Folder longevity

[MikeC]

I would like to hear some evidence about personal experince with folder longevity. Don't care if its a lock blade or slip joint, etc. I want some real world testimonials about how long real world using folding knives have been in operation and are still going strong.

I think with todays technological advances in materials and workanship that the all of the component parts, i.e. handles, screws, pins, thumb studs, clips, blades, etc will for outlive the mechincal aspects of the knife, i.e. the lock are at the point where the knife folds.

My evidence is my grandfathers old slip joint stockman imperial I think. Knife is 60 years old and is still functioning, even when open there is very little blade play either horizontal or vetical.

I could be wrong but I'd bet some of the high end stuff coming out today with proper use and minimal maintance/care could last for a century even if used heavily as an EDC.

Let it rip.

 

[psy-ops]

Spyderco Delica 3 EDC 1998-2007 (Still have)
Spyderco Delica 4 EDC 2007-2008

Simply Indestructable!

The clip keeps it from getting lost.
unclipped folders slip out of my all the time.

Had a Benchmade AFCK that has been sent back for repairs and still is not up to par. I EDC'd that from 1995-1998.

 

[cdf]

If you know how to sharpen - in other words dont remove excessive metal , and clean and lubricate , and dont do anything stupid - a very long time . I have seen SAK from before WWII , still good , but with minimal play . There are quite a few Buck 110s from the late 60s still kicking around .There a fair number of pices that have been used since the sventies , still in service today . The newer stuff should if anything be better . Adjustable pivots are now common - should help with play . Handle materials like G10 and Ti should outlast wood , horn , stag , and celluloid of old . Bronze washers and bushings , combined with modern pivots should help .

YMMV

Chris

 

[godot]

A while ago I bought a bunch of old Buck 110s on eBAY. One of these was from 1974 and it's owner had pimped it with finger groves. This guy was not a master craftsman. He butchered it. The knife was then used for a number of years. This is not a safe queen, but the lock still works fine and it looks as though it has several years left.
Yeah I think a century for modern folders is possible.

 

[psy-ops]

I forgot to mention that both Spydercos are in perfect working condition.

Locks are great!
no wiggle
bolts working fine.
clip is slightly loose on Delica 3 but locktite took care of that.

 

[s.c.]

I would like to hear some factual evidence not ANECDOTAL (spellin?) evidence about personal experince with folder longevity. Don't care if its a lock blade or slip joint, etc. I want some real world testimonials about how long real world using folding knives have been in operation and are still going strong.

I hate to be an ass, but real world personal experience/testimonials is almost the definition of anecdotal evidence.

I'm sure most of my knives would last a lifetime. As a chronic knifesturbator, some of my folders have been forcefully flicked opened and closed almost a hundred times a day. If the intened use of those knives was to be opened just a few times a day, I'm sure they'll last for quite some time.

 

[cdf]

Something like a Sebenza would depend on how many cycles to fail for the frame lock ( basically a spring . Cant comment , Im no metalurgist . A Bali a la Benchmade would last damn near forever with a few drops of oil . With an SAK , Im sure Victorinox could tell ya how many cycles to fail on their pins an backsprings . They have machines in their labs that test this kind of stuff . Cliff Stamp might give you a few good ideas .

Chris

 

[Scott Dog]

I have a Buck 110 that my uncle gave me. Knife was purchased in the early 1970's. He worked as a lineman for I think 30 years. It's beat up and poorly sharpened, but very functional.

 

[wutitiz]

I have wondered about the longevity of liner locks and frame locks, which as noted above are just springs. Any engineering types out there who could shed light? I like to store liner locks in the open positiion, since when closed, the spring is compressed. Am I being overly anal?

I wonder if eventually the liner/frame lock will eventually be made obsolete for that reason, and also because it is not truly ambidextrous, and because it appears to be difficult to make a perfect one.

 

[rossab]

I still have my 1969 Buck 110. Doing biological work for a fish and wildlife agency, I cut open the chests of about 100 deer over a period of several years - that means cutting the ribs away from the sternum, slicing through the cartilages, not to mention removing heads and forelimbs. Some hard cutting work, I'd say. The blade hinge and lock are still tight as new. The blade itself is more like a stilletto from all the sharpening, though. It's in honored retirement. I wonder how well today's designs would hold up to that kind of treatment?

 

[knarfeng]

I hate to be an ass, but real world personal experience/testimonials is almost the definition of anecdotal evidence.

I'm sure most of my knives would last a lifetime. As a chronic knifesturbator, some of my folders have been forcefully flicked opened and closed almost a hundred times a day. If the intened use of those knives was to be opened just a few times a day, I'm sure they'll last for quite some time.

Anectotal = "I know somebody who says that their knife lasted ..."

Real world = "my knife has lasted."

Speaking of which, I've got a Buck 303 that I bought in ~'80. It was my only EDC for quite a few years. I still carry it on occasion. It's still good. I've got a Buck 110 that my parents bought me in the late 60's. I've carried it camping for years. Still works good.

 

[s.c.]

Anectotal = "I know somebody who says that their knife lasted ..."

Real world = "my knife has lasted."

Speaking of which, I've got a Buck 303 that I bought in ~'80. It was my only EDC for quite a few years. I still carry it on occasion. It's still good. I've got a Buck 110 that my parents bought me in the late 60's. I've carried it camping for years. Still works good.

