this is refering to folding knives (primarily those that lock). what is the technical term (and/or reason) for the spot in the path of the blade when opening or closing where it catches slightly. i guess not every knife does it. when holding closed with the tip to the right the catch tends to be when you open it to about the 10 or 11 o'clock position. i might just be losing my mind but i've noticed this over the years and wanted to know if there's an explaination. thanks.
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strange question
- Thread starter danfisher
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I think you might be feeling or hearing the ball detent slipping past the blade tang, just before the liner or frame lock engages.
Fred
Fred
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I've heard the term halfstop when refering to lockbacks and slipjoints.
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On a lockback/front-lock, it could be the cam effect of the lockbar rubbing against the tang as it pivots open. The round part of the tang is slightly eliptical and pushes the lockbar slightly up and back when the knife is opened.
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What makes you think your question is strange? I hear music whenever I open a folder! 
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Originally posted by Practical Use
What makes you think your question is strange? I hear music whenever I open a folder!
This is what the "old timers" call walk and talk.tom.
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Yes I think thats the halfstop cut into the blade tang on a lockback blade. It can also be profiled into the tang shape for a slip-joint. This partially enhances safety for the user when closing the blade. Thats my understanding. Jason.
I feel this is about the point where the force of a backspring changes from one way to the other, that is, a backspring holds the blade closed, as you open it there is a point where the spring gets to a diferent section of the tang and starts pushing the blade out, it travels until it gets to another section and then pushes the blade to the opened position. A similar thing happpens when you go from opened to closed, though this isn´t so noticeable on a lockback because you are separating the spring from the blade, it´s clear on a slipjoint.
It is, as has been mentioned, related to "Walk and Talk" and has to do mostly with the way the tang is built, there are angles distinguishing the back from the top and bottom, and at this points the direction of the force of the spring changes. More noticeable in blades with squared tangs than with rounded ones.
It is there to keep the blade where it should be, pushing the blade opened or closed as needed.
It is, as has been mentioned, related to "Walk and Talk" and has to do mostly with the way the tang is built, there are angles distinguishing the back from the top and bottom, and at this points the direction of the force of the spring changes. More noticeable in blades with squared tangs than with rounded ones.
It is there to keep the blade where it should be, pushing the blade opened or closed as needed.