink Reply by CaptJeff Saylor on May 17, 2010 at 16:34

its always good to get the opinion of others. it really gives you an outside view of a situation. i appreciate your advice Terry, and i have changed the name a bit. i hope you like it!

Permalink Reply by Terry Waldele on May 17, 2010 at 17:23

OK, here's my situation: I restored an old 2-bladed, slip joint pocket knife, replacing a blade in the process, but now that the restoration is complete, the main blade (the clip blade) is too tight, hard to open and has very little snap. One of my references advises either (1) wiggling the blade back and forth, or if that doesn't work, (2) lightly tapping a "slacker" (very thin spacer) in between the tang and liner, and if that causes the end(s) of the pin to pull into the bolster, I'll have to refinish the bolster. (Groan....)
My question is this: Does anyone know any other way to loosen up this blade? Could I use some kind of abrasive grit to reduce the thickness of the blade and/or liner and loosen the blade up that way? Or, is there another method available?

In MemoriamPermalink Reply by D ale on May 17, 2010 at 18:01

Terry .. use with extreme caution !!!!!

..valve lapping compound will do it .. available @ automotive stores .. get a little in the slip joint action .. wk the action (open/close) a bunch of times .. till it loosens up ..

.. now here's the hard part .. getting the valve lapping compound removed .. flush it in a solvent .. something that will not harm the scales ..

I've used this to loosen the action in a Frost Cooperlock .. it was "break a nail" stiff before hand ..

Permalink Reply by Terry Waldele on May 17, 2010 at 19:18

Hey, Dale,
Thanks for the tip on using valve lapping compound, and for warning me about the solvent. From my own experience, choosing the right solvent can present a major problem in itself. Thanks again!

Permalink Reply by Slade Ingram on May 17, 2010 at 21:29

I've had good luck with aerosol brake cleaner. Just hold it out in the open and flush the heck out of it.

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