That's actually a common misuse of the term "anecdotal evidence." As soon as you tell me, "my knife has lasted," that becomes anecdotal evidence. All the replies in this thread are examples of anecdotal evidence, not one reply involves scientific evidence. Until a reply involves a rigorous, quantitative study such as how many opening/closings a knife can take or how much pressure a knife can take before failing (in numbers, not 'my knucles were white from gripping so hard!'), etc..., its all anecdotal.

It seemed the original poster was, in fact, looking for anecdotal evidence: first hand accounts of what some of their personal knives have gone through.

 

[smitty0331]

I have a Boker 4 blade congress from 1988 that, now only gets occasional use, but there is absolutly no blade play at all.

 

[Absintheur]

These are a few of my older knives, most were passed down from my grandfather to my father to me...and I am 49. My family roots are German on my father's side. My grandfather was a coal mine engineer in Kentucky, my dad was career military, they both took care of their tools. These knives are all still tight, sharp, and a few in my EDC rotation.

The two Barlows on the left were my first knives...they are about 40 years old. The other belonged to my grandfather or my dad...they probably span back 60-70 years. The KutMaster Hawkbill on the right is probably the oldest, estimated 80 years old as it has my great-grandfather's initials carved in the wood handle. It is still sharp as a razor and tight as a drum. I would point out these are all good quality knives...I do have others that were cheap hardware store brands that haven't held up as well. The Soddie and the Ka-Bar are the youngest...both purchased in the 70's.

 

[renomaverick]

Done!

 

[Lycosa]

CDF, was on the mark, too. It depends on the knife owner and how the knife is cared for. There is way too much, unnecessary knife abuse going on today. With proper care, a knife can be used for a long time and even handed down. FWIW---I just ordered a friction folder because there are no locks to wear down.

 

[coffeecup]

I would like to hear some factual evidence not ANECDOTAL (spellin?) evidence about personal experince with folder longevity. Don't care if its a lock blade or slip joint, etc. I want some real world testimonials about how long real world using folding knives have been in operation and are still going strong.

Heavy use, i.e., as a "work knife" that often requires sharpening on a near-daily basis:
-Vic Classic: about 18 months and I always lost at least one handle scale by then.
-Schrade 194OT: blades usually last about 2 years (hold an edge better than the Vics), usually have a bit of wobble by then.
-Opinel (carbon, a #6 or #8 IIRC) lasted about a year before the handle broke
-the Gerber 500 in my pocket as I write this has lost about 1/8"-3/16" off the edge in the few years I've carried it as a rough-use knife, and the lock never did work right.
-TL-29 when used by framers/rough carpenters as a utility knife would usually last a season (but those guys tend to sharpen on belt sanders). A number of electricians told me the TL-29 was good for about ten years but you'd lose it first . . .
-according to a cousin who lives in northern Canada, a Buck 110 is good for about 5 years use at most.

Back when I trapped heavily, I figured a Schrade or Camillus trapper was good for one season before the blades were worn away. The old retired whittlers I learned to carve from said it took a year to get a blade the way they wanted, and the knife was worn out in another year.

But honestly, most folks today don't use a knife enough to wear one out.

 

[cdf]

Some of the old timers use pretty abomanible sharpening methods , and the steels werent the greatest . I wouldnt let my fatherinlaw anywhere my stuff . We all assume that oldtimers knew what they were doing , someid , others less so .

I have an English pocket knife of pre WWII vintage , belonged to my Grandfather , a carpenter . He sharpensd on hard Arkansaw stones - minimal blade ware considering age . Others reduce a blade to a sharp toothpick in less than 5 yrs .

Alot of oldtimers also were no well healed and had very poor sharpening equipment .

Chris

 

[Lurker]

I have and use my Grandfather's 2-bladed jack that is about 75 years old. It is a Ward's brand and was inexpensive with scales of a jigged plastic material, probably Bakelite. It was the only pocket knife he ever owned, and owned it for the majority of his adult life and he carried it always and used it daily including in his construction trade. He was the kind of guy that if anyone ever needed anything cut, his jack knife would quickly appear to handle the task. It shows a tremendous amount of blade wear and has minor side to side blade play but is still completely functional. Obviously, abuse can ruin any knife quickly, but used properly, this knife lasted for a lifetime of regular use and that is with no really modern materials. I would guess any modern knife would be able to do that easily. I have an alox SAK that has seen almost daily light use for 8 years and is still in virtually new condition. I don't think I could wear one out in a couple of lifetimes without abusing it.

But like anything, it is not so much the years that wear something out, but the amount of actual use. I guess a butcher or other tradesman who uses a knife all day long could wear out a knife far faster than the typical knife collector. And a composite handled knife without liners may not stand up to wear as well as a more robust design. But without heavy use, I think many modern knives of reasonable quality could easily last generations.

 

[mnblade]

Spyderco Delica 3 EDC 1998-2007 (Still have)
Spyderco Delica 4 EDC 2007-2008

Simply Indestructable!

I forgot to mention that both Spydercos are in perfect working condition.

Locks are great!
no wiggle
bolts working fine.
clip is slightly loose on Delica 3 but locktite took care of that.

Does it really strike you as surprising or even notable that a knife that's 10 years old is still in perfect working condition?

I mean, my grandad's old bone handled Robeson barlow lasted him for decades of hard use. Given that, as a sometime customer of Spyderco I can tell you that, given all the technological and design advances touted by Spyderco and other modern knife manufacturers, I fully expect my Spydercos to be capable of lasting years and years and years of hard use as well. I'd consider anything less a disappointment.