Displaying Knives in Open Position

howieareyu · Aug 31, 2010

Hi to All

I started collecting about 7 months ago. I'm just starting to fill some displays that I have won in auctions.

I have a question -- Will displaying knives with the blades in the partially open position weaken the backsprings? Will it reduce the snap?

Thanks for any input on this! Howie

aggiebuilder2003 · Aug 31, 2010

I think the general concensus is that over a long period of time that the spring steel will weaken somewhat. That being said I am sure we have all purchased knives that were store display, etc that still snap like alligators. I honestly believe that some patterns are more apt to weaken than others, but if you asked me to name them off I couldn't readily do it. I collect stockman pattern knives and have displayed them both partially open and closed with no adverse affects, however I do try to keep them either fully open or closed. Hope this helps, if not, someone else will point you in the right direction. Welcom to the club

!

Chuck

thawk · Aug 31, 2010

Good reason the bust those clam packs loose.

Larry303 · Sep 1, 2010

I am yet to be convinced that it weakens the springs...even though I have seen it stated it could....knives like those I*XL collectors I just put up have now been opened or partially opened since 1980 and I have numerous other examples 30 odd years they've been like that..I am yet to find even one knife that I consider has a weakened or even broken back spring or that does not have near its original walk/talk. I NEVER open all blades straight out at the same time i.e. both blades fully open at the one bolster end as that would really be asking too much of the knife...That is my experience but I know there are those that say it will or must weaken the knife...I just havn't seen it myself....in maybe a few thousand Schrades....Hoo Roo

howieareyu · Sep 1, 2010

This is VERY GOOD news!

A few thousand Schrades and no noticible trouble - I knew I picked the right brand to collect. After all, why collect these beauties if you don't display them?

Time to fill some displays (and get a camera) Thanks - Howie

orvet · Sep 1, 2010

Having repaired a considerable number of Schrades as well as other brands, I have seen too many knives with weak snap.
However the cause of the weak snap (often referred to as a weak spring) is invariably the result of wear. Either wear on the end of the spring itself where the round end of the tang rubs or even more frequently the wearing down of the round end of the tang to where there is no cam action left on the tang.

I have yet to work on a knife where I could definitively say, the spring is weak due to being displayed in the open position.

However, being the cautious sort of fellow I am, I prefer to have my knives completely closed or completely open.
That is just me.

Dale

howieareyu · Sep 1, 2010

Thanks to Chuck, Thawk, Larry and Dale for the insight.

Ya know, the heck with it. Sounds like chance of problems developing are slim to none.

We don't collect these babies to fill drawers or storage boxes. They should be displayed - at least for conversation's sake.

Certainly any more comments are welcome.

Very Cool guys - Thanks!! Howie

TLARbb · Sep 14, 2010

Larry303 said:
I am yet to be convinced that it weakens the springs...even though I have seen it stated it could....knives like those I*XL collectors I just put up have now been opened or partially opened since 1980 and I have numerous other examples 30 odd years they've been like that..I am yet to find even one knife that I consider has a weakened or even broken back spring or that does not have near its original walk/talk. I NEVER open all blades straight out at the same time i.e. both blades fully open at the one bolster end as that would really be asking too much of the knife...That is my experience but I know there are those that say it will or must weaken the knife...I just havn't seen it myself....in maybe a few thousand Schrades....Hoo Roo

If a knife is properly made to begin with, the springs are not deflected more with both blades on a spring fully open than they are when the blades are closed. now partially opening both blades on a single spring is going to stress the spring more than any other configuration and I don't recommend doing that. As long as one of the blades on the spring is fully open or fully closed, then you can do anything you want with the other blade and it will not be stressed more than it would normally be subject to during a normal open/close cycle.

The backsprings on these canoes are in no more stess than when the knives are closed as there is no deflection (backsprings are flush with the liners in both positions).

Again, if the knife has half stops and is properly made, there will be no extra stress on the springs when the blade is in the half stop position like the Case Sway Back Jack above.

When you get into partially opening both blades on a single spring as shown in the followning picture is when you are putting more stress on the spring than you should and this is not good practice. It is not uncommon to see knives displayed in such a state, however, and I've been guilty of doing it myself as this photo can attest.

The canoe in this picture is being mistreated by opening both blades partially at the same time.

Ed

howieareyu · Sep 14, 2010

ED -

Thanks for your excellent presentation. I see the situation with the one-spring canoe. And the extra benefit of having 1/2-stops beside the fact they are just plain cool.

Most of my collection are 1-blade folders and multi-blade multi-spring folders.
So my exposure to the 1-spring 2-blade combo will be limited.

I do like to see the 4-blade congress pattern showing off all the blades and that would be problem, I guess - with only 2 springs.

So - I think I can fill the 2 displays I have without too much worry about overstraining the springs.

HOWIE

TLARbb · Sep 15, 2010

Howie:

On the congress pattern you have two blades on each spring. Displaying by opening the long blade on each spring fully and then the other two blades to half position should not be particularly hard on the springs. Not at all if the knife has half stops.

For example this two blade oddball half congress has half stops on both blades, so it is happy in the position shown here.

And this little bitty 4 blade Fight'n Rooster congress with half stops is likewise comfortable in "full strut" as shown in the following picture:

Just don't make it a practice to display knives with two blades on one spring with both ends of the spring deflected simultaneously. As far as damange is concerned, loss of spring tension over time is probably not as likely as a broken spring (which probably would occur while moving the blades rather than at some later time).

Just think about what you are going to do and you should be fine.

Ed