improv. latch gate

A

alex_111

Joined
Aug 10, 2000
Messages
475
howdy, all.
a small tip that i just discovered.
today i finally became utterly frustrated with my latch. it kept getting in the way of everything, and i was starting to wonder what a latchless bali would be like.
a better solution came to mind, however.
i went to the garage, and put my bali in the vise. i pinched the latch handle a little, just at the tip/corner, so that the slot becomes a tad too narrow for the latch to pass through. problem solved. instant latch gate, without the drilling etc. involved in actually installing one.
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peace.
aleX.

(edit: i noticed a typo)

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why do i carry it? *sigh* i guess you'll never understand...

[This message has been edited by alex_111 (edited 05-29-2001).]
 
While tightening the latch pin or "narrowing" the handle channels is an efective fix, you need a different cure for bali's you want to keep in nice condition.

What I do is copy the 42's latch gate idea using a hard piece of rubber trimmed to fit the channel in the latch handle. I use a sharp knife or razor blade to get nice uniform surfaces on this little retangular block of rubber. Then you just pressure fit it in the channel and if its sized right, it shoudlnt budge.

When the latch is moved to the position where it is straight in line with the handle, you can then push the rubber latch gate to butt up with the end of the latch. You'll see that this will secure the latch from moving at all (less noise when manipulating, and latch wont get in your way when doing backhand windmills...gives you the feel of a latchless bali)

Ive told this tip before but I think its the best way to avoid latch damage, better than messing with electrical tape(sorry Golnick). My BM259 was nib when I got it 3 months b4, and has absolutly no latch damage after all the flipping it saw. The tang pin cups have seen better days, though.
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"I see you played knifie spoonie before..."
 
It is working better than not using it, that's for sure.
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"You are no more armed because you are wearing a pistol than you are a musician because you own a guitar." ~Jeff Cooper
And the same goes for a knife...
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SgtP,
yes, you're right. if i cared about keeping this bali in good shape, i would have to use a different technique. it's already suffered quite a bit of other damage, however, and wasn't a good quality piece to start with. i'll have to try your idea on another. thanks.
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Don,
yes, definitely, although i don't think i'd use this technique on a high-quality piece or one i care about.

aleX.


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why do i carry it? *sigh* i guess you'll never understand...
 
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by alex_111:
Don,
yes, definitely, although i don't think i'd use this technique on a high-quality piece or one i care about.

aleX.
</font>
Click to expand...

I'm talking about the rubber "stop" custom cut and pressed into the space. I have used this on one Samson Bali-Song USA Custom and on a Manila Folder so far and while it is not as great as a latch gate like on the 42, it is better than nothing.

I would never try to alter the blade channel on a good balisong.
 
Don,

i see. i'm sorry. i didn't mean to insult you by assuming that you'd perform unnecessary/crude mutilations. you're right, of course, that such an alteration would be inappropriate in the case of a nice bali.

all apologies,
aleX.

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why do i carry it? *sigh* i guess you'll never understand...

[This message has been edited by alex_111 (edited 05-29-2001).]
 
im curious to know... how does the latch gate on the bm42 work? does it automatically lock the latch out when u flip open the knife? or do u have to put it in like the rubber? how effiecient is it? cuz i have trouble with my latch closing alot
 
The latch gate is part of the handle, each handle is 1 solid piece. All it does is stop the latch from hitting the blade, not from hitting the opposite handle.

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Cameron

"And shepards we shall be, for thee my Lord for thee, power hath descended forth from thy hand, that our feet may swiftly carry out thy command, so we shall flow a river forth to thee, and teeming with souls shall it ever be, En Nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti"
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