Case Bose Wharncliffe Trapper - strange issue with spring

S

socalmarine

Joined
Apr 25, 2010
Messages
23
Hello,

I have one of these Case / Bose collaboration knives - one of these limited run knives that come with the brown zip up case. Anyhow, very pretty knife, looks great and my first experience with a Wharncliffe style blade, which I do like. This knife, on the main clip blade, was a nail chomper from the get-go. Very stiff, but had a good snap to it. I figured it would just ease up with time and use, plus I primarily found myself using the Wharncliffe blade more than anything.

I have had this for about a month now. Today I pocketed the knife, and during lunch I figured I would work that clip blade back and forth with some mineral oil. I was doing this at my desk, just opening and closing. Well, at some point, the blade sort of 'seized up', and now it closes very... I don't know how to put it. Like mushy and thick, absolutely no snap. If it was stiff before, man it feels like it'll take my nail straight off to open it. So what happened here? Did the spring just die on me?

This was a rather expensive knife... like I said, it is a beaut, especially seen in person, but function hasn't been the best compared to my cheapies. I haven't used it hard by any stretch - literally a guy in a cubicle opening and closing the knife, then bam - it is like pushing a blade through frozen molasses (does molasses freeze?).

By the way, the Wharncliffe blade is fine - opens and closes with snap and no issue there. Any you guys know what may have happened? I know it is kind of a tough question to pose without you having the knife in hand. My bet guess is there may have been weakness in the spring(?), and it just gave out. I dunno though, I am not really knowledgable enough to say. I figure I'll package it up and ship it for warranty service, pending advice. Curious if it is something like a bad spring, if that is easily fixed? I don't know if it is something they can replace, as I think these were limited run deals.

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socalmarine said:
...If it was stiff before, man it feels like it'll take my nail straight off to open it. So what happened here? Did the spring just die on me?...

...My bet guess is there may have been weakness in the spring(?), and it just gave out. I dunno though, I am not really knowledgable enough to say...
Click to expand...

If the spring gave out then it would be much easier to open, not more difficult to open. Is there something stuck in the well?
 
Not that I can see - awfully tight to begin with, so I don't know how anything could have got in there.

You make a good point though. I didn't really know how to explain the issue. I wasn't sure if the spring bent, or it would just stiffen for some reason? I guess the best option is to send it in and have the Case folks check it out. Hopefully it isn't anything too serious.
 
Since it occurred in an instant and not over a period of time, you may want to examine the spring with a loupe to see if there's a hairline crack.
 
Sounds like something is either lodged between the tang and liner or where the pin goes through the tang. Unless you see something in there and think you can get it out, stick with your plan to send it to Case and let them figure it out.

That's a mighty fine looking knife, by the way.
 
I'm going to say that you definitely should send it to Case and let them handle it. That's a collaboration knife and you don't want to do anything to it other than what you have done. They'll fix it. That's a sweet knife.

Ed J
 
I've had this happen with my Case/Bose Coffin Jack. It was like this when I received it. I think the tolerances are so close that it takes time to flush the crap out. Sounds like some of the gunk inside broke loose from the oil and got lodged in the bushing. Use the mineral oil and fill the joint....be generous with it. Work the blades back and forth. You'll notice the oil turning black as it comes out of the joint. Just keep wiping this away and keep applying fresh oil. When the oil changes to a light grey color, wash the joint out with hot water, working the blades. Dry the knife and oil the joint again. It will go away.

Watch your fingers! You will get oil on them, the knife, blades, etc, so the knife will obviously be slippery.
 
Jsega51 said:
I've had this happen with my Case/Bose Coffin Jack. It was like this when I received it. I think the tolerances are so close that it takes time to flush the crap out. Sounds like some of the gunk inside broke loose from the oil and got lodged in the bushing. Use the mineral oil and fill the joint....be generous with it. Work the blades back and forth. You'll notice the oil turning black as it comes out of the joint. Just keep wiping this away and keep applying fresh oil. When the oil changes to a light grey color, wash the joint out with hot water, working the blades. Dry the knife and oil the joint again. It will go away.

Watch your fingers! You will get oil on them, the knife, blades, etc, so the knife will obviously be slippery.
Click to expand...

Do what Jake says and if you have an Air Compressor and Safety Glasses to wear , blowing the joints out will speed up the process.

Harry
 
Jsega51 said:
I've had this happen with my Case/Bose Coffin Jack. It was like this when I received it. I think the tolerances are so close that it takes time to flush the crap out. Sounds like some of the gunk inside broke loose from the oil and got lodged in the bushing. Use the mineral oil and fill the joint....be generous with it. Work the blades back and forth. You'll notice the oil turning black as it comes out of the joint. Just keep wiping this away and keep applying fresh oil. When the oil changes to a light grey color, wash the joint out with hot water, working the blades. Dry the knife and oil the joint again. It will go away.

Watch your fingers! You will get oil on them, the knife, blades, etc, so the knife will obviously be slippery.
Click to expand...

Old Engineer said:
Do what Jake says and if you have an Air Compressor and Safety Glasses to wear , blowing the joints out will speed up the process.

Harry
Click to expand...

Good advice ! I was thinking debris before I scrolled down to the bottom. Working more oil into the joint and just working the blades won't void a warranty either. ;):)

It that does not take care of it, send it in. They keep a computer file and can cut any part for those knives, whenever they need to. The parts are wire cut, with computer programs controlling the cuts. ;)
 
kspaz said:
Since it occurred in an instant and not over a period of time, you may want to examine the spring with a loupe to see if there's a hairline crack.
Click to expand...

That would be my first thought...the spring has a hairline crack on the inside, it will feel like it's seized up at some point..then break.
 
With a knife in this price range and the lifetime warranty provided by Case ,I would return it and I bet they send a replacement .
 
It can be some lint got trapped in the walk.
Worst, if you used the wrong oil or some sand/dust gunked into the walk, the spring/tang could have been galled (galded?) and that would be bad news.
To remove debris use wd40 (thin and penetrative) and air compressed, then re-lube with a good oil; stitching or other machine oil, whale's spit and the like, not the ubiquitus "mineral oil" that it is just a laxative, has low antifriction power and it's a gunk promoter.
 
stezann said:
It can be some lint got trapped in the walk.
Worst, if you used the wrong oil or some sand/dust gunked into the walk, the spring/tang could have been galled (galded?) and that would be bad news.
To remove debris use wd40 (thin and penetrative) and air compressed, then re-lube with a good oil; stitching or other machine oil, whale's spit and the like, not the ubiquitus "mineral oil" that it is just a laxative, has low antifriction power and it's a gunk promoter.
Click to expand...

I and a fair number of other have good results with mineral oil. All oils are "gunk promoters" if you use too much.

I've used Case warranty and repair service for Case Bose models. It was excellent. I received my knife back (express shipping) on the same day I received the post card telling me it had been received at the factory. Pretty good :)
 
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