Suggested Fix for Ann's SAK

STR

STR

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Ann I got your knife in the mail this morning. I haven't been able to get to it with other things going with company here and other things but I did have time to play on the computer most of the time since some people sleep later than my wife or I but I have been playing with your knife.

I see why you have an issue with it. It seems its not so much related to the spring as it is the blade. I suspect you grab it like my wife and I did when we both first opened it, ie right at the very end of the blade at the tip which is the worst place for grip due to the tapered off edge there for some reason. I am not sure of what the blade shape is actually for on this one but at the nail nick where the blade is a wedge shape from the flat grind or V grind is the best place to grip it.

Grabbing the tapered false edge on that end is problematic because it allows your fingers to slide off and the that is when the blade snaps shut. I can see how it cut you. Its snapped shut on me a few times grabbing the blade there also.

So what I propose is an easy opener notch where I've marked the handle in this picture. This will open up that area around the nail nick for you and allow a better finger purchase of the blade on that thicker wedge shaped part of it to pull it out without it slipping.

I will wait for your ok before proceeding though. Click on this thumbnail picture to enlarge it, and if you run your mouse arrow over the pic once enlarged wait for the little box in the right hand corner and click that to go to an even bigger picture.

STR
 
STR,
If you had asked me I probably would have said I used the nail nick, but maybe you and your wife are right about my grabbing or misjudging closer to the tip of the blade, or maybe I just didn't get a good grasp.

I think that we should probably go ahead with your modification, but before you do, perhaps you could also let me know if the slender handle raises any concerns on the part of you or your wife. I felt I had trouble sparing the tip of my left middle finger (opening w/ RH) because I couldn't "conceal" it along the handle when I was opening it.

I noticed something in your (excellent) photo: the angle of the nail notch. This knife's notch is different from some of my other pocket knives and that other SAK . I can get quite a bit more leverage when the nail notch slopes downward toward the left (opposite to the one I sent you).


thx-annr

Ps Weird shape isn't it? (If anyone recognizes the shape pls. let me know its significance.)
 
I've got an idea about gripping it. I can put some indents into the handle for your index and middle finger and the thumb on the other side all for left hand to automatically find when you grab it to open it. This will assign each finger a rest stop for you to keep them from getting into harms way I think. (I hope)

I've been told that the shape was a pipe cleaning tool or blade but I am currently trying to verify this. I guess I have my doubts about that but I don't have a better answer. Here is a better picture of the blade opened for any SAK lovers to maybe help on the ID with.

STR
 
Well my wife says this one is much much better Ann. The red handle is a tricky deal to finish but I think finger rubbing will improve whats left over time. I managed to get it pretty good though. I gave your thumb, and the index and middle fingers all a nice rest spot to seat for grip. The easy opener slots I put in it work like a charm allowing your finger and thumb an excellent purchase on the best part of the blade for easy extraction.

I think you'll be pleased. This is a N/C deal. Its one of those things where I really have no materials cost and it was fairly straight forward and easy to do. So its on me. Just pay the shipping when it gets back to you. I don't know what that will be but I assume like $4.60 for Priority mail if I do that or if you want first class probably a buck or two. Your call there.

Thanks though. I'm still looking to try to find out what the heck this blade is designed this way for.

STR
 
Thanks STR and April,

It looks pretty nifty:thumbup: in the pictures and I am eager to give it a go- on my cane -- not my fingers:). As you can tell I spent some time re-grinding, changing the bevels, sharpening, etc. so if I can utilize it I will be most grateful.

The knife was purchased at a trade show in Germany and I'm supposing it was hijacked by oboists to make reeds so if you find out what it's meant to do I would be delighted.

That little American Hone Co. stone got here in no time, so if you want to mail the knife the same way -that would be about right for me.

Muchas gracias to both of you for your service and smiles. I'll let you know how I make out.
 
Yeah its a lot easier to get out now. Thanks for stopping by. I asked A.G. to take a look at your knife Ann. I was hoping we could get somewhere on what it was. Neat little knife. I have no earthly idea what it is supposed to be for though. I don't know if this is a different type of race knife or if its some other specialized veternarian tool or what. I know I've never seen one like it though.

STR
 
Hallo there Steve.
I am of the opinion that is what is called a grafting blade.
You cut a nick into an existing plant and graft a cutting from another plant into the nick.
Dirk
 
STR,
Thanks for the consult w/ A.G. Russell. As I compare the original to the pics of the customized job the knife may have been an accident waiting to happen.
The knife was called a "Swiss Star folding knife" though I don't see anything like it on the SAK site. It is possible that the knife is a custom run ( the other one I showed you is) but I can't think of anything on God's green earth that a reedmaker would do with that swirly thing at the tip. Wouldn't one have to close the knife to use that portion?

Oupa,
Is that what you mean, close the knife and use the sculpted tip for the grafting process?
 
That pattern is still being made by German makers.
I am no horticulturist, but budding and grafting is what it is designed for.
Sometimes the little horn is referred to as a "bark lifter".
Dirk
 
Thats the only way to use that I thnk Ann since there is no lock on the blade. Its not actually sharp but more like a very tapered false edge. Its almost spoon like but yet its not.

Race knives were for marking lines on wood and I thought it was something of that nature at first but they had a L shape usually sometimes U shaped edges of varying degrees and this one does not do that. So, I don't think its a race knife.

If you really want to get more info on your knife I'd suggest saving the pics I scanned of it here to your hard drive and posting them on the Bernard Levine Forum and asking him..Or maybe he'd tell you by the link to this thread. I can't say.


STR
 
Well, there we have it! Thank you Dirk. I knew asking someone down under would eventually pan out. Pays to have friends everywhere sometimes! :thumbup:

Good job. Learn something new everyday.

STR
 
Thanks Oupa and Paragraaf,
I wouldn't have found that in a million years. So the knife was hijacked.

If you don't mind, I'd like to pick your brain again. Have you seen this one? (I'd love to know if it is authentically a custom design for reeds or if that was hype, pulling the wool over my eyes:).)

I posted the other knife on this thread:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=496083
Post #1, this is how the whole fix started. Just in case this is lost in the verbiage
the knife with the 2 blades reads Wenger,Delemont on the handle.
 
I searched on and off yesterday all I could find on Wenger and Victorinox sites and couldn't find anything on that. I did pull up that one of the two blade one by typing in "Reed knives" on Google though Ann. http://www.forrestsmusic.com/knivesandcutters.htm

I think you scroll down about midway.

STR
 
Vic is generally slightly better fit and finish of the parts I think but other than some inner design differences in the way they do some things like scissors they are very close. Vic bought out Wenger just a year or two ago as I recall reading around here somewhere.
STR
 
STR said:
I searched on and off yesterday all I could find on Wenger and Victorinox sites and couldn't find anything on that. I did pull up that one of the two blade one by typing in "Reed knives" on Google though Ann. http://www.forrestsmusic.com/knivesandcutters.htm

I think you scroll down about midway.

STR
Click to expand...

You are right about that. There are several reed companies that are selling this 2 bladed knife under the guise that it is a "reed knife" and they are charging top dollar. Oupa's link also shows that the reed knife is overpriced (50% markup). Now I'm wondering if the double bladed knife can be found for less when it is not advertised as reedknife. They know that oboists are a desperate lot.
 
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