eliminating blade play with swindon pins

[davek14]

I just went to a yard sale today and got (what I think is) a good haul. I look for old Schrades for users. I got 2 180T's fairly spotted, a Camilus electricians knife, and a 340T with a broken main blade for 10 bucks for all.

I wanted the 340T to be my new at work beater. Upon beginning to clean it up I found that the bolster was fairly spread on the side with the main blade causing a lot of side to side blade play. Whoops, maybe not such a good deal after all. I guess there was a reason the main blade was broken!

I have found the smaller Schrades to be easy to find at good prices but not so much for the medium size models like the 340T. I kinda wanted the 340 for a beater. Soo...

This knife has the swindon pins I guess. How do I fix the side to side play without disassembly? I smacked it with a hammer on an aluminum block carefully and it eventually tightened some. Is this temporary? I don't mind final appearance, I just want a good user.

 

[thawk]

The 33OT has two blades, same frame and main blade as a 34OT. It also has a small pen blade. I don't think side play is always easy to correct. You should be able to find a nice 34OT or 33OT on Ebay for a very reasonable price. One that functions correctly with not much use. It should last for nearly a lifetime with careful use. This forum is not the right place to ask for trading.

 

[Codger_64]

The Swinden pins do not effect blade play. They just hold the bolsters onto the liners, IIRC. Some members have fixed these knives but I believe it involved cutting the pins to reveal the blade pivot pin (a seperate pin). I've disassembled a 897UH without cutting the pins, though it has been some years ago. If I remember right, I pushed up on one bolster and down on the other. This unlocked the keys. But you also have to drive out the spring pin which has a spun head. And have to replace it when done which involves compressing the spring. Long story short, pick up another knife on the cheap that doesn't need repair. Or use that one the way it is.

 

[davek14]

The Swinden pins do not effect blade play. They just hold the bolsters onto the liners, IIRC. Some members have fixed these knives but I believe it involved cutting the pins to reveal the blade pivot pin (a seperate pin). I've disassembled a 897UH without cutting the pins, though it has been some years ago. If I remember right, I pushed up on one bolster and down on the other. This unlocked the keys. But you also have to drive out the spring pin which has a spun head. And have to replace it when done which involves compressing the spring. Long story short, pick up another knife on the cheap that doesn't need repair. Or use that one the way it is.

I took the knife to work and layed just the bolster on a metal surface and smacked it hard with a hammer. Smacked it to where a normally pinned knife would be too tight to open. It has little play now and is just a bit hard to open. We'll see how it lasts.

Man, Schrade carbon steel is great. I've got a knife I payed $2.50 for that cuts like the dickens. I don't care if it is ugly as homemade sin.