Slipjoint Overhaul ?'s

knowtracks

knowtracks

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Jan 16, 2006
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I have a Jumbo Folding Hunter #83A made by Queen in 1990 that I got off of ebay. 5 1/4 closed 9 3/8 overall, the blade is to big and heavy for the "action" of this particular slipjoint. When using it, it has a tendence to close easily. Anyway I would like to have it made into a lockback. I'm no knifemaker but this does not look impossible to me.
Have any of you had this done?
Any recommendations on a knifemaker for this application?

Thanks
Dave
 
Dave, it would be much more practical to beef up the backsprings.
Just my 2c worth.
Dirk
 
OK Dirk,
Just what does a guy need to do to "beef up" the backspring? I'll try anything to make this a better user.

Dave
 
Basically, the backsprings are given a bit more grunt.
The vast majority of pocketknives do not have highly tempered backsprings and they can be bent to achieve more grunt.
It has to be done slowly and they have to be curved in just the right spot, but it can be done.
I have done a couple in the past.
If you want, I'll give it a go, but cannot give any guarantees.
Unfortunatly, one always runs the risk of breaking a backspring.
Dirk
 
Try talking to Steve Rice (STR on the forums), he can probably make a lockback out of a slipjoint.

Dirk is also a great guy to deal with, I've got a couple of knives from him and I couldn't be happier with them.

You can't go wrong with these two gentlemen.
 
I've never done what you ask regarding a slippy but I have successfully turned fixed blades into folders on several occasions for forum members when they ask and more recently for myself using a Bob Dozier SweetWater blade I ordered from Bob. You can see it in my signiture line as my new bird and trout folder.

To answer your question I really need to see the knife and more specifically the blade. I can't tell you anything without seeing the blade and I doubt pictures will tell me what I need to see unless you can take the blade out to get some scans of it.

I have my doubts about this working because there is already a pivot hole in the blade you are asking about. With a fixed blade I can usually make use of the first pin hole or skip it so I get the option to make my own pivot hole where I need it. With yours I don't have those options. If you look at these two pics providing they show up ok you can see what I would need to make a viable lockback based on the tracing I made before I cut out the shape and where the lock notch on the blade would need to be in relation to the pivot hole already in there. This pic of the blade and lock bar are that Dozier folder in the beginning of the project. Its a little off from what it actually turned out because I had the radius off by a tad toward the lock notch but its close enough to give you the idea. The other is just a fixed blade I pulled out of my safe that I had already traced a pattern on a while back and happened to still have untouched. I keep a stash of those around because I like that old steel and they make great carving knives.

Anyway, once I determine that it can be done there is the other issue of making a lockbar out of the same or very very close to the same thickness steel. With fixed blades thats easy enough because I can cut one out of the back of the handle and depending on the steel many times soften it by additional annealing to draw it back some if necessary. If I make both contacts so they have good radiuses and no stress risers I can often times leave them hard. With yours I have a back spring that I'm sure won't be able to be turned into a lockbar. Not sure what I'd do there with that. I guess show me and we'll go from there.

Also, Dirk has offered to try to fix it for you and his option is sure going to be better money wise than mine. Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying he is cheap, just that his alternative is a lot less work than what you are proposing. Just FYI. I try to pay myself $20 an hour on most projects and repairs for folks. This Dozier folder took me about 12 hours total start to finish.


STR
 
Thank You STR for your informative and honest post.
Now I have a better understanding of the differences in the backspring and a lockbar. Basiclly there's not enough material on the backspring to be converted.

Dave
 
I cannot see myself ever working to an hourly rate as that would make it a job.
It is my hobby and I like what I do.
I do not own all the fancy nice to have stuff....I just plod along with hand tools mostly.
I try my best, using the tools at my disposal.

I suspect that in dollar value, I have given away much more than I have generated.
But then many folks have been kind to me as well - sending me all kinds of goodies....for instance, this week I got the jaw of a timber-wolf and a box of rare wood from a cyber friend.
To me it is more about making friends, "speaking" to like-minded folks and having fun.
The friendships I have made far outweigh any financial benefit I could ever hope for.

So, most probably I am cheap, but I like it that way.
Dirk
 
Not trying to hijack this thread but I have a couple of questions.

STR, the Green River blade you have marked out with a pen , you have made those into folders ? I find that very interesting and would like to learn more.

Oupa , what will you do with a Timberwolf jaw ?

Thanks , Todd
 
If you aren't wedded to a lockback, Queen may replace the spring for you. Their large slipjoints usually have strong springs, almost nail busters and should last many years. They don't have the fastest repair service, but it supposedly works.
 
Rebeltf.

Yes I've turned a lot of those old knives like that into folders. Here is a link start to finish on one. http://www.knifeforums.com/forums/showtopic.php?fid/41/tid/784694/pid/1113813/post/1113813/#1113813

Thanks for asking. There is a wealth of other such jobs all over that forum we all contribute to.


I cannot see myself ever working to an hourly rate as that would make it a job.
Click to expand...

Yeah. I used to be that way also my friend until the IRS came into play. I did just shy of 400 pocket clips last year alone not counting the other work I am doing. That can't go unnoticed by them so I had to have a way to document what I do and create a fee schedule as well as other things I never planned on. Its still fun though just a bit hard to call a hobby anymore. Even still there are many little notations in my ledger that say, "professional courtesy" or "N/C" by the amount column. :D
If it ever stops being fun you will all know when I no longer hang out around here or the other forums or when I get audited and just move to India or something. :rolleyes:

STR
 
Well, If you move to India, you should go into customer service......
I don't know about over your way, but here in Australia it seems impossible to actually talk to locally based person in any large company's customer service department.
They are all in India.
I find it very annoying.
Dirk
 
Yep, here too for a lot of things. The accent plus the echo off the satellite is quite annoying.

I guess I could shack up with a friend down under huh? :D

STR
 
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