Case Whaler knife--won't open all the way ???'S

Fish30114

Fish30114

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Jan 5, 2014
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I recently acquired a Case Whaler knife, it is in great condition overall, but the knife won't open all the way. I'm seeking advice/experience on how to remedy this issue.

Any input appreciated.--Thanks--Don

 
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An 'overhead' pic of the backspring-to-blade contact point would be helpful. Hard to tell if it's an issue of the mechanism being bound or blocked by debris, before the blade tang meets the spring end, or if it's just due to the blade tang being ground in such a way as to inhibit full/straight opening, when contacting the end of the backspring.


David
 
This is a pic with the knife open as far as it will go.
Sorry for poor quality--pic up

 
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Is there a gap between the backspring and the blade's spine? I'm thinking there is, but I'm not sure if I'm just seeing shadow in the area where the two meet. Even if you have to back up a bit with the camera, a more focused pic under bright light should illuminate the junction between them.

If there's an obvious gap between the spring end and the blade's spine, there's likely some debris stuck in the mechanism of the pivot, maybe between the inside face of the spring and where it contacts the cam of the blade tang. If so, usually the only way to free it up is to repeatedly exercise the pivot (open & close) while flushing it out in soapy water, or with WD-40 or similar.


David
 
David, appreciate the help. There isn't a gap, the blade is all the way against the backspring and won't open any further. You can see in the pics how it is stopped short of being 'even' with the spine of the knife.
 
Fish30114 said:
David, appreciate the help. There isn't a gap, the blade is all the way against the backspring and won't open any further. You can see in the pics how it is stopped short of being 'even' with the spine of the knife.
Click to expand...

OK. I think that might be a classic example of (albeit severe) 'underblading' in a folder, when the lines of the blade spine & spring won't be straight when fully open. Some designs do it deliberately to add some leverage in draw-cutting; this rope knife pattern may be an application for such design, but I don't know. Might also be a re-bladed knife with a poor fit (not matched up well to the spring). It's sometimes possible to gently grind some of the tang away, in order to make the blade extend more straightly when open. The backspring will drop somewhat in doing so; is yours raised above flush, to the handle? Might be room for it to drop some, if so.


David
 
It definitely is sitting above flush on the spine. I am thinking of how I would get at the tang to file it down a tad? Really appreciate your help--

Did you get an e-mail or two I've tried to send you through the site?
 
If the backspring sits flush with the blade closed, it will sit below the liners closed when you file it down.
 
Fish30114 said:
It definitely is sitting above flush on the spine. I am thinking of how I would get at the tang to file it down a tad? Really appreciate your help--

Did you get an e-mail or two I've tried to send you through the site?
Click to expand...

I've filed down the tang on one of mine (Case Peanut's clip blade) by positioning the blade at about 1/3-1/2 open position (used a wine cork laid sideways, with the blade's edge stuck into it, to hold the blade open and support the knife in the appropriate position), then using a diamond Fine 'credit card' hone to file the contact face on the tang. The hone is thin enough to work in that tight spot, and it doesn't take much time to remove enough material to make a difference. Hard to say if you can remove enough, without severely 'sinking' the spring below flush. But, if you do just a little at a time and keep checking and re-checking the position of everything, you'll get a feel for how much needs to be filed away.

I haven't checked my BF email account as often as I probably should, so I'll take a look for your emails.


David
 
Thanks David, I've decided that I have to do something it feels like it could close on me with just a bump--probably won't, but that's how far it feels like it's not open!

Hope you find my notes.
 
Shorten the blade spine first, to let the knife open further. Then worry about the backspring. You could probably just sent it to Case.
 
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