Spring tension on a slipjoint

J

John L

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Oct 28, 2004
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While at BLADE I had two things I wanted to do....slect some nice handle materials and pick the brains of the slipjoint makers. Found out no two make a slippie the same way. I also noticed that blade tension tends to be very, very minimal...not on all makers but some of the "famous" ones for sure. In fact some of the blades would not even stay in the closed position or in the half stop position, would not close on their own, etc. I was shocked to say the least.:eek: As I closed one of these very minimally tensioned knives I looked at the maker and he said "some people like them that way." :eek: Really?? I admit that I like a pretty hard spring. I also realize that since I open them everyday quite a few times perhaps I open them with more ease than the public. How do most of you like the tension on your slipjoints? I have no desire to make knives no one likes but......Thanks.
 
I like it with a nice, strong backspring, just to get that walk and talk. However, I don't want any nail breakers either. I've found that Case produces knives with backsprings the way I like 'em for the most part.
 
I don't like a real heavy tension on the spring.

I had nothing but slip joints in my youth, being the Buck 110 didn't come out till 1963 when it started a revelution in pocket knives. My old Camillus scout knife, the Buck stockman I bought in 1967, and Victorinox sak's, all had fairly easy and smooth actions. In fact, in the early 70's I went to buy a Case scout knife, and I passed on it because it was almost a thumbnail breaker.

In the early 50's my grandad got a Hen and Rooster pocket knife, and it had an easy action. Not a real strong spring. He may have hand picked it, because he had a particular view point on pocket knives. He once told me that someday you may have to open that knife with wet hands, or cold hands, or a broken finger or two on one hand. You don't want to have to have a wrestling match with your knife to open it.

My young mind latched onto that, and it stayed with me for life. I've passed up some very nice pocket knives because I wondered if I could get them open under less than ideal conditions. If I'm near busting a nail getting it open in a store, what's it going to be like out in cold wet woods?

Basides, if your using the knife like it's supposed to be used, it shouldn't close up on you because it has a weak spring. People used friction folders for a few hundred years for the simple task of cutting something.

Besides, here's a little something to think about; you're not getting any younger. As you get "older" things change. Tjhings like how well your hands work. Age and arthritis take thier toll on you. After half a lifetime cranking on Bridgeport mill handles, and pulling on Hardinge lathe handles, I have some wear and tear arthritis issues. Heck, last fall I couldn't even open a sak untill I had my thumb operated on. It would be a shame to collect all these nice slip joints, and then in your "older" years have to have somebody open them for you so you can admire them.

No, I'll take them easy to open, thank you.

Victorinox is a good yardstick to go by. If it's harder to open than a sak, I loose interest real quick.
 
Case is the standard for me. When I carry a slippie it's almost always a Case Trapper, even though I really like everything about my Northfield #73... except that damn backspring. If the backspring is going to be that strong, then the blade spine needs to have a bit of a hump in it so I can get a two-finger pinch on the blade to open it.
 
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Put me in jackknife's corner :)

I like medium light tension. If the need arises for something more sturdy I go to a lock back or fixed blade. A slipjoint can be made with medium light spring tension without feeling weepy.
 
John L said:
As I closed one of these very minimally tensioned knives I looked at the maker and he said "some people like them that way." :eek: Really??
Click to expand...
I guess that supprises me a bit. I don't like super-strong backsprings on my slippies, but I like a definite "snap" to the blade when to fully opens and fully closes. I would definetly take a pass on a custom knife like you describe no matter how nice the finish or matierials were, unless the maker could tighten up the spring for me. I agree with dalefuller, I find the spring tension on Case trappers to be just about perfect for me. They snap open and closed with authority, but I don't break my nails prying them open.

Weak springs make me worry that a non-locking knife is going to close up way too easy, potentially on your fingers! :eek:
 
I keep my nails relatively short, so I don't like a really strong spring.

For me, Ryu Kawamura and Richard Rogers knives have about perfect tension.
 
I'd say Victorinox is perfect and very consistent. Case is also very good. I have a few Queens that could be a bit easier to open. The depth and placement of the nail nick is also very important in relation to spring tension. If it is closer to the tip the knife is easier to open. Closer to the joint and there is not enough leverage. I am also particular about what side the nail nick is on since I like to open all slipjoints with the same motion.
 
No less than late model Henckels and no more than Case knives, which are just about right for my taste. Just a note; the longer blades appear less stiff than the shorter ones due to the increase in leverage
 
Anything from medium light to medium hard are ok by me. I don't like nail breakers.

I've thought about what knives I'll carry when I get to that point in my life where I have some trouble opening the harder blades. I've got a few with medium light tension that I carry now, they'll be the ones I carry then.
 
I like a loud walk and talk. A new knife with about a 8 to 10 pull usually wares in about right for me......
 
I like a blade I can pinch open or use a thumbstud to open. Medium pull is fine. No nailbreakers, plus I have none to break.:(
 
I have a hard time believing any popular or well known slipjoint maker is making spring tension so weak the blades fall open. In fact this is exactly the opposite of my custom slipjoint observations. The 15 or so maker's work I've owned or examined tended to have heavier than factory springs. As for my own preferences--I prefer medium heavy spring tension, but can live with medium.
 
Put me in the medium spring camp. I don't want to leave behind a fingernail, but I think the spring should do what it's there for.
 
I like stiff springs on a slipjoint.

I don't DEPEND upon locks or other safety mechanisms per se, but have in the past, had many a knife twist in my hand, the stiffer the spring, especially with a half -stop, the less likely it will close up on my finger.

When I am too old/busted up to use a stiff slipjoint , I'll switch to the other knives I carry.....feel under dressed if not carrying at LEAST 4 knives(currently medium-stiff Amherst stag barlow, Benchmade Griptilian with Wilkins G-10 scales, Galyean Pro Series small Junkyard Dawg and Microtech cali legal OTF).

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
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