Variables in Traditional Folders?

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robertj298

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Mar 7, 2014
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I'm curious as to why the exact same patterns of pocket knives can have such differences in things such as pull, walk and talk and snap? I would think the process of making 2 patterns of the same knife would turn out an identical product.
 
robertj298 said:
I'm curious as to why the exact same patterns of pocket knives can have such differences in things such as pull, walk and talk and snap? I would think the process of making 2 patterns of the same knife would turn out an identical product.
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All those have to do with the springs and the deflection thereof.
If you are talking about two knives from different companies, then there are a lot of design variables to consider:
♦ How hard were the springs hardened?
♦ How thick is each spring? The thicker it is, the greater the resistance.
♦ where on the blade is the nail nick? The farther out, the greater the leverage and the lower the pull
♦ What is the exact size and shape of the kick? The kick determines the deflection of the spring. Therefore it has an effect.
 
knarfeng said:
All those have to do with the springs and the deflection thereof.
If you are talking about two knives from different companies, then there are a lot of design variables to consider:
♦ How hard were the springs hardened?
♦ How thick is each spring? The thicker it is, the greater the resistance.
♦ where on the blade is the nail nick? The farther out, the greater the leverage and the lower the pull
♦ What is the exact size and shape of the kick? The kick determines the deflection of the spring. Therefore it has an effect.
Click to expand...
No. I am talking about the same pattern knife from the same company.
 
robertj298 said:
No. I am talking about the same pattern knife from the same company.
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Are you talking from the same run as well? I’ve got #15’s from GEC, they were made in different years. They have similar pulls but noticeably different w&t and snap. Not sure if it’s on purpose, if making them more what customers are asking for, or slightly different heat treat or spring thickness?
 
Your question has been answered, but I want to chime in anyways with an observation...
I have noticed that a lot of companies will make the same knives with springs that vary a LOT, and it always puzzled me since a huge outfit like Swiss Army can be so consistent with their pulls.
 
Ernie1980 said:
Your question has been answered, but I want to chime in anyways with an observation...
I have noticed that a lot of companies will make the same knives with springs that vary a LOT, and it always puzzled me since a huge outfit like Swiss Army can be so consistent with their pulls.
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Victorinox uses a lot of robots to make all the parts.
I believe the knives are assembled by hand but, but the robots do everything that lead to inconsistencies.
 
robertj298 said:
I'm curious as to why the exact same patterns of pocket knives can have such differences in things such as pull, walk and talk and snap? I would think the process of making 2 patterns of the same knife would turn out an identical product.
Click to expand...

robertj298 said:
No. I am talking about the same pattern knife from the same company.
Click to expand...
I have wondered the same thing. I have had some Case knives, same model,same run, with totally different pull and snap.

Hickory n steel said:
Victorinox uses a lot of robots to make all the parts.
I believe the knives are assembled by hand but, but the robots do everything that lead to inconsistencies.
Click to expand...
Those robots are gooooood! Every single Victorinox knife I have ever handled has been dang near identical in fit, finish, walk and talk.

Curious, have any of you guys ever seen a Victorinox with a defect?
 
flatblackcapo said:
I have wondered the same thing. I have had some Case knives, same model,same run, with totally different pull and snap.


Those robots are gooooood! Every single Victorinox knife I have ever handled has been dang near identical in fit, finish, walk and talk.

Curious, have any of you guys ever seen a Victorinox with a defect?
Click to expand...
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/has-anyone-ever-had-a-defective-swiss-army-knife.1081757/ :) your question reminded me of this thread.
 
They’re handmade, every single one has its own nuances. It’s that simple.
 
flatblackcapo said:
I have wondered the same thing. I have had some Case knives, same model,same run, with totally different pull and snap.


Those robots are gooooood! Every single Victorinox knife I have ever handled has been dang near identical in fit, finish, walk and talk.

Curious, have any of you guys ever seen a Victorinox with a defect?
Click to expand...

I have 3 different classics in my carry rotation and all have different walk and talk.
The camo one GT sent me new last year is much weaker than the other two, now the other two are 20+ years old but were very lightly used if at all when I got them.
I've also got a recruit where the very first mm of edge at the tip males contact but will be taken care of by regular sharpening.

Basically these are all things you only notice if you really pay attention, other than that my 3 other Vic knives are just fine.
They really are probably the most consistent company there is.
 
flatblackcapo said:
I have wondered the same thing. I have had some Case knives, same model,same run, with totally different pull and snap.


Those robots are gooooood! Every single Victorinox knife I have ever handled has been dang near identical in fit, finish, walk and talk.

Curious, have any of you guys ever seen a Victorinox with a defect?
Click to expand...

It isn't just the robots. A goodly part of it is the design. Features that garner complaints in other Traditional knives aren't even visible in SAKs.

For example: How many comments have we heard about uneven or gappy springs in one brand or another? If the springs aren't visible, then it does not matter whether they are uneven or not. You never here complaints about gaps in SAK springs, because you can't see them.
 
knarfeng said:
It isn't just the robots. A goodly part of it is the design. Features that garner complaints in other Traditional knives aren't even visible in SAKs.

For example: How many comments have we heard about uneven or gappy springs in one brand or another? If the springs aren't visible, then it does not matter whether they are uneven or not. You never here complaints about gaps in SAK springs, because you can't see them.
Click to expand...

Wait... what?

I had never thought about this, but I know what you mean. However... I pulled out my Vic Walker (conveniently on my belt right now in a Zermatt pouch) and guess what -- the springs look to me to be just like a typical, traditional pocket knife, flush with the bottom when the blade/tool is closed or open, and rising visibly when transitioning between those two states.

The Walker is an 84,mm, two layer knife with no blades or tools on the bottom. And, of course, everything fits perfectly with no gaps.
 
I carry a Tinker and a Classic. There are blades on both sides of both of them. No visible springs.
 
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