Number of backsprings reference?

A

alfbacca

Joined
Apr 12, 2007
Messages
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I was wondering if there's some kind of online reference that lists how many backsprings specific patterns have. For example, I'm trying to figure out how many backsprings are on a Case Moose and Case Muskrat but I can't seem to find any information anywhere. I just figure it would be helpful to know how thick or thin some patterns are. Some websites have pictures of the top and bottom of a knife, but most don't. Thanks.
 
Sometimes it isn't just the pattern, it's the implementation.
My Camillus and Schrade Stockman patterns are all 2-spring.
My Buck is a 3-spring.
I understand that Case has made both 2-spring and 3-spring stockman knives.
 
My Case muskrats have two springs each. My Case/T. Bose muskrat has one backspring.
 
The "standard" Case muskrat has two springs with no center liner (been made this way at least since the Case XX era) - it's a fairly elegant construction IMO for accommodating two large equal length blades in a pen knife - making for uniformly thin blades and a relatively thin knife. Don't know about the Case moose pattern specifically, but moose patterns in general normally have two springs with a center liner (this construction maximizes the potential blade length for the two blades).
 
I hear that the Queen Muskie is a single spring, must be a very elegant slim knife.Any pix anybody?
 
Buck slipjoints range from one to three springs depending on the design. Sometimes they don't even support a knife blade, a gut hook on a bird knife or scissors on a keychain model. Sometimes you will encounter carbon and sometimes stainless, depending on the age of manufacturing.....current models are all SS.............300Bucks
 
I have just completed a book on Case pocket knives that will be published this fall. I included a chapter titled Back To Basics On Backsprings - And Case Pocket Knife Construction.

This particular chapter will address the typical construction details on older Case pocket knives and the changes on more the modern Case patterns.

The Muskrat for example, has traditionally had two backsprings and no center liner - although Case did change it for a few years in the 80's to include a "cut down" center scale. The 6275 SP has always been made with two spring and no center liner.

The 47 stockman is an interesting example - traditionally it was made with two backsprings and a cut down center scale - then in the early 90's it was changed to three springs and no center liners. Oddly no other Case larger stock patterns were changed over to the three spring constuction.
 
The one that drives me nuts is the congress with four backsprings instead of two backsprings like they used to make 'em. :rolleyes:
 
Some really good info here, I am enjoying the thread very much. As a freshman student of the art of slipjoint construction I am saddened when I see pictures of a slipjoint without pictures showing the spine or the blades closed in the well.

Ken
 
knifeaholic said:
I have just completed a book on Case pocket knives that will be published this fall. I included a chapter titled Back To Basics On Backsprings - And Case Pocket Knife Construction.

This particular chapter will address the typical construction details on older Case pocket knives and the changes on more the modern Case patterns.
Click to expand...

Could you PM or email more info about the book? Title, where's it going to be sold etc??

mike
 
Blues said:
The one that drives me nuts is the congress with four backsprings instead of two backsprings like they used to make 'em. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

:eek::eek:Who makes a four-spring brick . . .uhh, congress Elliott??:eek::eek:
 
waynorth said:
:eek::eek:Who makes a four-spring brick . . .uhh, congress Elliott??:eek::eek:
Click to expand...

My 1998 yellow handled Case congress is one, Charlie. (As opposed to the early 70's version I have in jigged delrin which is a double backspring.)

And I thought the three spring stockman was overkill! :p
 
Blues said:
The one that drives me nuts is the congress with four backsprings instead of two backsprings like they used to make 'em. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Case switched the 64052 medium congress pattern to four backsprings in the mid 1990's.

Traditionally Case and other manufacturers made the four blade congress pattern with two backsprings and one cut down center scale. The newer 052's have one backspring per blade and no center scales.
 
I have a couple of those 4 spring 64052s, in a small group of modern Case knives I haven't really looked at in 3-4 years. They are indeed wide knives relative to their height.
the average of two widths on one knife is .487" (measured mark to pile) , vs. .467" (backspring to top). Tough to scan the end, I did a drawing. (Not an artist by any standard:p, I hope you can interpret my scribbles.)
4BackDrawing.jpg
 
I've been told by knife producers that one spring per blade is much easier to assemble. I suspect that all four springs are identical, making the parts easier to manage. The whole idea is to cut costs, as labor is much more expensive than parts, IMO.
 
knifeaholic said:
I have just completed a book on Case pocket knives that will be published this fall. I included a chapter titled Back To Basics On Backsprings - And Case Pocket Knife Construction
Click to expand...

Could ya pm or Email me info on the book and where I can find it when released.
 
Charlie I'll see if I can get an image of the two knives for comparison.
 
Case actually made the 64052 in another different way circa late 80's to early 90's. The ones from that era had two backsprings but also had a "cut down" center scale on each side of the knife as a "double liner" on each side. There was still the center liner also but it was made up of two of the cut down "side liners" installed together. This version also had the long pull blades as do the curretn four-spring models.

Steve
 
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