Northfield Protruding Pin Problem, UPDATE

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ranchmanben

Joined
Jan 18, 2011
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I'm generally not much of a complainer, but this is really getting to tick me off. The pin that goes through the springs on my Geppetto whittler is starting to deform and stick out at a strange angle. When I got it three weeks ago the pin was perfectly smooth on both sides, no snag anywhere. Other than cutting up one steak, it has been used for nothing but whittling. I started to notice it after ther first week but thought it wasn't a big deal. After the second week I did a slight sanding job to smooth out the edge on the pin so it would quit rubbing on my hand. It was sticking a hair under a sixteenth of an inch. I thought this would take care of it...it didn't. The pin is sticking out again and now I'm just mad at it. I usually like to handle things like this myself and I've never sent back a knife before so I don't know if I'm justified in doing so. Has anyone else had this problem and how did you handle it?

Ben

P.S. I've got fairly burly hands so don't tell me I need to toughen my mitts up.:) Those are my wife's fingers in the last picture.

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Hi Ben. I have a GEC #25 with Stag handles that had the same issue. I used an appropriately sized punch (actually a large nail set) and hammered it down. The hardest part was keeping the knife itself from sliding around while positioning the punch and then hammering it - can't exactly squeeze it in a vise. I put a short piece of 2 x 4 against the back wall of my workbench, using that as a backstop to keep the knife in place. I had a good light and took it slow.

Here's a major point of difference though. My knife came that way from the factory, and hadn't changed or got worse - so I was pretty confident all it needed was a little peening. It sounds like yours may have other "issues" though, since it's got worse. I also have a feeling if you try to fix it yourself and end up not satisfied, and later decide to send it to GEC for repairs, they may say you've voided your warranty by trying to fix it yourself. Tough call ..... let us know what you decide.
 
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In the last picture it appears as if the pin is a little proud on both sides; so it doesn't sound like it is moving from one side to the other. There is really not an explanation for a "growing pin" unless the wood handles are being worn away. That is strange...
 
Kevin, I guess it could be a burr left over. However it's not just a tiny bit sticking up, it's like the entire head has shifted.

Keith, unless people start telling me this is totally unacceptable b.s. and I should send it back pronto, I'll probably just keep filing and sanding til it stops.

Swapper, the pin is sticking out on both sides, at an angle. I had wondered if the wood has worn away but it's only been been three weeks and i don't spent all day whittling. I'm baffled.

Ben
 
From your last picture it looks like the pin may have rotated clockwise. The pins' high point on both sides is at 3-4 o'clock in your last pic. As the scales are rounded and narrow toward the backsprings, if the high points were at 12 o'clock (the thickest part of the scales) it would not be sticking up as much, if at all.

Even if this is true, how it happened, or more importantly, how to fix it is beyond me. I would send it back.
 
That pin looks like it's bending/flexing. The anchor pin for the backspring takes a lot of stress, from opening/closing blades (how hard is the snap?), and also possibly from twisting/squeezing the handle under use (like whittling). The brass liners can move too, and that also exerts stress on the anchor pin. It's also possible the liners & scales have 'squeezed' inward a bit, which might explain why the pin's heads are more exposed on both sides. With some knives, you can even see the liners flex a bit when opening the blade, which is a vivid indicator of how much stress the anchor pin is subjected to.

I'd just send it back to GEC, if you're unhappy with this. I'm almost certain it's doing this because of movement of the liners and all the associated stresses on it, so I don't think sanding the heads down or peening will keep that from happening again. Lots of traditional knives would be better off with steel (or even nickel) anchor pins for the springs, but many use brass instead. Most times, that's good enough, but sometimes they don't seem to provide enough support to keep everything together tightly.
 
The burr is all I could think that makes sense. Because I have two 57's that I have use HARD whittling just this week. Nothing has changed. All I could think going along with David's thoughts is mine is stag and stag is much stronger than wood. Maybe the wood is letting it all get botched up. I think its strange also. Never had a problem with lots of harder than normal whittling with brass lined and pined whittler patterns.

