Blade tip of Traditional Folder has slight bend - is it possible to straighten?

V

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I've got a nice old German made Jack knife with horn handles but it looks as if both blade tips were once used to pry something or perhaps loosen a screw. I've gently tried hammering and even applying some light pressure by holding the very tip in a vice. It is so springy, my attempts have had little effect. I'm afraid that any more force will simply snap the blade.

Has anyone had any success with a similar situation?

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Ed
 
No photos of just the tip... slight bends at very tips like they used it on a screwhead...
The bend is not just at the blade cutting edge but the entire width at the tip - I'm just afraid to apply any more pressure.


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Somebody else might have a better idea -- but I'd just sharpen the bent tip away..... did it on an older knife I had once, since worn out.
 
You can't straighten it by bending it straight. You will have to overbend it past straight so that it springs back straight.
 
Bill DeShivs said:
You can't straighten it by bending it straight. You will have to overbend it past straight so that it springs back straight.
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Thanks Bill, you've done this without breaking the tip off? I've pushed beyond straight, just not far enough to straighten it I guess. I'm thinking it might be a pretty fine line.
 
It's a very fine line. Good luck, and make sure you are bending exactly the opposite of the existing bend or you will have a wavy blade.
 
I would try using a ball peen hammer and an anvil - with the convex portion facing up, tip into the anvil and tang raised very slightly, then striking with the ball to try to get the force to hit in exactly the right place - I did that once before and it worked but it required some luck and probably weakened the tip.
 
I've been straightening mildly bent blades and tips on all the beater kitchen knives I get for sharpening. I'm mostly not scared of hurting them because I almost can't make them worse! :P Plus I can always grind a new tip if necessary. What was said just above is definitely correct: You have to bend WAY past straight in order to overcome the "spring back". I'm almost always surprised how far I have to go. I've had varied success: Sometimes I get it almost perfect. Other times I bend at the wrong spot and end up with two smaller bends (a wave as stated above). Other times I just can't seem to apply enough force and just "unbend" it some, leaving it straighter than it was, but not entirely straight. I'm still learning this. Hell I'm still learning sharpening too! :)

Murray Carter uses just his hands and a flat surface to unbend some blades. For others he shows a jig that is essentially a couple of 2x4s with slots cut into them. You might make yourself a little slot jig and see if that helps.

Good luck.

Brian.
 
fishface5 said:
I would try using a ball peen hammer and an anvil - with the convex portion facing up, tip into the anvil and tang raised very slightly, then striking with the ball to try to get the force to hit in exactly the right place - I did that once before and it worked but it required some luck and probably weakened the tip.
Click to expand...

I tried the ball peen, convex up, over a hole in a steel plate so that both the tip and oposite side of bend were supported. Bounce was incredible. I may revisit this with the anvil as you suggested - thanks.
 
bgentry said:
What was said just above is definitely correct: You have to bend WAY past straight in order to overcome the "spring back". I'm almost always surprised how far I have to go.

Brian.
Click to expand...

Yes, thanks Brian - I just have to overcome that voice in my head saying "Any more and this is going to snap!"
 
My brother in law give me an old solingen hunter that had a bent tip and a hammer and a block of wood was used to straighten it, but I tried the same on a schrade stockmans bent clip blade that a friend had and the tip broke on the first lick .The german knife wasn't stainless and the Schrade was.
 
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