Can a back lock be converted to slip joint?

[fast14riot]

I have a cheap little Gerber back lock I found at the shooting range that someone ran over and broke the plastic handle. Everything was still attached, but I wouldn't consider it safe to use as is. So I am thinking about making it into a slip joint using the same lock bar. I have some ideas about how to modify the mechanics of it, but am curious about how or if I would need to temper the lock bar or just completely re-HT it? This is nothing more than a test for an idea and this little knife seems to be a good candidate for it.


-Xander

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

If you grind off the tooth on the end of the spring ( where it fits into the slot on the blade), there will no longer be any way to engage the lock slot on the blade. The knife will basically be a slip joint then.

 

[fast14riot]

If you grind off the tooth on the end of the spring ( where it fits into the slot on the blade), there will no longer be any way to engage the lock slot on the blade. The knife will basically be a slip joint then.

yeah that's the basic way, but I am going to have to completely rehandle this knife and am removing the spring that pushes on the inside of the lock bar. This knife is all plastic with no liners. But would I have to temper the lock bar to give it some spring when I relocate it to put pressure on the tang without the tooth being there?


-xander

 

[Bill DeShivs]

If you remove the spring, the spine won't work. You would have to anchor it in the handle. Why not just leave the spring where it is?