Making a slip joint

[Bill Thomas]

I am wanting to make a slip joint. Do you use the same steel stock as the blade material or is there a certain type of steel that is best for the spring whether it's a stainless or high carbon blade? Does the spring steel need to be heat treated? Do you make the nail nick on the blade before or after HT? Thanks

 

[Drew Riley]

1. Typically you will use the same stock for spring and blade. This isn't ALWAYS done, but more often than not it is.
2. Almost any cutlery grade steel can be used, though I prefer 1095 for my blades and springs.
3. You will need to heat treat both blade and spring, though the back spring will get an additional "spring temper" separately from the blade.
4. Personally, I find it easier to cut the nick before heat treat, though depending on what method you use, post heat treat may be an option.

 

[Bill Thomas]

Thanks Drew,
I got the slip joint bug after assembling a few trapper kits that turned out pretty good. My time is limited and sometimes I resort to a kit just to satisfy my urge to have a new finished product. I wish there was a source for all USA made components using good steel that include pre drilled; HT blade blanks, HT springs, and liners where all I have to do is bolsters and assembly. Does any one know of a source for this? I also am thinking about getting a batch of blades, springs and liners cut by water jet to send to Peters for HT to make it more economical since I don't HT myself. Does anyone know of a source for slip joint designs in a DXF or DWG file that I could use? Thanks!