Butterbean pen blade VERY difficult to open

[91bravo]

I bought my son a black bone red Case logo Butterbean about a month ago for his tenth birthday. The action on the pen blade was very stiff. I have cleaned and oiled it many times, but the blade keeps getting harder and harder to open. I about rip my thumbnail off to get it open. Needless to say, my son ended up slicing his finger open trying to open this pen blade. The blade snaps back very crisp and loud, but very difficult to open. Is this normal or should I send it back to case?

 

[L. Richard]

See http://www.knifeforums.com/forums/showtopic.php?tid/827326/post/1582313/#1582313

To exercise the blade you need to open it only about halfway before closing it again. You may need to leave the other blade completely open in order to get a good grip op the pen blade. The first few times open and close it under hot running water in order to clean out the pivot. White Lightning pivot lube is another good way to clean out the pivot. Unless the problem is a hopelessly stiff back spring, this 'exercise' should help.

Richard

 

[jackknife]

See http://www.knifeforums.com/forums/showtopic.php?tid/827326/post/1582313/#1582313

To exercise the blade you need to open it only about halfway before closing it again. You may need to leave the other blade completely open in order to get a good grip op the pen blade. The first few times open and close it under hot running water in order to clean out the pivot. White Lightning pivot lube is another good way to clean out the pivot. Unless the problem is a hopelessly stiff back spring, this 'exercise' should help.

Richard

I'd probably send it back to Case. There's no reason for a knife to be a nail breaker.

I think too often some companies or individual craftsmen working for the knife companies, go overbooard in the walk and talk thing. Smoothness of fit and finish are the important thing. To me, Victorinox is the standard of fit and sring strength. Its rare a Vic will be a nail breaker. I remember the pocket knives of my youth, and those that were too hard to open were not purchased. Of course in those days the local hardware store let you try a few of the ones you were going to buy. The advise of our older mentors was, beware of hard to open knives. If its hard to open in the store, what's it going to be like out on a cold day in the woods, or with wet hands.

Good walk and talk can be had without overkill spring pressure. Handle a Victorinox pocket pal, or an old Bertram era Hen and Rooster, and compare. Don't let a knife company, even Case, get away with selling deffective knives. Once the thumbnail is in place, the blade should pull smoothly open without alot of resistance, hesitate very briefly about 3/4 open as you pass the outside tang corner, then snick open with a distinct sound. That butterbean sounds like a poorly fit knife, and should be brought to the attention of Case.