Folder longevity

[znapschatz]

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.

Although not a knife expert (I come to this forum mostly to learn), from a lifetime in photography I know a great deal about cameras, at least those that use film.

Among photographers, there has always been controversy about whether to store equipment with shutters wound or released to reduce tension on the springs. In earlier times, I used to store my cameras with shutters tripped until, eventually, I learned that holding tension on a spring (within reason) doesn't affect its tensile strength. What does is repeated flexing, so it doesn't really matter how a spring is stored but how many times it is cycled (some high end cameras, like Hasselblad, were designed to be stored with the shutter cocked.)

Assuming basic metalurgy applies, likely the same is true with a liner lock leaf spring, which is never put under extreme pressure, anyway. A well made shutter can withstand up to hundreds of thousands of cycles before its tiny spring needs to be replaced, so I imagine it would take a lifetime (or more) of constant use to actually weaken that huge, by comparison, part of a liner lock. Wear on other components would cause problems first.

Therefore, I have no anguuish about storing my knives closed. That said, I don't like liner locks, but for other reasons.

 

[s.c.]

Although not a knife expert (I come to this forum mostly to learn), from a lifetime in photography I know a great deal about cameras, at least those that use film.

Among photographers, there has always been controversy about whether to store equipment with shutters wound or released to reduce tension on the springs. In earlier times, I used to store my cameras with shutters tripped until, eventually, I learned that holding tension on a spring (within reason) doesn't affect its tensile strength. What does is repeated flexing, so it doesn't really matter how a spring is stored but how many times it is cycled (some high end cameras, like Hasselblad, were designed to be stored with the shutter cocked.)

Assuming basic metalurgy applies, likely the same is true with a liner lock leaf spring, which is never put under extreme pressure, anyway. A well made shutter can withstand up to hundreds of thousands of cycles before its tiny spring needs to be replaced, so I imagine it would take a lifetime (or more) of constant use to actually weaken that huge, by comparison, part of a liner lock. Wear on other components would cause problems first.

Therefore, I have no anguuish about storing my knives closed. That said, I don't like liner locks, but for other reasons.

You're absolutely correct. Similar discussions come up in gun forums about keeping magazines loaded for storage. Though it seems counter-intuitive, keeping a spring compressed won't affect its strength. Repeated loading and unloading is the issue. Wutitiz, you're fine keeping the blades open too, however; just don't grab for them in the dark.

 

[2TONYB]

My Dad's Buck 110 has been going strong since 1970. Unfortunately the usage is slowing.

 

[fret]

I have been using a Case pocket knife since 1962. A two blade that resembles but is not a Barlow. Has the jigged bone scales that are brown in color and the blades have lost their chrome and have a rust patina on them. The nickel silver bolsters are worn but still shine. It opens and closed today just as it did when I bought it in 1962. I have used it at work cutting heavy belting for conveyors and boxes and anything else that needed cut. I've never abused it and I've mostly kept it oiled and in good condition. I hope to get a few more years out of it. Not bad for an edc that's 46 years old. I have carried it mostly everyday and sometimes I give it a short vacation but it gets carried and used a lot.

 

[MikeC]

S.C. I have gone back an edited my original post, clearing up my confusion of anecdotal. Also thanks to everyone for the responses very informative, much of what I expected but nice to hear stories about knives actually being carried and used. Nothing wrong with keeping them in the safe or display case and whatnot, just nice to hear info about users.

 

[he who say]

under most peoples normal use, i dont see how you could wear out any knife.

 

[mnblade]

I have been using a Case pocket knife since 1962. A two blade that resembles but is not a Barlow. Has the jigged bone scales that are brown in color and the blades have lost their chrome and have a rust patina on them. The nickel silver bolsters are worn but still shine. It opens and closed today just as it did when I bought it in 1962. I have used it at work cutting heavy belting for conveyors and boxes and anything else that needed cut. I've never abused it and I've mostly kept it oiled and in good condition. I hope to get a few more years out of it. Not bad for an edc that's 46 years old. I have carried it mostly everyday and sometimes I give it a short vacation but it gets carried and used a lot.

Very cool. Got a pic of that beauty?

BTW, you should come on over to the Traditional Folder and Fixed Blade subforum, fret. You're our kind of guy!

 

[db]

Probably my most used edc is a Benchmade Leopard Cub around 15 years old. It still works as well as it did when new, just a few more scratches and the blade is about 1/8 of an inch thinner. It is still one of my edc knives. A CS zydel Voyager developed blade play after about 8 years of carry. It was still working fine but got lost. Vic. Cadet gets alot of pocket time and use about 3 years old. The blade is looseing some size from sharpening a little faster than other knives of mine have but it has many more years to go at this rate. A queen D2 small stockman a few use marks but is not much different than when I started carrying it about 3 or 4 years now. Those are my most carried and used and all should last a lifetime at this rate. I should comment I am one who likes to every now and then totally remove the current edge to remove any dammaged steel and regrind in a new edge on my knives.

 

[sharpguytoo]

I agree any decent folder should outlast its first user.

Anybody but me think that most of "us" would actually use a single knife for more than a few years (ok maybe 10). I tend to stop using each one, not retired persay, just replaced with a newer toy.

 

[6.0stroker]

Don't usually post in these parts BUT, I have personally EVERY DAY carried an old timer 77OT Improved Muskrat for 23yrs (exclusivley) until this JAN. when I got interested in collecting Schrades. Now I have Knives from my family that date back 3 generations the oldest is a Case XX 6208 Half Wittler Made 1920-45 The jigging is almost worn smooth on the scales and both blades still have alot of life in them and she snapes like an alligator!!

 

[oaktree]

One of my EDC's is a Schrade 340T I bought in 1974 to replace a knife I lost. 1095 steel. Always sharpens real sharp, I've abused it badly but still solid and still my prime knife even with about a dozen good user's around the house. I rotate it out of my pocket after reading a good post about one of my knives but after a couple of weeks the 340T comes back to my pocket.
I also carry a leatherman for the plyers and screw drivers. And sometimes a larger stockman. So thats 3 knives every day in my pockets.

 

[galen59]

I've an old Case melon knife that my Granpap gave me in 1970, it was old then, and see's use every year. G.

 

[wutitiz]

Thanks znapschatz and s.c. for that info on springs. I think the guy who said that pocket knives tend to get replaced, not worn out, had it right. I've had maybe 8 different EDCs over the last 20 yrs (serial--I don't 'rotate'). . A knife just isn't going to wear out under those conditions, and now I carry 2 knives, a small sheeple friendly one, and a mid-size folder, so each knife only gets half the use. Now excuse me while I go close all my liner locks.

 

[udtjim]

I have a Case and a Buck 110 that are going on forty years old. Both have had lots of use and neither shows any sign of failing any time soon.

 

[knifenerd]

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

I have to agree. Although I have a fairly good collection of customs/high end manufactured knives, etc. I have been pocketing a Delica 4 (ZDP-189 PE) for the past couple of months and it is a delight! Does everything I need in a knife and is easy to carry in any position. Good luck!