A/O Storage

M

mp510

Joined
Mar 20, 2006
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Yesterday, I was at Wal-Mart picking up a couple other items, and popped by the sporting goods counter as I often do (can't resist the urge), and they had some clearance knives available. Picked up a Leatherman Micra ($5), and noticed a Kershaw box. Asked to see it, and it was a gray Speed Safe Scallion for $13 (marked down from ~$35 according to the register). I've been longing for an Assissted Opener, so I bought it and I know I got a good price since even a cheap Chinese AO that will crap out will run that much after shipping. I know I have a good knife, and warranty. Ill also mention that my knife is date coded Jan 04.

I know that switchblades are stored in the open position to avoid spring damage. Will it damage my AO to store it closed, or should I store it open?
 
A kershaw Speedsafe Torsion bar is under no tension when it is HALF open. Neither closed, nor fully open. Blade and Handle at a right angle. However, it does not seem safe to store any knife with the blade exposed.

Jeremy
 
I store my AOs closed without problem, but then, I haven't had them all that long, maybe six months. That said, Kershaw seems really good about replacing the springs anyway, so it probably isn't one of my top concerns.
 
From my experience with kershaw, they will have no problem replacing a worn-out torsion bar at no expence to you. I don't think it hurts the sping anyway, as I have owned a Leek and a Scallion (The Leek having been through a year of day-to-day service and being stored closed with no ill efect on the strength of the sping (actually a torsion bar) at all).
 
To tell ya the truth, I don't think it really matters.

Unless a spring is improperly tempered or badly overloaded, you could leave it compressed for decades without it weakening.

So don't worry about it. :D
 
moving-van.jpg
 
I've had a Kershaw Chive for about 5 years and I always keep it closed when I don't use it. It still snaps open as crisply as when I first got it. In other words, don't worry about it.
 
As long as the spring is properly heat treated, storing it with tension on it is not going to wear it out. It's repeated compression and decompression that wears out springs.
 
yoda4561 said:
As long as the spring is properly heat treated, storing it with tension on it is not going to wear it out. It's repeated compression and decompression that wears out springs.
Click to expand...
Right, and it's not like any of us knife knuts would repeatedly open and close our AO knives, right?

Oh, wait... ;)
 
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