Letting knives snap shut

R

Russell Payne

Joined
Oct 9, 2000
Messages
183
Just wondering if it hurts a slip-joint pocketknife to allow the blade to snap shut? I have some that have play in the blades or the backspring will sometimes be recessed a bit. Could this be caused by letting the blade snap shut from the full open position? I thought this might cause some extra wear on the tang or spring especially in a larger folder such as a Buck stockman or large Old Timer, etc. Thanks for any advice. I sure like to hear the "walk and talk" of a good knife.
 
Hi,

I would'nt do it all the time, but letting a blade snap close, or open on it's own would'nt hurt a knife all that much. I'd be more concerned about leaving a knife unlubricated, metal on metal wear is never good.

Few things are better than a good walkin', and Talkin' slip joint:).
 
I always cringe when someone snaps my knives shut from the full open position. However, if the knife is made properly, there should really be no problem with it. The problem can arise when the kick of the knife is not out far enough to overcome the strength of the back spring, and the edge of the blade goes all of the way down and strikes the inside of the spring before returning to it's resting position. This happened to me on a some of my earlier slip-joints. I made the kick a little longer and put a half-stop on the tang, and now I have no problem with it.

-chris
 
Man, Chris, you make some beautiful knives! I've never owned a custom slipjoint..but one of yours may be the first as soon as I get the dough!
Keep up the great work!
Matt
 
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