Overextending an integral lock

[EricV]

Replacing the stop pin on a folder can present another issue though. Many (not all but many) folders use the same stop pin in which the blade rests in the open and closed position. If you increase the diameter of the stop pin he blade will no longer rest at the same point when closed. In some cases the detent wont line up with the hole in the blade.

Not with the small difference in diameter needed for the lockup to change. I have done this multiple times and its neither of those problems have ever been an issue. Heck wrap a layer of electrical tape around a stop pin right now and try it. You'll see that lockup changes significantly but the detent will still be fine and no way the tip is standing proud. If it did you could just sand down the kick with a sharpening stone though. The detent is a non issue because the pressed bearings in the lockbars are undersized for the holes in the tangs in the majority of knives. Go try it.

 

[Charr]

Not with the small difference in diameter needed for the lockup to change. I have done this multiple times and its neither of those problems have ever been an issue. Heck wrap a layer of electrical tape around a stop pin right now and try it. You'll see that lockup changes significantly but the detent will still be fine and no way the tip is standing proud. If it did you could just sand down the kick with a sharpening stone though. The detent is a non issue because the pressed bearings in the lockbars are undersized for the holes in the tangs in the majority of knives. Go try it.

Not to mention that this is honestly how most knife makers (in the knives that will commonly have this issue at all) resolve a lockup problem. When Strider had so many problems with lock rock in their folders because of the interface between blade and lock, they would usually just either put a set of caps on the blade stop or actually change the blade stop to a larger diameter. Now, this was not the blade stop when the knife was closed, but still, they became pretty notorious for using this fix.

I've done this on one or two cheaper knives too, and it has worked very well for me as well. I would never try it with an expensive folder, but honestly I've never had one of my expensive folders develop lock rock or any other lock issues...and I hope it stays that way.

 

[EricV]

Hehe, my SnG resembles that statement...