Edge and Pin Contact

[Thomason]

Got a new slip joint. There is a spot on the blade edge that I believe is coming into contact with the center pin when the knife closes. Not bad but enough to bug me greatly.
Home remedies would be appreciated.
Thanks

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

With new knives, a common remedy is just to sharpen the blade a couple or three times. Usually, the little bit of metal removed from the edge is enough to eliminate the problem, after a sharpening or two. Some real poorly-constructed knives can't be helped this way, but most decently-made folders will respond to it. How much metal needs to come off, is dependent on how hard the contact is. Worst case, the blade actually rests against the inside of the backspring, on the pin 'hump'. A less severe case, and more commonly seen example, is when the edge makes contact only if the blade is allowed to snap closed, and it over-travels and 'bounces' on the backspring. In a case like that, it usually only takes a sharpening or two, to eliminate the problem.

 

[Thomason]

With new knives, a common remedy is just to sharpen the blade a couple or three times. Usually, the little bit of metal removed from the edge is enough to eliminate the problem, after a sharpening or two. Some real poorly-constructed knives can't be helped this way, but most decently-made folders will respond to it. How much metal needs to come off, is dependent on how hard the contact is. Worst case, the blade actually rests against the inside of the backspring, on the pin 'hump'. A less severe case, and more commonly seen example, is when the edge makes contact only if the blade is allowed to snap closed, and it over-travels and 'bounces' on the backspring. In a case like that, it usually only takes a sharpening or two, to eliminate the problem.

Thanks, David, that is exactly what I did. A good sharpening starting with a coarse stone to remove some steel, a tiny bit of leather stuck down in the "trough" for the kick to land on but not enough for the point to rise above the handle when closed, for good measure a little filing on the pin hump with a jeweler file, and finally no snap closing.

Whew, I feel much better now. That tiny ding on the edge was driving me mad, simply MAD I TELL YOU!

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

Thanks, David, that is exactly what I did. A good sharpening starting with a coarse stone to remove some steel, a tiny bit of leather stuck down in the "trough" for the kick to land on but not enough for the point to rise above the handle when closed, for good measure a little filing on the pin hump with a jeweler file, and finally no snap closing.

Whew, I feel much better now. That tiny ding on the edge was driving me mad, simply MAD I TELL YOU!

For me, it was sort of unfortunate, the first time I started 'noticing' this issue. It's much, much more common than I was originally aware (even on some multi-hundred-dollar customs), and has become one of my 'pet peeves' about things that are inexcusably wrong with new knives. Most of the time, it's relatively easy to fix as I mentioned. I do have a couple of really bad ones, though, in which the blade edges actually do rest against the backspring/spacer when closed. I noticed it when I picked one up one day, and was lightly squeezing it in my hand, sort of habitually. I could actually feel the edge grinding against the backspring, which really started my blood boiling.