Does the blade edge hit the frame?

D

darkdomino

Joined
Oct 23, 2011
Messages
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I've got a couple pocket knives, specifically some Cold Steel Recon I and Kabar Mule heavy folder...and there's always something I've wondered:

When you close the blade on a folding knife, specifically a lock back, it often snaps shut with some force. Does the edge of the blade hit the back of the frame? Would opening and closing your knife repeatedly do damage to your blade or your frame?

This is probably a really dumb question, but I don't know much about knife mechanisms.
 
No and no. By design, so not to worry - only opening and closing repeatedly can cause hand fatigue.
 
It causes very minute wear on the lock mechanism only. You might see a small line on the blade tang ricasso area where it contacts a pin on closing.

In this photo of a Voyager it is the middle pin, in between the stop pin and the lockbar pivot pin.

6310354930_ae286db87e_z.jpg


Here on a Mini Recon 1 you can see the blade come to rest on the middle pin that is satin/natural finish.

6947522274_71ffeba8a8_c.jpg
 
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No, the blade edge doesn't hit the handle, so no it won't damage the blade.
The knives hit a stop pin, so they don't go too far one way or the other.
But the knife rests well in the handle with no damage to the blade.
 
It depends on the design of the individual knife in question. Some, like the Buck 110, can snap shut with enough force to let the blade strike the lockbar, spring or spacer, which will flatten the edge at the point of impact. Others, like those shown here, are designed to prevent that. It just depends on the lock geometry.
 
I think the folks have answered your question(s). No, the blade edge does not hit the back of the frame.
Yes, occasionally, you might have a knife where one side or the other of the blade will rub on one of the scales as it closes...and remain there when closed. This is a problem of misalignment only and can usually be "fixed." If nothing else, send the folder to the manufacturer and ask them to repair the blade centering problem.
 
The worst culprits I've found are large slipjoints like sunfish and "grandaddy" barlows. Also Cold Steel's older non-Tri-Ad Voyagers in the larger sizes. As Bubba and Goosey amply illustrated, this is physically impossible on a Tri-Ad equipped knife.
 
I was very disappointed w/ a Case SBG that had the same issue. Since I got it as a user, however, I have just put it to
work and have had no problem other than the annoyance of crummy QC.
 
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