Need advice on how to tighten blade play on a stiletto that has fixed pins.

BlackEnd

BlackEnd

Life without knives would be, well…dull
Platinum Member
Joined
Dec 21, 2002
Messages
2,963
Hello all. So I just bought a Latma stiletto. It’s a very nice old-fashioned switchblade for collectors purposes, but it seems to have a little more blade play than I would like when opened. Being that there are pinned bolsters; what would be the best way to flatten the bolster pin more to tighten it without damaging the knife action or having to replace the pin? FYI… this is a bolster release. IMG_8505.jpegIMG_8504.jpegIMG_8503.jpeg
 
If it were me, I’d exchange it before hammering on the bolster pins.

If that’s not an option, you can lightly tap the bolster pins on a hard backed surface, checking the action after each tap. Or try to slowly press them in a vice. Admittedly, this is not my area of expertise so hopefully others who make a lot of folders or are more familiar with the action chime in. Good luck!
 
I wouldn't do it but if I would use a clamped down hammer as an anvil and give it a light tap, turn it over and a tap from the other side.
Tap as many times from the one side as from the other

There is a Tony Bose vid on youtube on how to loosen up a pivot after tightening to much that has saved me before
 
Looks like only one side has been hammered for final adjustment. That was my concern. Trying to show in these pics the difference between the front show side high protruding pin to the rear flattened/peened one…IMG_8508.pngIMG_8510.pngIMG_8509.png
 
Last edited:
If it's a bolster release, I would be extremely careful about hammering anything near the bolster!
 
Taz said:
If it's a bolster release, I would be extremely careful about hammering anything near the bolster!
Click to expand...
Right. Like I mentioned, the show side/bolster lock side has a raised pin that was not peened that I can tell during assembly. It’s the other side. Obviously I would not want to make it so tight that it hampers the operation of the lock. I’m talking a small adjustment. I can squeeze the bolsters to create almost no play when holding the knife. Tells me there is room for tighter lockup. I’m semi mechanically inclined. I just want to do it right. If I can’t, I can’t. No biggie.
 
Are you going to use it? If not why take the chance of messing it up? You might get it to the point where there's no play when open but that might result in the action being slow or nonexistent because the knife is now too tight. As tight as that fit-up looks in the photo it doesn't seem like there'd be much room for a lot of wobble. Hammering the pin would be the only way to tighten it up but be careful, check often and don't overdo it. ESPECIALLY if it's a side lock. You'll want to rest the opposite pin on some solid steel. Lay a thin towel or cloth under it to lessen the chance of marring that side. You'll have to hold the knife so only the bolster end where the pin is rests on the steel as the bolsters thicken as they go back and you don't want that portion resting on your steel. Also be careful that you don't hit the bolster as nickel silver dents very easily. On top of everything else you also have to make sure your lock isn't in the way as that also flairs wider than the bolster.

You might try contacting BillDeshivs, he's a far greater expert on these autos than I am. I believe he frequents the forums.

Eric
 
Last edited:
Yeah. I’m not trying to make this into a $390 regret. I just feel there could be a little less blade play when opened. It’s substantial. I may reach out to Bill. Thanks for all the pointers guys.
 
My email address is on my web site- billdeshivs.com Send me an email at the address on my site and we will get this started.
I do Latama's repair work. You can send it back to Latama, and they will send it to me. I'll send it back to them, and they can send it back to you.
That's an awful lot of postage, and I charge Latama for my work.
If you don't feel comfortable doing it yourself, you can send it to me. I would suggest talking to Latama first, to see what is suggested- but I will charge for my work.

Edit: Send the knife to me, and Latama will cover my charges, including my shipping

You are correct that only one side of the pin is peened, and that is the only side that should be peened. Since the knife is a swivel bolster model, you can't tighten the blade too much. If you do, the swivel bolster won't work. If you go further than that, the blade won't deploy properly. Do not squeeze the pin in a vise!
 
Last edited:
Thank you Sir. I will reach out to you privately.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top