Can This Knife Be Saved?

[Sibyrnes]

I have a pretty nice Case small stockman from the XX era(1940 - 1964)


The problem is that there is blade play and zero snap in the main blade. When opening and closing the knife there is no rise or movement at all in the back spring.



Could the tang or the backspring be that worn from normal use? Broken pin? Also, the blade is so off-centered that it hits the liner on the right side.



What do you think is the cause of these problems and can they be repaired? I plan on contacting Case but I would like to get some feedback from those here with more knowledge of the subject than I. For you guys out there that do this kind of work, what do you think? Is it worth the trouble?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Bill DeShivs]

The tang of the blade is worn down.
The blade can be replaced, if you can find one.
The tang can be welded up and reshaped.
I doubt Case has a replacement blade.

 

[kvaughn]

Glennbad of this forum has done some amazing rebuilds on slip joints for me.
One in particular that was rotten through the liners from celluloid off gassing.

 

[Sibyrnes]

Thanks for the comments so far. It's hard for me to imagine that much wear on the tang, especially on a knife that looks like it was taken pretty good care of. Then again, I don't know the history of this particular knife - for all I know it could have left the factory like that 60 years ago. Bill, your "welded up and reshaped" suggestion is an interesting solution. Is that a unique approach or an established procedure for these situations?

 

[glennbad]

Thanks for the comments so far. It's hard for me to imagine that much wear on the tang, especially on a knife that looks like it was taken pretty good care of. Then again, I don't know the history of this particular knife - for all I know it could have left the factory like that 60 years ago. Bill, your "welded up and reshaped" suggestion is an interesting solution. Is that a unique approach or an established procedure for these situations?

Bill is correct. With the knife closed and pointing away from you like this one pictured, compare the heights of the 2 blade tangs. I think you will find that the main blade that has no snap has a worn down blade tang, when compared to the other blade next to it.



Your 2 options, as Bill mentioned, are to replace the blade or weld the tang to add some material back.

 

[Sibyrnes]

Bill is correct. With the knife closed and pointing away from you like this one pictured, compare the heights of the 2 blade tangs. I think you will find that the main blade that has no snap has a worn down blade tang, when compared to the other blade next to it.

View attachment 2697856

Your 2 options, as Bill mentioned, are to replace the blade or weld the tang to add some material back.

Thank you, but I am not questioning Bill's assessment of the situation, or yours. Makes sense to me. Is this a repair you would be willing to take on? (I have sent you a PM.)

 

[glennbad]

Thank you, but I am not questioning Bill's assessment of the situation, or yours. Makes sense to me. Is this a repair you would be willing to take on? (I have sent you a PM.)

Sorry, no, I don't do tang welding.

 

[Hatchet_Jack]

Bill is correct. With the knife closed and pointing away from you like this one pictured, compare the heights of the 2 blade tangs. I think you will find that the main blade that has no snap has a worn down blade tang, when compared to the other blade next to it.

View attachment 2697856

Your 2 options, as Bill mentioned, are to replace the blade or weld the tang to add some material back.

Under heavy/prolonged use does having a cam tang reduce this wearing over a half stop?

 

[BJE]

Someone didn’t oil their joints!

 

[glennbad]

Under heavy/prolonged use does having a cam tang reduce this wearing over a half stop?

Honestly, that shouldn't really matter if the joint is oiled properly, but I would think cam tangs are more prone to heavy wear, as they are in constant contact with the spring. The half stop tangs may wear more at the corners though

 

[Shappy]

Looks like an old beauty! Don’t think I’d do anything to it!