Nail breakers any remedy?

[knifeswapper]

Well, you could try showing me how I'm wrong--I'm willing to be convinced. But it might take a bit of work: I've spent much of this year and a fair chunk of change trying to find a GEC on the Scout frame that I could conveniently open without needing a pick or pair of pliers.

The Remington 1173 is one of my all-time favorites, and while I've seen some with stout springs, the worst was better than the best of the GECs that I've handled this year.

So why throw the baby out with the bathwater? Try something other than a scout..... There are several other patterns that are more agreeable with those that don't like the stout backsprings.

Of the Scout 2Blade buyers I have talked to, there are many more that are proud of the snap than are discouraged by the tight backsprings. But there are some that will send you looking for the clippers.

Mike Latham
http://www.collectorknives.net

 

[Blues]

Folks, feel free to post your points of view as well as pros and cons but let's keep the discussion civil and free of personal attacks.

FWIW, I personally don't want to use a tool to open my knives but I wouldn't characterize any of the companies as making knives only for collecting. Anyone who's been around these knives for any period of time will be well aware of the work they are capable of and have performed over the years.

Now, let's carry on without animus.

 

[coffeecup]

I most of the time don't say nothing when things like this are said but this time I will.

Have you fallen off the wagon and bumped your head?

Slippies where around way before tactical/modern knives. That's why they are called traditional knives. Respect your roots.

Yep. I fell off the wagon and hit my head. I bought a Scout expecting to use it, then when I couldn't, I got another. When that one had the same problem, I swapped them both off and tried again. After reading and being told that they were getting better, or I just had a bad example, I tried again. And again. After 6 knives I came to my senses, and to the conclusion that I'd wasted enough time and money trying to get one that I could open with my thumbnail.

Not sure where or why tacticals and modern knives entered the discussion. In looking around here, I've got a few dozen fixed blades (the closest thing I have to a "tactical" knife is either a beat-to-hell Kabar or an equally-battered late-war Fairbairn-Sykes dagger) and a couple hundred slipjoints. And you know what? I can easily open every one of those slipjoints--without needing another tool.

That ease of use is traditional, and is what I value about slipjoints. Traditionally, the people who used those nifty little picks were salesmen, not users.

So why throw the baby out with the bathwater? Try something other than a scout..... There are several other patterns that are more agreeable with those that don't like the stout backsprings.

Of the Scout 2Blade buyers I have talked to, there are many more that are proud of the snap than are discouraged by the tight backsprings. But there are some that will send you looking for the clippers.

Mike Latham
http://www.collectorknives.net

I wanted a decent copy of the Remington 1173, not one of the others.

In a typical day, my knife will get opened and used 20-30 times, some days a lot more. At a guess, the folks who are so proud of the snap aren't opening them with their thumbnails.

Or just don't use them all that much.

 

[ken erickson]

Are customs the same way?

I thought I would take a shot at addressing this question from the OP.

One of my measures of a production slipjoint when it comes to opening the blade/blades is, do I cringe when thinking about opening a certain blade, be it a single blade or multi-blade knife. I have even had some knives that I would avoid trying to open, for fear of rolling back my thumbnail. I hate when that happens! I happen to have a Case 83 pattern 3.5 balloon end/swell center whittler pocket worn version that I purchased recently that I avoid, dislike, have a hard time opening the secondary clip blade.

When building a knife, I try and think about it like this. A blade should not be a chore or a scary thing to open, it should be a pleasant experience. From my experience, with my knives and custom/handmade slipjoints from other makers that I have had in hand, most open with that "pleasant experience" feeling.

Ken

 

[Knife Crazied]

Yep. I fell off the wagon and hit my head. I bought a Scout expecting to use it, then when I couldn't, I got another. When that one had the same problem, I swapped them both off and tried again. After reading and being told that they were getting better, or I just had a bad example, I tried again. And again. After 6 knives I came to my senses, and to the conclusion that I'd wasted enough time and money trying to get one that I could open with my thumbnail.

Not sure where or why tacticals and modern knives entered the discussion. In looking around here, I've got a few dozen fixed blades (the closest thing I have to a "tactical" knife is either a beat-to-hell Kabar or an equally-battered late-war Fairbairn-Sykes dagger) and a couple hundred slipjoints. And you know what? I can easily open every one of those slipjoints--without needing another tool.

That ease of use is traditional, and is what I value about slipjoints. Traditionally, the people who used those nifty little picks were salesmen, not users.


In a typical day, my knife will get opened and used 20-30 times, some days a lot more.

Sorry for bringing up tactical knives. I was misled by your previous post. It just really bothers me when people(not meaning you) disrespect the traditions that have brought us to where we are now. Let me look around and see what I can dig up and I'll try and send you a slippie you can open "easy". Take Care Ash

 

[Bill DeShivs]

I don't suggest doing it to collectible knives, but almost any tightly sprung knife can be remedied by grinding down/refinishing the backspring. This can be done without disassembling the knife. If you are unable to do this, contact me. I can.

 

[cnas122]

Coffeecup, maybe quit buying knives you can't use and stick with the ones you can. Some brands, as discussed earlier, are known to have tough springs. But plenty of other companies make similar patterns that may have lighter pulls and the pattern you are looking for.

I like hard snaps and don't mind if they are stiff openers. People are made differently and maybe my nails are stronger than yours....who knows. What's tough for you may be easy for someone else. But if you have an issue with certain types (brands) of knives, don't buy them online. Try to find one in person and open it first to see if you like it. And if you're looking for a copy of a 1173, I have several originals. And I guarantee you that each of them is tough as hell to open....some of the most difficult of the many knives I own....and by golly I love them just the way they are.

I don't use that knife pick with any knives I own. My friend Kdawg made it and I wanted it because it was made by a friend. But if they day ever comes where my physical condition, or even age, might prevent me from using knives I was previously able to enjoy, well I won't have one hesitation to pull out Kerry's pick and use the heck outtta them.

 

[cnas122]

I don't suggest doing it to collectible knives, but almost any tightly sprung knife can be remedied by grinding down/refinishing the backspring. This can be done without disassembling the knife. If you are unable to do this, contact me. I can.

Thanks Bill. That was my next suggestion.

 

[dnuggett]

I am in the minority here as well in that using a tool (pick) to open my knife is just not nice. Or to put it another way, no way am I going to EDC something that can't be deployed quickly.

That said, I do carry a 70's Schrade Muskrat around some days and I am a big fan of Stockman and Trapper styles. I respect the roots, mostly by collecting.

 

[HAKnPocket]

Thanks for the response Ken!!!