Assisted Opening: OPEN OR CLOSED

N

nottoosharp

Joined
Apr 7, 2011
Messages
32
A quick thought. I have many assisted opening knives in my EDC rotation. I've been leaving them open when not in use. I think this will lessen the tension of the spring and reduce "memory" of the steel. I not sure if this works.
I hope knife designers or engineers will chime in.

Thanks N.T.S.
 
A spring should not develop any memory as long as it is not extended or compressed outside its intended range. Assuming that the mechanism was designed properly, it should not matter how you store it (open vs. closed).
 
Welcome to the forums. It really doesn't matter either way. Mine are open because of the way I store them. Keeping them closed does not matter as they sit in the factory packaging, many times for years, in the closed position and work just fine when used. The manufacturers would not package them closed if it was an issue. The ones that are clam shell packed are open so you can see the whole knife.
 
Here's a for instance. I have a Nitrous Stryker, that uses two torsion bars cut out of the liners. I also have a Kershaw Leek and Rake also utilizing a single torsion bar, (spring). I have to believe over time the metal will (train) or be subject to memory of this position. The circular spring maybe not so much. (Barrage, Aegis, Twitch, and so on.) Like I said I'm not an Engineer. And I apreciate the input. Thank you also to the welcome to the Forum!

N.T.S.
 
I do this too, and it is better for the spring. In the open position, the spring isn't bent at all, whereas it is in the closed position. I know Kershaw has recommended that you store their knives open.
 
automobiles, train engines, dump trucks, etc rest and ride on springs

springs are fine for years under compression as long as things are designed and built properly
 
From what I understand and what I have experienced (mostly with shotgun magazine springs), It is the constant compression/decompression of a spring that is the cause for the most degradation of it.
 
OldSarSwmr said:
From what I understand and what I have experienced (mostly with shotgun magazine springs), It is the constant compression/decompression of a spring that is the cause for the most degradation of it.
Click to expand...

Exactly.

Dont worry about loading a spring, but some springs may fatigue over repeated cycles.

The life of a torsion bar is measured in cycles, not years.

If we want to make the answer more complicated, read the following:
All metal has a "modulus of elasticity" (aka Young's Modulus), which means you can deflect the metal to a certain point without permanently deforming it. If you dont push your spring past the elastic limit (yield point), you have nothing to worry about.
what you are afraid of is something called "elastic creep" which typically happens to non-ferric metals. If the spring is iron or steel and you store your knife outside of a furnace, you have nothing to worry about.

dont worry about it.
 
The question gets asked frequently in the Automatics forum and the concensus is that it does not matter.
More importantly, the opinions of those who repair and/or deal with even older knives (some stored closed for decades) has also been that it does not matter.
 
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