Weak springs

[t.sous11]

Please excuse my ignorance, I've only been using traditional knives for over a year or so.

I just purchased a new knife, GEC 57, and it arrived yesterday. First off the knife is beautiful, great stag, blades fit up great, no sharp corners, and so on. I love the knife, it's just what I was looking for, a knife exclusively for whittling.

My question and concern; is there any home remedy to weak springs? While the knife is great, the pull on the secondary blades is dismal. I would rate the clip a 3 and the coping a 2 or even 1, it basically limps open with almost no snap. Fortunately the main blade is about a 5 and snaps open.

Like I said, I really like the knife and want to keep it. The weak pull doesn't inspire confidence though, especially when I will be using the secondary blades primarily. Is there any fix I can do at home or am I making to big a deal here?

 

[ken erickson]

Pretty difficult to increase a week spring. Is there a possibility that the "peen" is too tight causing drag? If so , with care and experience this is an easier fix. If in fact the blade springs are weak, the only recourse is to disassemble the knife, make new springs or adjust your existing springs for more pre-load(which can cause other problems to pop up). Either way, the knife should be returned for warranty work in my opinion.

 

[richstag]

I have a few 57's. I said back when I got them they have a pull suite for a toddler.

I got used to it on mine. The clip versions have much stronger springs.

I would rate my spring green 57 at a 1-2 all three blades.

They all snap, smooth action, not peened too tight, just light pulls.

Kevin

 

[C Ben Susrool]

You have your answer from one who knows (Ken).

Surpise GEC and send it to them to correct weak springs.

 

[knifeswapper]

Ken may be right but I expect if you are not happy you need to go ahead and get a refund from the seller. You are going to like it a lot less if they shim the peen and you have play in the two small blades. The stag will get destroyed trying to replace a spring and it is just simpler for them to have the seller issue a refund and pass it on down the road to someone with arthritis

 

[Will Power]

You don't often hear of people encountering weak snap on a GEC usually complaints to the opposite

I have heard of others saying the 57 3 blade has softer pull though. The 57 Half Whitt I have has very decent snap but it's only 2 blades on the one spring.

The OP's knife is out of order, you can't use a knife for whittling that has no snap. It must go back and be exchanged. Bad luck there.

 

[sturzi]

The 57 has the weakest springs of my GECs too. But my problem was only some residue in the joints so they didn't snap open. Oil and working the joints helped a lot (you could also try with a bit of polishing compound). If you don't mind the weaker springs this might help, mine snap open nicely now.
Otherwise there's not much you can do...

 

[akadave2]

I have a #57 (Wharncliffe) as well and they do indeed have light springs. Its not a deal breaker for me. They are lighter that I prefer but they work and love the pattern.

 

[akadave2]

Duplicate...sorry

 

[richstag]

I have a #57 (Wharncliffe) as well and they do indeed have light springs. Its not a deal breaker for me. They are lighter that I prefer but they work and love the pattern.

That is how I feel and you don't need strong springs to whittle, you use the edge to cut not the spine

 

[t.sous11]

Thanks everyone for the input..
I'm going to email GEC and see what they say, if they say it's a risky procedure then I'll contact the dealer.