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v1h82yeyni ͉
- Thread starter asdf12345
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Treated and maintained well and not abused, either one will last you the rest of your life.
If you buy a friction folder, make sure it has exposed pivot/rivit ends, so if it loosens up over time, you can tap/peen the pivot ends to snug it up. I've done that once with a friction folder. But the same with a slip joint, that can be snugged up.
This knife is about 70 years old, and was used hard for the first 40 years of it's life. About 1/3 of the blade is gone from resharpening from use. The action has a bit of wobble in the joint, but I leave it like that. Not gonna mess with it.
This Sardinian resolza is a friction folder, and in the past few years I've had it, it's been carried and used a pretty fair amount. I gave the pins a tap or two because I like a friction folder a bit more firm. Its been fine. If I wasn't an old fart, I'd probably be using this knife 20 years from now with no problem. I'm sure there are some Sardinian shepherds in the hills that have used one for a few decades or three. They have a rep for use.
Get the knife that bakes your cookie, and don't worry about howling it's going to last. That all depends on how you treat it.
If you buy a friction folder, make sure it has exposed pivot/rivit ends, so if it loosens up over time, you can tap/peen the pivot ends to snug it up. I've done that once with a friction folder. But the same with a slip joint, that can be snugged up.
This knife is about 70 years old, and was used hard for the first 40 years of it's life. About 1/3 of the blade is gone from resharpening from use. The action has a bit of wobble in the joint, but I leave it like that. Not gonna mess with it.
This Sardinian resolza is a friction folder, and in the past few years I've had it, it's been carried and used a pretty fair amount. I gave the pins a tap or two because I like a friction folder a bit more firm. Its been fine. If I wasn't an old fart, I'd probably be using this knife 20 years from now with no problem. I'm sure there are some Sardinian shepherds in the hills that have used one for a few decades or three. They have a rep for use.
Get the knife that bakes your cookie, and don't worry about howling it's going to last. That all depends on how you treat it.
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That means slipjoints. - Joined
- Apr 18, 2010
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- 34
I don't have it in a case. It is a pretty modern one. I tightened up the pivot via screw a little tighter than I really prefer to avoid unpleasant surprises. Always make sure to place it at the very bottom of my pocket too.
Jack
Jack
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- 2,493
Ive only just returned to the secret world Of 'Friction ' after many years of absence .
I have a custom knife on order and so while I wait for it I bought a Svord to reacquaint myself .
Straight away the issues of how to carry came flooding back to me .
Over the last few days I've been using these two methods and it works well .
Shirt pocket that is just perfect size .
On belt
I'm really enjoying this Folder , I cant wait to get my custom one .
Ken
I have a custom knife on order and so while I wait for it I bought a Svord to reacquaint myself .
Straight away the issues of how to carry came flooding back to me .
Over the last few days I've been using these two methods and it works well .
Shirt pocket that is just perfect size .
On belt
I'm really enjoying this Folder , I cant wait to get my custom one .
Ken
If it's a light use knife, I would lean towards a slip joint.
I love friction folders and the Opinel is my most commonly carried knife. The pros of friction folders are that they take silly amounts of lateral stress without developing lateral play (assuming they have fully exposed rivets or large pivots) and that they can continue to work well when fouled with dirt. The dowsides are that they are a bit fiddly requiring adjustment to get the friction "just right" and, unless they have a lock like the Opinel, they can open in your pocket and bite you.
For general purpose use, it's hard to improve on the ease of use of the traditional slip joint. I've you've never carried a friction folder, I'd recommend spending $15 on an Opinel to get a feel for them before dropping big money on a custom.
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I could quote the whole post, but the last bit really hit home for me.
I've really been eyeing a custom friction even though I have never handled one. Great timing OP on the thread. Looks like I will be getting my first Opinel.
I don't own any customs, but allow me to chine in on one aspect of friction folders.
One school of thought might be to make the pivot so tight that the blade takes significant effort to rotate. This will prevent accidents, but it also makes it harder to open/close all the time. On the Svord Mini Peasant I've been carrying, you can tension front and rear screws. The rear screw controls how hard the scales squeeze the tip of the blade in closed position (i.e., blade retention), so the end of the scales act as a detent. Once the tip of the blade is clear of the scales, it rotates smoothly. I only adjust the pivot screw to eliminate blade play.
I've been carrying my Mini Peasant for over a year now, nearly every day. It's always sleeveless, in my right front pocket, tip down (because it's easiest to open one-handed this way). After tensioning the rear screw, I have no fear whatsoever of the knife accidentally opening. On your custom, make sure you can tighten the scales on both ends. I find the friction folder a joy to use.
The advice you got to try a Svord peasant is good. For $15 you can find out if you like friction folders before plunking down cash on a custom.
