- Joined
- Nov 9, 1999
- Messages
- 1,137
My first Jag has been too loose to lock open or closed for a couple o' weeks now so yesterday I decided to do something about it.
First, everyone knows how to get it to lock open: flatten the tang pin. "But how does one get it to lock closed?" After thinking about that for a while I realised that the only parts pressing together when locked closed are the handles and the blade. More specifically the bite handle with the 'kick' and the safe handle with the spine of the blade. So I figure the kick is wearing down those soft handles and making it no longer able to lock open.
How to fix it? Well, I started by testing my theory. I put a small section of a rubber band in the handle where it meets the kick and closed it. "Yes, in fact, the kick seems to be wearing down the handle. Need something more permenant than a rubber band though." So, out to the shop. My idea at this point is to make a small sliver of a harder metal than the handles and epoxy it where the handle meets the kick: a kick plate!
"What kind of metal though?" I think. "Steel is too hard to form when you get that small. Copper? It is harder than the Jag's handles. It'll look strange though. Nickel? Sounds good. But I don't have any nickel. Or do I?" Well I eventually ended up using Cupronikel, an alloy of Copper and Nickel. And if you ask where I got it, I'll have to plead the fifth. Look it up.
So, I pound and pound and pound on this piece of Cupronikel until it's almost paper thin, then I cut out a small piece. A little filing and it fits almost perfectly inside the handle. When tested, it works great. I mean great! I closed the knife on it and the lock was super-snug but still easy enough to close. So, I take some J. B. Weld (Very strong metal epoxy for those who don't know) put a dab inside, and lower the 'kick plate' on it. I locked up the bali and left it 'til morning.
This morning before getting dressed I go to check my new kick plate. After 10 minutes or so of flippin' it's still holding strong and closing tightly. Seems the problem is fixed for now. Will, report at a later date just how well it hold up.
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Disco Stu
A Finger Saved, is a Finger Earned
First, everyone knows how to get it to lock open: flatten the tang pin. "But how does one get it to lock closed?" After thinking about that for a while I realised that the only parts pressing together when locked closed are the handles and the blade. More specifically the bite handle with the 'kick' and the safe handle with the spine of the blade. So I figure the kick is wearing down those soft handles and making it no longer able to lock open.
How to fix it? Well, I started by testing my theory. I put a small section of a rubber band in the handle where it meets the kick and closed it. "Yes, in fact, the kick seems to be wearing down the handle. Need something more permenant than a rubber band though." So, out to the shop. My idea at this point is to make a small sliver of a harder metal than the handles and epoxy it where the handle meets the kick: a kick plate!
"What kind of metal though?" I think. "Steel is too hard to form when you get that small. Copper? It is harder than the Jag's handles. It'll look strange though. Nickel? Sounds good. But I don't have any nickel. Or do I?" Well I eventually ended up using Cupronikel, an alloy of Copper and Nickel. And if you ask where I got it, I'll have to plead the fifth. Look it up.
So, I pound and pound and pound on this piece of Cupronikel until it's almost paper thin, then I cut out a small piece. A little filing and it fits almost perfectly inside the handle. When tested, it works great. I mean great! I closed the knife on it and the lock was super-snug but still easy enough to close. So, I take some J. B. Weld (Very strong metal epoxy for those who don't know) put a dab inside, and lower the 'kick plate' on it. I locked up the bali and left it 'til morning.
This morning before getting dressed I go to check my new kick plate. After 10 minutes or so of flippin' it's still holding strong and closing tightly. Seems the problem is fixed for now. Will, report at a later date just how well it hold up.
------------------
Disco Stu
A Finger Saved, is a Finger Earned
