How do you tinker with slipjoints?

R

RyanMM

Joined
Aug 25, 2008
Messages
57
Hello, I've been lurking here and, based on some opinions heard here, decided to buy a Case CV blade peanut. After anxiously waiting a week for it to arrive I was giddy as I unrolled the knife from its wrapping paper into my hand where it glistened in all its beauty. Then I quickly reversed to dismay as I peered at the blades; both of which were contacting the scales, respectively.

Now I've just started acquiring folding knives and this is the third in a row I have received with this problem (fourth counting both blades!) I'm grown tired of dealing with stores and warranties and have basically decided to sharpen the blades myself and gift it to my father. However I will soon buy another and try my luck because it is very nice --- I might even get a swayback jack which seems popular here. Still, I would feel better attempting first to straighten out the blades as best I can.

How do you handymen types tinker with your slipjoints? Can it be done with basic tools? The bevel of the blade literally touches the scale side liner but I can't figure how to adjust it without resorting to clamping it in a vice and bending it. Right now I just have a wedge of paper bending each blade but I don't suppose that will fix anything. Advice? Anecdotes? Anything welcome.
 
I think you should send it back to Case. They'll fix it, and they need to know about it, so their QC can catch these kinds of things. I wouldn't recommend trying to fix it yourself, since it's a Case, and their warranty service is good.

However, if you ever have another brand or an old used beater, here's my experience. Take it for what it's worth:

I had a Stockman in the past where the blades were 'krinked' too far and rubbed together. (krinked = bent at the time the knife is put together, so the blades nest together properly) I managed to fix them, but it's a cast iron b!tch to do right and not break the blade or blades. I haven't broke a blade, but I did create a crack at one blade's edge. I had to turn it into a small recurve to make it serviceable. :o

As far as bending a blade back that's as bad as yours seem to be, I've only done it once, on an old electrician's knife, where a previous owner had bent the main blade. I had to bend it back in steps; I clamped a little of the blade in my vice (line the jaws with leather), clamped a small C-clamp on the joint bolster (to keep the bolster from spreading apart) and pulled gently in a direction opposite the bend in the blade. I did this several times, then moved the blade another 1/4" down into the vice, and did the same thing. I did this for a while, probably 20 min., and got the blade straight enough to sharpen & use the knife. You'll know if it isn't perfectly straight, because the blade will feel odd when you work it on a sharpening stone.

So, there's my $.02. I hate blades rubbing together, so I try to do something about if I can. I ignore it on my users, but on my high-end knives I send them back if it's noticeable.

thx - cpr
 
MY rule is:
'The more you fiddle, the fruther apart the knife dances'

Back to the builder.... With production knife more than likely you will just get another knife.
300Bucks
 
I do a lot of tinkering and have broken a few blades. That is always a downer. I use a vice and some dowels, usually, in a three point configuration so the bolster doesn't get loose.

If it gets loose at the bolster, I tighten, peen and sand smooth, but I do that for any knife that has play anyway.
 
mikeymoto said:
Buy custom knives. :D
Click to expand...

I'm getting there :p Some day soon maybe.

Thanks all for the expeditious good advice. Oddly enough, it didn't even occur to me that bending the blade could be noticable when sharpening it. Glad you pointed that out! I'll probably follow the advice to send it in on grounds of a warranty issue.
 
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