One school of thought might be to make the pivot so tight that the blade takes significant effort to rotate. This will prevent accidents, but it also makes it harder to open/close all the time. On the Svord Mini Peasant I've been carrying, you can tension front and rear screws. The rear screw controls how hard the scales squeeze the tip of the blade in closed position (i.e., blade retention), so the end of the scales act as a detent. Once the tip of the blade is clear of the scales, it rotates smoothly. I only adjust the pivot screw to eliminate blade play.
I've been carrying my Mini Peasant for over a year now, nearly every day. It's always sleeveless, in my right front pocket, tip down (because it's easiest to open one-handed this way). After tensioning the rear screw, I have no fear whatsoever of the knife accidentally opening. On your custom, make sure you can tighten the scales on both ends. I find the friction folder a joy to use.
The advice you got to try a Svord peasant is good. For $15 you can find out if you like friction folders before plunking down cash on a custom.
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On a friction folder I do keep them snugged up so to takes a deliberate pull on the blade to open the knife. In all honesty, I can't remebr the last time I used the locking ring on my Opinel. And both the Japanese Higonokami and Sardinian resolza are not hard to open, but they can't be shaken upside down or otherwise opened except by a deliberate pull on the blade. The amount of friction I keep them adjusted to is about the same as a medium to lightly sprung slip joint. I actually prefer the friction folder over a slip joint now that I'm a half crippled up old fart. Way more predictable on opening, and no accidents if some arthritic fingers slip. No snapping closed of the blade.
I've also found the friction folder to be easier to deal with when wearing gloves. Either in the cold, or while working on something that work gloves are used. The Japanese Higonokami and the Svord, as well as Micheal Morris's friction folders have that nice tang that can brushed on a leg or other object and very easterly opened one handed. The japanese knife has influenced me to coming very close to pulling the trigger on a Svord. I love the fact that the Svord can be adjusted without having to resort to a hammer.
One thing I love about the ardinian knife, and am mystified at the same time, is how they shaped the tang. They way they have ti rigged, it's easier to pull until 3/4 of the way open, then the last bit until it's fully open it sort of gets stiffer, so there seems to be more friction in the full open position than midway, or even fully closed. Pretty slick. It's at it's most safe when fully open, and to closet is like pushing against a moderate back spring, but with steady pressure to push it all the way closed. Those Sardinian guys know how to make a great knife!!!
I've also found the friction folder to be easier to deal with when wearing gloves. Either in the cold, or while working on something that work gloves are used. The Japanese Higonokami and the Svord, as well as Micheal Morris's friction folders have that nice tang that can brushed on a leg or other object and very easterly opened one handed. The japanese knife has influenced me to coming very close to pulling the trigger on a Svord. I love the fact that the Svord can be adjusted without having to resort to a hammer.
One thing I love about the ardinian knife, and am mystified at the same time, is how they shaped the tang. They way they have ti rigged, it's easier to pull until 3/4 of the way open, then the last bit until it's fully open it sort of gets stiffer, so there seems to be more friction in the full open position than midway, or even fully closed. Pretty slick. It's at it's most safe when fully open, and to closet is like pushing against a moderate back spring, but with steady pressure to push it all the way closed. Those Sardinian guys know how to make a great knife!!!
I made this one about 20 years ago, the curly scales from a load of firewood ;-)) I flush ground the pivot pin
but the brass liners hold the blade nice and snug. Had to center punch the pin a couple of years ago to snug it up.
I use it for hard dirty outside work so I made the lever extra long for a little extra control on the blade.
Bet regards
Robin
but the brass liners hold the blade nice and snug. Had to center punch the pin a couple of years ago to snug it up.
I use it for hard dirty outside work so I made the lever extra long for a little extra control on the blade.
Bet regards
Robin
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- Jan 28, 2005
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If you are getting anything of quality, you shouldn't need to worry about parts wearing out, especially if you plan not "hard" use. I love my slipjoints, but make friction folders. With a little blue loctite on the pivot threads, my friction folders maintain a nice semi-stiff open/close. Most of the time I don't use a slip sheath when carrying loose in my front pocket.. rides nice and never opens. Of course it's always tip down.
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I prefer slip joints because I love to hear that "snap", I also like bear trap springs so that puts me in a minority but as Jack knife said, just get what you like. It is a matter of personal preference, both are proved through time and use by many, many users. As to the how long it will last part of your question that doesn't really matter, if you look after it it will last for a very long time, think of all the pics of 70+ year old slip joints and friction folders around here, the knife will last, don't be concerned about that. Just get the knife that suits you, carry it, cherish it and then give it to your kids.
James.
James.
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- Jan 28, 2005
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Magnificent friction folders you built, Robin and Hawk45!!
Hawk, your sig says "wannabe bladesmith", but it looks to me like there's no wannabe needed!
- GT
Thank you for the kind words.