McMaster-Carr "Ball Nose Spring Plunger"

[Ten_Mile_Knives]

Has anyone used these spring plungers as knife detents before? I am looking at PN: 84895A31 0.13" Dia X 0.252" Lng, 2-5 Lbs. detent force. It seems like these could be a easy drop in solution for an inexpensive folder. I plan on using it on a detent slip joint style knife like "Isham Bladeworks Blackstar", or the "Viper Dan 2". Do you think that 2-5 Lbs is the right amount of detent force, or should I go less?

 

[Kali4nia]

Looks interesting

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

I didn't respond before, but how do you plan on using something 1/4" long as a detent on a knife blade? The shortest one they have is .16X.16", which would still be a lot to put in a knife.
Also, detent force on a knife is probably in grams, not pounds. Detent balls are usually either .060" or .090".
Those spring plunger detents are for holding large doors open/closed, positioning rotary tables, etc..

 

[Joker66]

Not sure if this is the idea that you have, but Jake Hoback sells these on his web site, and they are more appropriate for folders.
https://jakehobackknives.com/collections/knife-maintenance/products/hrd-hoback-roller-detent