Displaying your slip-joints open - bad?

S

SurfingSalmon

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Jan 11, 2011
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Hello all, I've been wondering this for some time: is leaving your slip-joint half open [say for display] bad for the lock?

pic.png

^ Example: looks cool, but is it bad?
 
If the knife has a half stop, then definitely not as the spring would be under the same tension regardless of position (unless you are in between positions). On a knife with cam tangs, I think it shouldn't hurt the knife. I've read of people trying to ease spring tension slightly by leaving a knife partially open. The spring is going to see the same stress every time the knife is opened, so I don't see why it would hurt it. Obviously, all this is my opinion, which is based upon my engineering background.
 
I wouldn't do it unless the blade had a half-stop. I've heard of too many stories of knives that ended up with lazy springs because they were stored half open.

- Christian
 
I'd say go ahead and display it, but mix it up a bit. Take the knife out occasionally, and work the joints a bit. That'd be a good time to test the feel of the springs. Keep in mind, if the pivot gets gummed up or dirty, it'll often mimic a lazy spring (blade won't snap with the same authority). That actually happens quite a lot, even on clean, lubricated knives with joints that don't get used (knives stored away a long time, for example). The oil will get gummy with inactivity. With that in mind, clean & re-lube the joints regularly. When you put the knife back in/on your display, alter the position of the blades, so one spring isn't always under stress.

I've heard that if a spring is heat-treated & tempered correctly, it should never get lazy or lose it's springiness (or break). That makes sense to me, and it's clearer to see on quality knives with snap that never seems to change, no matter what they're subjected to.
 
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Just to add to the above -

If you're talking about one spring per blade, I think that it's probably less of an issue and you're unlikely to have a problem.

If more than one blade shares a single spring, and you leave them both open for an extended time period, you're leaving the spring under greater tension and I think you're more likely to see after-effects.
 
I've always been hesitant to buy those older old timers that are packaged in plastic with their blades wide open because i can't help but wonder how many years those springs have been under tension.
 
Okay, thank you everyone for your input on this. Yeah, I gave it some thought beforehand and felt like that would be the case with the spring possibly weakening. The folder I have in the picture doesn't have a half stop, so I'll try not to leave it partially open.

Thank you again guys!!
 
There are some vintage Case displays that people have opened up and had the springs break off. Not common, but possible.
 
I had a spring on a Victorinox Swiss army knife break from having all the blades open for the duration of a photo. I also had the same thing happen on a cheapo -- that one I noticed right away. The knife was displayed and I was messing with the camera and then.... POP! I've also seen weakened springs on knives that were displayed with the blades open. Although it might be OK for some knives, I prefer not to leave the blades open on my knives.
 
Adding to what fishinfs said, if you have two blades that operate on the same spring (on different ends) it is a really bad idea to have both of the blades half open at the same time. However, opening one blade all the way and then having the other half open shouldn't hurt anything. I personally wouldn't store my knives half open, but it should be fine for taking a picture.

Frosty
 
I'll add one thing about having 2 blades half-open on opposite ends of one spring. Aside from the stresses on the spring, this can also be hazardous to your fingers. The blades can close suddenly, with some amazing snap that'll cross your eyes if your fingers are in the way. I found that out the hard way, when extracting one of my Case 5-blade sowbellies from it's display tin. As soon as the knife was clear of the molded recess in the tin, one of the blades snapped shut and very neatly clipped 1/4"-wide flaps of skin from the tips of each of my index and middle fingers.
 
Obsessed with Edges said:
I'll add one thing about having 2 blades half-open on opposite ends of one spring. Aside from the stresses on the spring, this can also be hazardous to your fingers. The blades can close suddenly, with some amazing snap that'll cross your eyes if your fingers are in the way. I found that out the hard way, when extracting one of my Case 5-blade sowbellies from it's display tin. As soon as the knife was clear of the molded recess in the tin, one of the blades snapped shut and very neatly clipped 1/4"-wide flaps of skin from the tips of each of my index and middle fingers.
Click to expand...

If only I knew that a few months ago... :eek:! But yeah, these slipjoints are the knives that prick me the most, even more than my balisongs @_@!
 
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