Folding knife pin location

[Sam Salvati]

I am looking to try some spring back friction folders, as well as some without a spring. I am having trouble figuring where to put the pivot hole so things look right when opened and closed, does anyone have any tips or especially pictures of a friction folder blade before it is assembled to see the locations of the holes? Are there any specific ways to locate the hole?

 

[Rusty McDonald]

if your designing is yourself, use 2 sheets fo paper put (draw) the spring on one page and the blade on the other. overlay them and use a thumb tack to spot the hole for the pin. You can rotate the paper with the blade on it and see what happens. Its paper so use your pencil and an eraser to make changes. That's how I do it anyway.

 

[kc custom]

Do what Rusty said and after you get it where you think it will work put a regular pencil type compass in the pivot hole and swing an arc with the compass (around the bottom of the knife) to make sure the blade will fit in the handle.
Ken.

 

[Sam Salvati]

Thanks guys. Do you have any pictures of a folder blade before it is assembled?

 

[Chuck Gedraitis Knives]

Make a working template. If it works on paper it will work in steel.

 

[John M Cohea]

Sam here are a few shots of a friction folder I made last year. Off center works best the way I make friction folders.I start just as everyone has suggested by working up a cardboard template, then transfering the pattern to thin sheet steel for a reusable pattern.The way I make friction folders the tang extension rides above the top of the handle and strikes on top of the backspacer in the open positon. You can also make them so everything is level with the top of the handle so that the tang extension is flush in the open positon.

 

[Sam Salvati]

John that was just the type of stuff I was looking for, thanks very much. I was wondering if I could benefit from someone else's experience on whether to center the pin, or offset it to one side or the other.

 

[Gene Chapman]

http://www.oakandiron.com/Antler_and_Iron_II.html

A shamless infomercial

Gene

 

[Gene Chapman]

John, that is one super looking folder.

Gene

 

[Sam Salvati]

Gene, thanks for that! Please PM with your address, do you take money order?

 

[John M Cohea]

Your welcome Sam. I'm glad I could help. Thanks for the compliment Gene, and no shame , because your booklets are great reading material and very informative to boot!

 

[Gene Chapman]

Thanks I am in the process of revising Antler and Iron II, same info but less white space on the pages as printing costs go up and my inventory is getting low.