Hard to close 70T old timer

[ffljaguar]

I recently came into possession of a USA made 70t old timer knife owned by my wife father.
The knife look as if it has never been used. The knife was a little tight to open so I used a bit of sewing machine oil and it opens just fine. However it is really hard to close after it has been locked open. It is so hard to release that it will hurt your thumb doing so. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. The knife is in pristine shape so it is possible it was defective new. I can get it to close if I work at it.

 

[315]

I’m sure somebody smarter than me will chime in soon so hold tight. I wonder if some oil didn’t varnish up and get hard? Maybe get some mineral oil and let it soak for a few hours. Also try a little gun cleaning solvent in the joints, then flush it out an oil them up again.

 

[LastRodeo]

I think I have seen this before with an old Buck or Schrade of mine. There appeared to be a reaction between the metal of the lockbar and brass bolster that created a substance that caused them to bind together. I think a good soak in solvent will loosen it up. Flush and oil. Good luck.

 

[5K Qs]

FWIW, I often am challenged by trying to release the lock on lockback folders; I can't seem to depress the lock bar far enough to release the lock. I think it's mostly a problem with me, rather than the knives (although some of the knives are definitely not moving as freely as they should).

I've discovered a way to cope that works for me. If I put a piece of wooden dowel (or a golf pencil or the handle of a wooden spoon) across the lockbar perpendicular to the spine of the knife, I can usually depress the lockbar and release the lock with no difficulty. Not sure how that gives me so much better leverage, but it works for me with locks that fight me.

- GT

 

[willard0341]

If it were mine I would wrap the blade in a paper towel and oil oil oil, work the blade back and forth and then oil oil oil. Kroll smells beautiful and lingers.
From my understanding it is not the pivot... something on the business end of the lock rocking bar may free up.
Can’t use too much oil
Probe with an ice pick/dentist tool with blade half open
Western ky knife maintenance

 

[sXePhenomenal]

A new old stock LB7 I got was kind of like this I just opened and closed it till it broke in and now it’s great

 

[Lesknife]

If it’s non stainless It can have some rust and corrosion in the lock bar as well as the pivot area. Some penetrating oil and working it should free it it up. I had one freeze up after being left in a damp compartment and wouldn’t open at all. I sprayed it down good with Kroil penetrating oil and let it set a day then it opened, I just kept it wet with Kroil and working it the rust and corrosion dissolved and then cleaned it with a safety solvent to flush it out then used regular mineral oil and wiped it down and it was good to go.

 

[tongueriver]

Common with lockbacks that need to be broken in. Meanwhile, just press it on something solid. My wife says I could use my head.

 

[ffljaguar]

WOW Thanks everyone for all the the great feedback. I do not think the knife was ever used much if at all, so it is like new. I also thought that the brass and stainless may have reacted. I am going to try warping it in a cloth with oil then working the knife to try to break it in. Thanks again all. I will try to report back.

 

[meako]

I think he meant toothpick....Im sure if my dentist approached me with icepick there would be trouble...
I'd also check the inside of the knife with the toothpick for that build up of lint and gunk that may hinder the operation...as has been said a good drench with oil ...prior to that perhaps a a dip in hot clean washing up water...try manipulating the lock and blade...rinse and dry well...oil.
Cheers. Sounds like you have a good old knife there..
Any pics?

 

[Misplaced Hillbilly]

I would like to add with a lockback oil the entire lockbar,not just at the pivot end. One of the LB7's I picked up was a bit hard to depress,I could tell by the tarnished brass it hadn't been carried in awhile. I oiled the entire bar,and put the area you depress against the edge of a table and worked it. You can leave the blade closed. Some of that green verdigris junk flushed out. Now I can unlock and close the knife one handed.