- Joined
- Mar 6, 2022
- Messages
- 317
I have collected a fair number of cub scout camping knives. Some are in great shape and others, not so much. As I remember my cub scout years they were always tight nail-breakers.
So, I have a couple that opening the main blade is somewhere between an Opinel and a Straight Razor. This is on more than 1. However, one that I will be looking at first is so badly abused that the interior liner lock for the bottle opener looks like it was torn off with a vise grips. As well there is some side to side blade play. So this one will be completely dis-assembled.
I have some guesses, and perhaps this one will answer them, but what is the usual approach to a slipjoint that doesn't actually walk or talk? As stiff as these things are new, I am imagining that some well-intentioned father or scout leader decided to somehow make a new knife easier for his scout to open. Perhaps some grinding compound in the joint, or some pressure against the spring and a hammer to seal the deal, or perhaps some heat applied in just the right place with a torch.
Worst case is that I have to remake a spring, I get that. However, what else should I be looking at? Could I possible use a crinking step to add more tension to the existing spring, or even just a wrench and a vise.
I realize that I will know so much more once it is all disassembled, but I thought I might ask anyway. I have never seen a knife so easy to open before, and all of the sudden I have 3 of them, all at the same time, and the same kind of knives as well, so perhaps this is a known issue. I'd have to double check, but I am pretty sure they are all Camilus.
So, I have a couple that opening the main blade is somewhere between an Opinel and a Straight Razor. This is on more than 1. However, one that I will be looking at first is so badly abused that the interior liner lock for the bottle opener looks like it was torn off with a vise grips. As well there is some side to side blade play. So this one will be completely dis-assembled.
I have some guesses, and perhaps this one will answer them, but what is the usual approach to a slipjoint that doesn't actually walk or talk? As stiff as these things are new, I am imagining that some well-intentioned father or scout leader decided to somehow make a new knife easier for his scout to open. Perhaps some grinding compound in the joint, or some pressure against the spring and a hammer to seal the deal, or perhaps some heat applied in just the right place with a torch.
Worst case is that I have to remake a spring, I get that. However, what else should I be looking at? Could I possible use a crinking step to add more tension to the existing spring, or even just a wrench and a vise.
I realize that I will know so much more once it is all disassembled, but I thought I might ask anyway. I have never seen a knife so easy to open before, and all of the sudden I have 3 of them, all at the same time, and the same kind of knives as well, so perhaps this is a known issue. I'd have to double check, but I am pretty sure they are all Camilus.
