Lightening Buck 500 series lock spring?

[MikeSSS]

Howdy STR,

it seems the Buck 500 series, micarta scales, bug has bitten me, again.

Some of these knives have darned stiff lock back springs, some don't.

Any idea on how to lighten the springs?

Can you lighten them? If so I'm interested.

The micarta scales are important to me so I'd like to retain them.

Thanks,

Mike S in San Antonio.

PS, I really admire your work and all the knife stuff you do.

 

[STR]

Thanks for the compliments and for visiting my little sub forum.

Before wasting money to ship it somewhere I'd first recommend you examine the insides of the folder good with a light and make sure nothing has wedged itself in under the spring down in there. Most of those style folders were carried deep in the pocket rolling around with pocket change, car keys, pocket lint and whatever else and very often things could get lodged in the lock mechanism or blade notch that can contribute to weird lock behavior.

If it is clean inside then in all likelihood it has to do with the pin on the lockbar being a bit tight but it can be any number of things that oil can solve. Have you tried a spot of lube around the pivot of the rocker arm (lockbar) that you depress to release the blade? Work some good penetrating oil down in there and see if that doesn't help. Then you might try just a spot of lube on the rolling part of the tang on the blade and work that. I prefer a lube that dries out like Tuff Glide that goes on wet but dries up to keep it from collecting pocket lint but if all you have is the wet stuff it can still loosen up a stiff action.

If none of that is successful for you or you have already done it keep in mind that Buck still works on and services their knives. I'd suggest sending it to Buck with a written letter of the details of your concern. They'd more than likely fix that up for you for a nominal shipping charge.
STR

 

[MikeSSS]

STR,

thanks for the advice, I really appreciate it.

I have a 505 and a 500, both with micarta scales that are very easy to use and a new 503 with wood scales that is fairly easy to use.

The really stiff knives are 501's, the stiffest, way too stiff for comfortable use, is an older one with micarta scales but the newer one with wood scales is almost as stiff, both are very unpleasant to close.

All these knives have been cleaned well including blowing out with high pressure air, all have been lubed with CLP before and after air blasting. The blades pivot freely and the rocker bar seems to move freely except for the spring force.

The diameter of the 501 spring bar appears to be the problem, the bar is round not flat like on a Spyderco, so it's probably straight not bent into an arch. The spring bars sure seem to be straight. On Spyderco knives I relax the spring bar by de-arching it a bit either with a press and a coin or with a hammer tap on a coin or screwdriver. If the spring is de-arched too much then the rocker pivot pin can have one side milled off to remove it, the rocker bar, the spring and then the spring re-arched. I don't see an easy way to do this on the Buck 500 series because the pivot pin is under the scales.

One other thing, on the 501 knives the rocker bar spring approaches the scale rivets when the lock bar is unlocked. If the spring made contact with those rivets the unlocking force would be greatly increased but it appears there is no actual contact.

All of this is a semi moot point, I don't carry a Buck 500 series knife anymore except for nostalgia on rare occasions. These slimlines are heavy for what they are and they are difficult to one hand and I hate to have them rubbing against a speedloader or spare magazine. On the other hand they have elegant and most pleasing lines and very high quality build.

Have fun with sharp things and thanks for the help.

Best regards,

Mike S

 

[STR]

I carried a 501 Esquire for many years. Love the things. Have several of the old ones still. Can't say any of mine are really that bad. In fact most of them I converted to one hand opening by installing thumb studs on them and then added pocket clips to them. You can find some of the ones I've done recently probably still on the first five to seven pages of my forum. I've always loved that model personally. I've had a few of the Buck 500 Duke models and thought those a little beefy.

I bought one on ebay a while back that was really stiff but lubing and cleaning really brought it out to become a sweeter action and much easier to open and close. Buck could still maybe help you with that if its something you feel is abnormal. Its always worth asking about. Good luck with it. :thumbup:

STR