limp backspring

[R.Russell]

Hey Y'all, got a question and I'm sure its been addressed somewhere here i just cant find it.
I've recently really got the bug for slippies, I mean bad. Bose family, Davison, Doc Hagen, Wiseman, and one acquisition that has me in a bit of a quandry. I bought a Chamblin sunfish from a reputable dealer, and the backspring is not talking, in fact, it ain't really saying much at all. little snaps on the opening, but nothing on the way back home. Is it appropriate to call Joel direct and talk to him about this, or is it not his problem(the dealer's problem or mine? ) This knife has never been carried, its just too gorgeous to let out of the house for now. So unless the owner before me sat and opened and closed it with white gloves on, I can't see why the spring would be worn out. Its mint.
The reason I'm asking is that this knife is MOP and pique and theres about 40 pins in her, its gonna be a beast to take apart.
Any advice?

 

[cnas122]

Well, I'll chime in. First, did this dealer allow a certain amount of time to check out the knife and decide if you want to keep it? If you've gone past that time, you may be out of luck in terms of a refund....but I would be curious to know if the dealer claimed it had great "walk and talk". As far as sending it back to Joel, it's my experience that any maker is willing to see if something can be done, but the problem you describe may not be fixable, or if it is fixable, it might cost you about the same as getting a whole new knife. Could their be grit in the joints, and that's what is making the blade stick as opposed to a weak spring? It may not be that the spring is worn out, but instead just wasn't made very strong to begin with.

I don't think Joel would say that it isn't his problem, as I expect he would be more than happy to talk to you about it. But I think the first thing you need to figure out is whether you are willing to keep the knife with the weak spring. Regardless, I don't see any harm in calling the dealer to discuss it with him.

 

[zerogee]

Sunfish usually have rounded tangs - otherwise the snap would be very dangerous. But it shouldn't be nearly as soft as you're talking about. I'd contact Joel to see what he says, if you really don't want to just return it to the dealer.

 

[FLymon]

Sunfish usually have rounded tangs - otherwise the snap would be very dangerous. But it shouldn't be nearly as soft as you're talking about. I'd contact Joel to see what he says, if you really don't want to just return it to the dealer.

I was thinking something similar. I thought I had read where the springs on Sunfish were made purposely weak because of the danger posed by a blade that big and heavy snapping shut. If it bothers you contact the dealer and let him know you have an issue with it.