can you bend a steel lock bar without tempering it?

[johnnytoxin]

I have bent many titanium lock bars on frame and liner locks adding more tension to the spring in order to fix lock rock/slip. I know steel lock bars are tempered at the factory to produce the spring. Can you add tension to the spring without tempering it? Just bending it by hand?

 

[dkb45]

Steel is easier to bend by hand than titanium, so yes you can. Steel takes an adjustment much easier, though, so take it slow and don't try to do all of the bend at once.

 

[Cereal_killer]

I only have 2 steel frame locks, one (a kershaw shallot) has never needed any adjustment but the other (an ESEE Zancudo) needed to be bent out for less tension and I tried several times and each time I bent it so far it felt like it was going to snap but there was no change in its springiness. I eventually gave up and just started using the knife as it was till it loosened up over time.

 

[blame it on god]

You can bend it, but I would use a length of pipe. Both as leverage and to keep the lock bar from bending into an arc.

 

[eKretz]

If it's hardened above 40 Rc you will most likely snap it before it will take a set (bend). If it's properly spring tempered it is quite likely over 40 Rc.

 

[johnnytoxin]

Thanks guys. I bent it over just a tad and it seems to have worked.