two spring stockman question

[jacktrades_nbk]

I see all the time pictures of those little knives, with the spey/pen and sheepfoot blades half opened, so, because the two blades share the same spring, is obvious that while one of them stays half opened, opening the other one will force the backspring, or the backspring pin way too much.
On my medium stockman, when either one of those blades is half opened, opening the other one becomes nearly impossible, making the other blade a real nail breaker.
I know this is just done for taking pictures, but could it harm the knife mechanism in any way, even if done just a few times ? Im thinking backspring brass pin damage, blade pin damage, weakened spring..
thanks

 

[Railsplitter]

I have been wondering about this issue myself. I even asked the same question on another forum.

The general opinion was that it does not damage the spring or pins unless they are weak to begin with.

It still concerns me though. Looks like a lot of strees on that spring.

 

[jacktrades_nbk]

Thanks for your answer Rick, much appreciated
This came to my mind after i handed my medium stockman to a coworker, he asked to see the cool little knife...i know, i know, never give a knife to be handled to anyone who isn't into knives..,
..so he half opened the main and the sheepsfoot, and then struggled to open the third, the spey blade, which he finally did. I never opened the blades like that before, so i didn't realize why he had a hard time opening it. I knew the spey was already a bit harder to open, so i just thought he couldn't get a good nail catch on the blade.
Anyway, after he handed the knife back to me, i tried to do the same thing, see what was the problem, and then i realized why was that happening, hence my question here.
Searching around, i've seen many pictures with the blades opened like that, so i figured it is not something that the members here wouldn't know about.
The knife still opens and closes like new, but of course it got me a bit worried, so in any case, be it good or bad, ill never do that kind of opening, or lend my knife..

 

[puukkoman]

If you left them all partially opened for an extended length of time, I can see how *maybe* it would damage softer stuff, like brass pins... or weak springs... but I think it's probably ok in small doses. I've never had a problem with any of mine, and I've opened them all that way at least a few times (for photos etc.).

 

[Phil Gibbs]

IMHO it should be avoided.
The pen spring of the knife is deflected more than it is designed to be when both blades are half open.
Some knives may be fine, others will suffer for it.
Just Don't Do It!

 

[black mamba]

Thanks, Phil, it's good to have an authoritative answer.

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

Another caveat, to having two opposing blades half-open on one spring:

If one or the other blade should happen to close accidentally while you're handling it, you'd be amazed at how hard it SNAPS, with all that doubled-up tension. I found that out the hard way, when one of my knives snapped shut on two of my fingers, when I was 'extracting' it from a display tin (with multiple blades open on 'display', of course). Very neatly chopped a 1/4" flap of skin from the tips of each of my index and middle fingers. That's most of the reason why I REALLY don't like having two half-open blades on one spring, at the same time. Even a small blade will drop hard, like a guillotine blade.

As others have noted, it also puts a lot of extra stress on the spring and the anchor pin, and that stress gets passed along to the liners & scales (often indicated by cracks near the pins, on bone scales especially).

 

[glennbad]

Schrade was known for selling knives in packaging with the knives partially opened.

You would also see it in the displays. So, for as long as these knives would sit on the shelf or in the package, they are partially opened.

I have not had any issues with knives that were packaged that way. But then again, maybe they also weren't intended to sit in the packages for 10 or more years. I open them like that very sparingly, usually for pictures and nothing more.

Glenn

 

[pvicenzi]

I've seen lots of knives, sitting in the display case, in exactly that position.

 

[Phil Gibbs]

Camillus did the same sort of (stupid) displays too.

That is what happens when the Marketing Department outranks the Engineering Department!

Again, IMHO, astute collectors of fine cutlery will avoid the risk!

 

[richstag]

Schrade was known for selling knives in packaging with the knives partially opened.

You would also see it in the displays. So, for as long as these knives would sit on the shelf or in the package, they are partially opened.

I have not had any issues with knives that were packaged that way. But then again, maybe they also weren't intended to sit in the packages for 10 or more years. I open them like that very sparingly, usually for pictures and nothing more.

Glenn

This one had to be like this from at least 2004 to a few months ago...

I wouldn't store my knives like that anyhow though. It is telling though in a way.