Pet Peeve of sorts...

Gary W. Graley

Gary W. Graley

“Imagination is more important than knowledge"
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Mar 2, 1999
Messages
27,263
I know that everyone is just a bit different than the next person, which is a good thing at times. Myself, I'm pretty ocd kinda guy and I don't see that changing in the next few years. While I have several pet peeves, one that most that know me will remember, the sharpening notch, boy that still bugs me ;) but this pet peeve is one that I do try to avoid on knives that I am looking at to buy and wondered if anyone else shared that same bent thought.

The hidden stop pin thingy, where there is a semicircle slot cut into the tang of the blade and a stop pin sets inside it, providing a stopping point. But the problem is, for me at least on the few I've owned, dusts seems to love to collect within that area and once enough dust builds up, it will be pounded against the end of the slot, effectively making the slot not quite as long as it was originally. AND now the lock bar is affected and not able to fall into place to hold the blade open when using. I've heard some will try and wash it out, but the ones I've had, I've needed to take the knife apart in order to clean it properly.

What brought this to mind today was a folder a friend from out west sent me to see if I could 'repair' it, as soon as I saw that the stop pin was not visible, I knew exactly what was wrong and proceeded to open the knife up. I'll not mention the model, as I feel this impacts about any version of this type of stop pin design. When the pin is out in the open, you can see it, wipe it clean as you will get gunk collecting around it eventually, but, it's out in the open and you can easily do it without disassembling the knife.

Here's some photos of this folder, it would NOT lock open at all making it virtually useless until it was cleaned out.

Untitled by GaryWGraley, on Flickr

Untitled by GaryWGraley, on Flickr

Untitled by GaryWGraley, on Flickr

After a good cleaning, it opens up and locks up solid now.

So, that's mine, if you have one to share, feel free to post in this thread too.
G2
 
Interesting. Looks not like normal gunk though, more like plastic or G10 shavings.

In any case, we are all a bit different, as you said: knives with hidden stop pins get bonus points from me, as I have cut myself once due to lint stuck on an exposed stop pin.

Roland.
 
Thanks Roland, this one has Ti framelock but other ones I've owned shared the same nasty build up. I had given one to a friend at work, he was blown away as not being a knife guy he was super excited on having a 'real' knife, but every so often I'd get it back as it wouldn't lock any more and needed to be opened up and the dirt cleared out. He was a very good fellow and friendliest person I've ever met, unfortunately he had passed away suddenly at 61 due to an aneurism, very sad and he is missed.

G2
 
Gary W. Graley said:
I know that everyone is just a bit different than the next person, which is a good thing at times. Myself, I'm pretty ocd kinda guy and I don't see that changing in the next few years. While I have several pet peeves, one that most that know me will remember, the sharpening notch, boy that still bugs me ;) but this pet peeve is one that I do try to avoid on knives that I am looking at to buy and wondered if anyone else shared that same bent thought.

The hidden stop pin thingy, where there is a semicircle slot cut into the tang of the blade and a stop pin sets inside it, providing a stopping point. But the problem is, for me at least on the few I've owned, dusts seems to love to collect within that area and once enough dust builds up, it will be pounded against the end of the slot, effectively making the slot not quite as long as it was originally. AND now the lock bar is affected and not able to fall into place to hold the blade open when using. I've heard some will try and wash it out, but the ones I've had, I've needed to take the knife apart in order to clean it properly.

What brought this to mind today was a folder a friend from out west sent me to see if I could 'repair' it, as soon as I saw that the stop pin was not visible, I knew exactly what was wrong and proceeded to open the knife up. I'll not mention the model, as I feel this impacts about any version of this type of stop pin design. When the pin is out in the open, you can see it, wipe it clean as you will get gunk collecting around it eventually, but, it's out in the open and you can easily do it without disassembling the knife.

Here's some photos of this folder, it would NOT lock open at all making it virtually useless until it was cleaned out.

Untitled by GaryWGraley, on Flickr

Untitled by GaryWGraley, on Flickr

Untitled by GaryWGraley, on Flickr

After a good cleaning, it opens up and locks up solid now.

So, that's mine, if you have one to share, feel free to post in this thread too.
G2
Click to expand...

I'm not a big fan of that type cutout for a lockup on a folder either. Mainly for the same reasons as you, access for cleaning the action out. I'd imagine with all that metal removed for the slot, would weaken the blade in the pivot area too.
 
That's a good point too, I've seen at least one blade that fractured around that slot, probably was just a fluke, but as you pointed out, there are weaker areas due to the cut out.

G2
 
Gary W. Graley said:
Thanks Roland, this one has Ti framelock but other ones I've owned shared the same nasty build up. I had given one to a friend at work, he was blown away as not being a knife guy he was super excited on having a 'real' knife, but every so often I'd get it back as it wouldn't lock any more and needed to be opened up and the dirt cleared out. He was a very good fellow and friendliest person I've ever met, unfortunately he had passed away suddenly at 61 due to an aneurism, very sad and he is missed.

G2
Click to expand...

Very sorry for your loss, Gary.

I have to admit, the exposed, washable thumbstud stops on Hinderers is one of the reasons why I like them so much .... Some other knives have those too, as the Spyderco Valloton. A knife like that, or a back-lock, with washers if at all possible, is the easiest to maintain, IMO.

Roland.
 
Thanks Roland, his name was Ron Daugherty and did all the in house painting on our equipment. He told me once he lost the knife and was frantic, tore the house, his car and truck apart looking for it and finally found it...in the sofa of course ;) he just loved it so much.


And I did 'retire' his old folder and gave him a nice Kershaw Barge, which really suited him more and he was thrilled with it but the other knife was always a favourite of his.

G2
 
Last edited:
Gifted a folder to my mom’s husband. Same thing happened. Blade wouldn’t lock in. Liner lock. Had to take it apart to clean. Once cleaned, worked slick as a whistle.

We complain, but in reality, I’m always looking for a reason to take something apart and put it back together again. 😁
 
Does kinda make you wonder what else was in that guys pockets!!!!! Usually mine just get pocket lint built up.after a.few months! I've.no clue what that stuff was though!!!
 
Gary W. Graley said:
Thanks Roland, this one has Ti framelock but other ones I've owned shared the same nasty build up. I had given one to a friend at work, he was blown away as not being a knife guy he was super excited on having a 'real' knife, but every so often I'd get it back as it wouldn't lock any more and needed to be opened up and the dirt cleared out. He was a very good fellow and friendliest person I've ever met, unfortunately he had passed away suddenly at 61 due to an aneurism, very sad and he is missed.

G2
Click to expand...
I'm sorry for your loss.
 
ferider said:
Very sorry for your loss, Gary.

I have to admit, the exposed, washable thumbstud stops on Hinderers is one of the reasons why I like them so much .... Some other knives have those too, as the Spyderco Valloton. A knife like that, or a back-lock, with washers if at all possible, is the easiest to maintain, IMO.

Roland.
Click to expand...
CRK Umnumzaan has them as well, probably one of the best versions I've used.
 
I like the internal stop pins or what I call “garaged stop pins“ because they keep the blades stable with 2 points of contact.

However, typically when I clean them I will blast them with a forceful spray of WD-40 and then use a dry graphite lube, or a Teflon lube -instead of something that’s oily and sticky that will collect dirt. That prevents me from having failures to 99% of the time.
 
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