Tighten blades on Schrade UH?

S

scattershot

Joined
May 31, 2007
Messages
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Hi, all. I have two old Schrade 897UH stockman pattern pocketknives, and the main clip blade is loose on both of them. I have tried the vise trick, hitting the bolster with a padded hammer, etc. and can't seem to tighten the blade. The pivot pin doesn't seem to come through the bolster. Any suggestions?

Thanks.
 
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You're welcome. I'm confident you'll get some good answers to your question here.
(Link remains in "Traditional" as well.)
 
I don't know if the UH knives are built the same way, but the Old Timers are un-tightenable. The pivot pin is completely hidden beneath the bolster (does not penetrate it). The knife is assembled with the liners & blades pinned together, then the bolsters are snapped into place, and then the scales are attached.

...or something like that.
......which is why I don't really like the Old Timers as much as everyone else does. :/
 
The OT's are built with what is called the "Swinden Key System". The UH's may be built the same way.

Linky from a 2009 thread discussing the SKS construction on a 33OT:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=7419370&postcount=4

In this post, a point is made about the SKS and an Uncle Henry lockack:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=4906562&postcount=4

So, as Puukkomann said, they're not able to be tightened. I have fourteen Old Timer knives, and one Uncle Henry/Craftsman; eight of the OT's and the UH/Craftsman have at least one loose blade. They're still usable, but loose.

~Chris
 
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Here is a view of an old Schrade 125OT with one bolster knocked off showing the keyhole style construction.

 
Very interesting pic - you should post that over in the Schrade collectors' forum, folks there would be interested in, I'm sure. Thanks for posting it.

~Chris
 
i realize the pic would make it seem impossible to tighten but, i have tightened several old timers and uncle henrys by first wrapping them very thickly with teflon tape so as not to mar the knife with the hammer. i put the knife on an anvil which has no give and use a 3lb sledge hammer and give it a good whack a few time and usually that does the trick for me. do it at your own risk seeing as how you may actually mar the bolster. if you mar the bolster you can always file it down smooth and then use different coarseness of different sand paper to put a polish back on it. it takes a bit of practice but, i find this method works for me and one thing i cannot stand is a loose blade.
 
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