Should folders be stored open or closed?

L

lovegrenade

Joined
Aug 8, 2013
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1
It makes sense to me to store folders that are frame locks, liner locks or assisted opening in the least stressed position. Am I wrong about this?
What do you do?
 
If the knife and lock materials are competently made, with decent heat-treat/temper, it shouldn't matter. If a spring or lock weakens when held under some tension, as when the blade on a liner/frame lock is closed, there's something wrong with the temper of the metal. That's a manufacturing defect, and would/should be covered by a warranty.

Some springs, like the coil springs or torsion bars on assisted knives, will sometimes fail or break if over-exercised (persistent, non-stop opening/closing for the fun of it, for example). Otherwise, they should last for tens of thousands of open/close cycles, at least.

I've never worried about it, and haven't had any reason to.


David
 
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I never thought about it much myself and I suppose it's simply personal preference.
Interesting first post.
Welcome to the forums!
 
They should all be stored closed for convenience and safety. It's not bad for them anyway.
 
AF said:
They should all be stored closed for convenience and safety. It's not bad for them anyway.
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This, depending on how, and where you store your knife, and if there are curious little ones around I keep um closed.
 
Mine are stored open. It probably doesn't have much impact on a liner-lock folder spring to store closed, but when closed there is tension on the spring. When left open, it makes sense that this tension is released and any resulting stress on the metal, however small, is released/alleviated.
 
Idlewild said:
but when closed there is tension on the spring. When left open, it makes sense that this tension is released and any resulting stress on the metal, however small, is released/alleviated.
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That's not how springs wear. They wear from the stress of opening and closing.
 
Gp tp a local antiques store that has some OLD pocket knive. They 99% of the time are closed, and they still have tight lockup.
 
jobasha11 said:
Springs wear with opening and closing, not with constant stress.
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Correct!


It makes no difference how you store any folding, assisted, auto, framelock or any lock. The only thing that matters is how many times you open and close it.
 
You'll be pushing up daisies long before it matters. Just enjoy them while you can and don't sweat the small stuff:)
 
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