I hope you get it figured out.

Keep us posted please. And btw, that is not acceptable in the least IMO. Unless its just a large burr breaking loose. You could mark it with a paint pen like you would bolts to a frame etc, to monitor future movement of the entire pin.

Good luck.

Kevin
 
I think you are justified in your concerns, and if it were me I would send it in for several reasons. It does appear that the pin has rotated...and under normal use...it's a whittler after all, and you are using it for it's intended purpose. The MFG co. can best determine what's going on, and also if there is a problem can possibly rectify the situation with this knife, or replace it...also if they are unaware of MFG problems there is no need to change...so it can benefit the MFG and future customers if problems with a product are brought to their attention.
 
I'm not sure what's going on with the knife. I can't say I've had that happen although I don't really whittle all that much. I think Kevin's idea of marking it to see if it changes is a good idea. If anything, it would help provide more info for GEC if/when you send it in.
 
Hi Ben,

New day, and new help, but still the same thought. I just took a pretty awful cell pic of the same pin on my stag 57. Something I never knew, but just learned from Mr. Ken Erickson, is that some pins are peened and some pins are spun. The pins on my stag 57 are spun and now that I understand it better its easy to see.

Take a look at this pic I just took:

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You can see a thin burr of brass left around most of the pin. It can't be strong and by most rights I can't see how it does anything to hold the knife together.

Seeing as how you have weathered and tuff hands, maybe your skin has been working at it breaking it loose? It hasn't happened on my stag, but its also recessed.

Just more thoughts before you have to send it back.

Kevin
 
Thank you for the responses. I think Jeff is right. It looks like the pin has rotated. The head is sticking out at the same angle on both sides. I'm going to contact GEC and see what they say. I'll keep you posted.

Ben
 
Darn, sorry to hear that is the most likely suspicion. I was being hopeful. I have a custom knife valued over 3k with palm wood handles and I just won't use it anymore because the wood is not really strong enough to support the securing screws IMO. I had to send it back once to have it repaired when the wood in the holes was wearing away. Now its repaired and reinforced, but still. It was meant more to be a show piece IMO. Seeing this makes me very happy I put my Ancient Kauri 57 up in my collection, but also sorry for your misfortune.

Good luck Ben.

Kevin
 
I had to go to the Dentist this AM (bummer) so I'm late to this thread.

Yes, that is a problem and I have a Powderhorn with the same problem. I took a Dremel Bit that has a cutting stone on the end of it with the end scooped out (small size) and spun it around the pin head. The brass pin is soft enough that I didn't need to chuck it up in a Dremel Tool, rather, I just spun it by hand -- errrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr fingers until the pin head was just a hair's width below the cover. Worked out well.

That said, it certainly wouldn't hurt to contact GEC and see what they can do for you.
 
Now I'm really upset. I think I got a lemon. While I await a response from GEC, I figured I would continue work on my current project. Two balls in a box.
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I have the first ball freed up and was working on getting the second free when, snap. The tip of the blade snapped off. I can't understand it. If I had been prying I could understand but snapping off while making a slicing cut? In 21 years of carrying and using knives, I have never broken a knife. I know there is nothing I can do, I'm just mad. I guess the pin problem is now a lost cause. I'm really dissappointed, I really liked this knife.
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I'd definitely give GEC a call. The whole thing - pin and tip - should be covered under the warranty. You weren't abusing the knife, just using it as intended - whittling.
 
Not much to say aside share the disappointment with you.

Also, I am with Keith. Call them and talk to them real time person to person.

I wouldn't blame you if that just killed the 57 and maybe even GEC for you. It would really throw me off.
 
I guess I'll see how it goes calling them tomorrow. I would like to continue liking GEC and the 57. Like I said, I really like this knife. It seems to me like this blade might have just been too hard. If they respond with customer service that should come with a knife of this price, I will continue liking them both.

Ben
 
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