Build a linerlock

Thanks gents

Fast14riot - thanks bud, but the lip-opener isn't actually mine, quite a few SA makers make use of it. The first folder I made (on a course) used it and I loved how it disappeared into the handle resulting in a folder more akin to a fixed blade.

Phil, Jason, Daniel and Matt - thanks gents, glad you enjoyed it.

Aidansdaddy17 - Nutter :D Glad you like it bud.
 
Great work with this WIP, Gazza! And the knife is beautiful, I like the contrast between polished and satin/matte surfaces, it really adds something special.

Btw nice to see how you make your logo, I wanted to ask you about it already :-).
 
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Gareth, thanks so much for inviting us into your shop!
There are many, many great tips and fixtures that I'll be adding into my process.

Here's a little tip, if I may...
One technique that saves quite a few assembly/disassembly cycles is to get the blade lock surface right where you want it, and then assemble the knife without bolsters/scales.
I then bend the lock tab OUT just enough to finish the locking face of the tab with a safe file (using a wood shim to hold it since it's already pretty springy) to avoid scratching the scale...though the surface that would be scratched will be hidden by the scale.
The lock tab is then spring tempered when all is fitted.
I have no idea if this is applicable to Titanium, I'm using all 410 stainless in my liners at this time.
 
Old thread but good one .I m almost done with my liner lock .I work following this thread ,need to find some good looking small bolts .....

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I start another one to ....

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To resurrect an ancient thread, (because it's an extremely high value thread) the ball. I heard the ball discussed, but I never saw where it is installed, and so don't understand what it does.

I also don't understand what makes the lock want to bend inward and do it's job.

Thanks!
 
The ball in a liner lock is the detent for the blade. It's a tiny ball bearing that fits into a small hole in the lock, and when the blade is closed it snaps into a little divot or hole in the tang of the blade and holds the blade in the closed position, using the springiness of the lock to hold it in place. As far as the lock bending inward, when you bend a piece of metal beyond a certain point, it takes a "set" and wants to stay in that position and will continue to spring back to this position when flexed unless it is bent back the other way far enough to straighten it back out. With a liner lock the lock bar is bent inward and the handle scale on the lock side prevents it from being overextended in the other direction, so the lock bar will continue to favor an inward movement, thus snapping into place behind the blade tang whenever the blade is open.
 
Thanks, Scott, reading back over the thread, I realized that my chances of getting an answer from a banned author are low.

Have you got a picture of where the ball goes in the lock?
 
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I think I see, now. I was hoping for a shot of the installed ball.

The ball is pressed into the hole being drilled in the last picture of post #28? What keeps it there?
 
Here's a pic of a detent ball in place. You can also see the corresponding hole in the blade to the left. I think the ball is kept in place by drilling a hole that's just a half a hair smaller and then forcing the ball in to the depth you want it, so it's held by friction. I'm not 100% certain, but I think that's how it's generally done.

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Thanks! It makes perfect sense, now!

When you disassemble a finished knife, can you get the ball out, or is it being held in place?

I suppose if the hole were small, as you suggest, and you used a hydraulic jack as a press...
 
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