More clampack stuff & weak spring?

[Pack Rat]

I just got in another 110 clampak and was pretty ticked. Was mis-advertised as a leather sheath but turned out to be codura. Was more interested in what looked like a curved bottom leather sheath in the poor photo. But that part was resolved. Still amazed how anyone could look at it through a clear clampak and not know it wasnt leather. But oh well....

Wanted to say that it turned out to be a 1996 and had weathered well in the clampack. 10 years old and no odor of must or mildew like we talked about in a previous thread.

But!!!!!! way back last fall I think it was, there was some discussin of blades that wouldn't snap back down into a closed position. I had never had one till this one.

The blade would literally stay in any position I place it. Whether a quarter inch from close or quarter inch from full open and anywhere in between.
I poured the oil to it and it is just marginally better.

Now,,,, I don't consider this a problem as a user. I mean, who uses one that isn't fully locked open and I haven't ever closed one that I didn't take to full close.. And the blade doesn't fall open from full close.

Just not used to one with no snap to close. This one might be candidate for BG42 upgrade.

Just a rant.......

 

[MikeSEA]

That's interesting Pack Rat. I just came across one that had a similar problem only worse because you could get it to pop open maybe an 1/8 of an inch by inverting it and shaking.

It was a 2 dot FG with a brown sheath and appeared to be in otherwise nice condition. I would have probably bought it anyway if the price was right. The woman said it was her husbands and he wanted $35.00 but she though he'd take $30.00. If I hadn't just bought a MIB just like it for $52 I might have bargained a little more.

 

[rev_jch]

Well, you could always send it to buck if you decide your not happy. Im sure they woudl take care of it!

 

[Carl64]

The cordura sheath probably deserves credit for the safe aging.

A new BG-42 blade might fix the weak spring, which I know in the case of Bucklites was due to the shape of the tang, made worse by the handle slowly warping in a little to make the blade stick. The latest 110's have a slighly different tang shape which makes a more even tension as it opens. The BG-42 blades I had installed on 3 knives all seem to be OK.

 

[Pack Rat]

I think if an old one would shake or fall open, I would just say ok and put it back where ever I have the collectables stored.

If that was a user, would definitely send it in for repairs. It would always be hanging up or sticking me.

 

[Pack Rat]

The cordura sheath probably deserves credit for the safe aging.

A new BG-42 blade might fix the weak spring, which I know in the case of Bucklites was due to the shape of the tang, made worse by the handle slowly warping in a little to make the blade stick. The latest 110's have a slighly different tang shape which makes a more even tension as it opens. The BG-42 blades I had installed on 3 knives all seem to be OK.

So, you think the nylon may have soaked up moisture? Maybe, I guess...donno..

If it goes in for a BG42 I will document the lack of snap. Coin a new phrase there....lacksnap....nah..... One of my thoughts on an upgrade, would be for a user blade. My preference would be to send in a non collectable user and not sacrifice a brand new blade. But seems to be a lack of mediocre users in the drawer. I will have to procrastinate a bout thinking about what to do

Where's Goose,,, he manages to drag out those old threads where we talked about lacksnap. Would be curious to see what age range those were.

 

[Carl64]

So, you think the nylon may have soaked up moisture? Maybe, I guess...donno..

Hmm, I actually hadn't thought of that. Maybe. But the real reason I was thinking of is the knives tend to not have a problem on their own, but the leather sheaths in clam packs emit stuff that makes the brass turn color. I was told by people here it was the tanning chemicals, but now that moisture is brought up maybe new leather spews a little general moisture too. No leather sheath = A-OK.

 

[Pack Rat]

Brass tarnishes on its own. How many cans of brasso I went through in the service.

Storing brass in leather long term will cause the green "corrosion" patina, but cleans up with brasso. This is any brass.

I am still undecided if the tanning process of the leather causes any of it. It may accellerate it. Maybe. I have numerous leather sheaths and can't tell that the leather finishing has effected them any differently than same ones without sheaths. Just my observations.

 

[Carl64]

In the clampacks, it's only the end closest to the sheath with trouble. It's not green, although I have Bucks in leather sheaths that do that as well. The packaged knives get a dark brown color at the end, not green and not the matted pale look they get from handling.

I have seen old un-opened knives and other items with brass parts decades old, that are often not even oiled, and most that are packed well hold up. The 110's in the clampack with the leather sheath are the first product I have ever seen in which almost every single unit has this much discoloring.

 

[Pack Rat]

That cinches it, I am going blind in one eye and can't see out the other one. Wife says mine are all darker closer to the sheath end also. I cant see a diff. :grumpy: glaucoma sucks. Will have to consult the eye guy next visit. I guess it goes along with deaf in one ear and cant hear out the other, and this crs stuff....

 

[chickentrax]

That cinches it, I am going blind in one eye and can't see out the other one...it goes along with deaf in one ear and cant hear out the other, and this crs stuff....

Welcome to my world.