eisman
Gold Member
- Joined
- Sep 9, 2009
- Messages
- 6,878
So I got this knife in fairly bad shape. I knew there was something wrong with it when (before I saw it) the previous owner told me the blades 1. wouldn't lock in place open, and 2. wouldn't go into the handle. And the buttons were locked up, and so were the other "tabs". This description interested me a little. So we worked something out, knowing I'd probably get another broken knife.
This is what showed up:
The photos show just how far out the blades would sit. And yes, everything else was locked up solid. I was totally afraid the mainspring was broken.
But nothing ventured, nothing gained, and so into the ultrasonic cleaner it went. ran it for 4 minutes, pulled it out, worked the blades, and felt a lot of grit. Back into the tank, and a couple more sessions later the blades would move the whole 180 degrees. still no real spring, but lots of rust in the tank.
Put it in an oil bath overnight and then set it on a couple paper towels to drain. It was still leaking black debris, so back into the cleaner (this time with some heat to move the oil). after another 4-5 minutes the larger blade was actually locking up with some blade play, the locks were moving, and the one button was trying to work.
So I figured I'd see if anything would clean up with a little polishing compound, and stuffed the insides full and worked it with a trimmed down Q-Tip. Several Q-Tips. All of which got very dirty. The blades got a little too and I worked it into the joints as best I could. After an hour, or so, things seemed to be moving a lot better but the small blade still had no button action or lock up.
Back into the tank it went, and a couple cycles later I dropped it back in the oil. The next day it was still leaking rust debris, but not as much. so back again into the tank, and then I used a little craytex on the blades and surface edges to take off the really nasty stuff. A little more lite polishing and the brass liners were looking good, the scales where showing some color, and we could read the markings. The springs were working, the last button broke free, and the blades had spring action.
Another cycle later and the knife was back to working, although it still does not lock up (or spring all the way) every time. But I'm still working it, and it has a sharp edge for what's probably the first time in 50 years.
She's a pretty little thing, Schrade made some nice knives. These old "switchblades" are fairly uncommon considering the millions made, and I have a soft spot for them. But even better, it's good to have a knife capable of doing what it was made to do.
This is what showed up:
The photos show just how far out the blades would sit. And yes, everything else was locked up solid. I was totally afraid the mainspring was broken.
But nothing ventured, nothing gained, and so into the ultrasonic cleaner it went. ran it for 4 minutes, pulled it out, worked the blades, and felt a lot of grit. Back into the tank, and a couple more sessions later the blades would move the whole 180 degrees. still no real spring, but lots of rust in the tank.
Put it in an oil bath overnight and then set it on a couple paper towels to drain. It was still leaking black debris, so back into the cleaner (this time with some heat to move the oil). after another 4-5 minutes the larger blade was actually locking up with some blade play, the locks were moving, and the one button was trying to work.
So I figured I'd see if anything would clean up with a little polishing compound, and stuffed the insides full and worked it with a trimmed down Q-Tip. Several Q-Tips. All of which got very dirty. The blades got a little too and I worked it into the joints as best I could. After an hour, or so, things seemed to be moving a lot better but the small blade still had no button action or lock up.
Back into the tank it went, and a couple cycles later I dropped it back in the oil. The next day it was still leaking rust debris, but not as much. so back again into the tank, and then I used a little craytex on the blades and surface edges to take off the really nasty stuff. A little more lite polishing and the brass liners were looking good, the scales where showing some color, and we could read the markings. The springs were working, the last button broke free, and the blades had spring action.
Another cycle later and the knife was back to working, although it still does not lock up (or spring all the way) every time. But I'm still working it, and it has a sharp edge for what's probably the first time in 50 years.
She's a pretty little thing, Schrade made some nice knives. These old "switchblades" are fairly uncommon considering the millions made, and I have a soft spot for them. But even better, it's good to have a knife capable of doing what it was made to do.
Last edited:
:thumbup: