Anyone else done this modification to make it easier to open

[sceva]

As most know I like small pen knives and while my GEC's are easy to get to the nail nick and open some of the older knives with sunken joints are not. The John Primble I got recently was one of those and it was hard to get the smaller blade open with my short thumbnail. Then I remembered the little Winchester I used to have. The Winchester had a little angled semicirculer cut that allowed the pen blade to be accessed easily.

The Winchester




So I thought why not try that with a Dremel. My result is not as nicely done as the Winchester but the result speaks for itself as I can easily access the nail nick and open it now.

 

[Jack Black]

As most know I like small pen knives and while my GEC's are easy to get to the nail nick and open some of the older knives with sunken joints are not. The John Primble I got recently was one of those and it was hard to get the smaller blade open with my short thumbnail. Then I remembered the little Winchester I used to have. The Winchester had a little angled semicirculer cut that allowed the pen blade to be accessed easily.

The Winchester




So I thought why not try that with a Dremel. My result is not as nicely done as the Winchester but the result speaks for itself as I can easily access the nail nick and open it now.

Those subtle cut-outs are very common on old Sheffield Penknives. You did a great job my friend, well done That little Winchester looks familiar Thanks buddy

 

[jmh33]

To me those cut-outs add class!!
Don’t know why but they do?!!
John

 

[afishhunter]

I've did an angled cut on a couple Barlows, about 2 decades ago, to access the pen blade nail nick. I forget what brand(s) they were. (Sorry. No pictures.)

It is tempting to make a small angle cut on a couple RR pen blade spines to make the primary's nick more accessable.
With my (air quotes) "luck" I would destroy the temper of the primary blade and both back springs if I did ... without touching them with my faux Dremel's grinding wheel.

 

[sceva]

I think they are a throwback to a different more elegant time. When the Winchester was made it was probably second nature to add the cut to make it easier for the user. Later it was likely the victom m of cost cutting figuring most users would never think about it or complain.

 

[Peregrin]

The Case-Bose Norfolk has that notch. No way would you be able to open the clip secondary without it.
Your mod looks pretty well done to me!

 

[Jack Black]

I think they are a throwback to a different more elegant time. When the Winchester was made it was probably second nature to add the cut to make it easier for the user. Later it was likely the victom m of cost cutting figuring most users would never think about it or complain.

The blades sit low in those old Penknives, and the feature is subtle, effective, and doesn't spoil the lines of the knife

 

[birdsbeaks]

This big Winchester Congress has cutouts for the pen blades on both sides. I can dig it.

OK - gotta go clean the dust out of my Congress now...

 

[Jack Black]

 

[euroken]

Not quite the same but a similar concept for better blade access. The modification was done on the 'cover' only to decrease the angle of nail entry into the nick, as these blades have 10+ pulls...nail destroyers!

 

[black mamba]

I added one to this very low sitting spear bladed Queen #06L. No longer mine, but a satisfying mod.

 

[Henry Beige]

That cutout for the nail nick is not at all uncommon. You will see it quite often on modified Opjnels.

Nice jigging on the knife, BTW. I have a Queen Hawbaker ( gift of a forum member) with similar jigging.

 

[Hickory n steel]

Looks great.
I had something with this subtle relief cut but don't know where it went.
It was an old NYK.CO pen with bad celluloid cover that I payed about $10 for a few years back on ebay.

I really like this feature, I hate easy open notches because I've never had anything that really needed it and I don't like the look.

 

[Will Power]

Very handy work, I wouldn't dare try it with my 'skills' This cut-out arrangement is both useful and doesn't detract from the aesthetics of the knife.

As Gary noted, CASE/Bose Norfolk has it for the minor Clip blade-and it's needed as it's a strong spring. CASE also have one on their Humpback Stockman which is a clever knife with near sunk-joints and on the 2 spring Half-Whittlers I believe, also the small 90 model Stockman. GEC's 62 pattern as well.

 

[ZHoovie]

Nice job! Looks well done to me
I think they are nice to have, they bring a nice functional aesthetic to a knife.

Here's a couple of older pics of mine.
This Queen Harness Jack has one on the awl.

This Waynorth also has one.


I know I have more examples just can't think of them at the moment

While not a small nail cut out I did do a full EZ open mod on this single blade Case Trapper.



Just a Dremel sanding drum & filing with some sandpaper to finish up. Measure twice & cut, well grind once

 

[Scotchmon]