What's the deal with gaps?

supratentorial

supratentorial

Joined
Dec 19, 2006
Messages
8,210
What's the deal with gaps? I understand a huge gap may have consequences on the mechanics but why sweat the little ones? I've seen high quality vintage knives that have gaps. When did it become a major fault and why? Is it to keep the crud out? Even knives without visible gaps aren't impenetrable and will collect dirt and grime between the springs, in the well, and other crevices... so are there other reasons?

I just received a beautiful yellow bone Winchester and it has a few small gaps in the liners. There's no blade wobble. The walk and talk is perfect. Why do the gaps matter... or don't they?
 
There must be clearance between the parts for the springs and blades to move, so it is just a matter of degree. Larger dirt and grit can get into a larger gap and they just look sloppy, but unless they are really bad will not appreciably affect the function of the knife for its intended purposes. A couple of my favorite knives have visible but not huge gaps. They work just fine. If you pay $400 and up for a custom, then having visible gaps, although they don't affect the function of the knife, would be unacceptable. Then you might be too intimidated to use it. At least I find it difficult to carry and use the few customs I have.

My favorite pocket carry, the mini copperhead, you have no doubt seen here has a slight gap between the liner and spring on the pen blade side. It works just fine.

Ed J
 
I think it's more about aesthetics than anything else...gaps don't bother me a bit...
 
I'd prefer no gaps but assuming they are small, they are ok for a user. A gap here or there isn't a huge issue but I don't like it when they are all over the place. It looks like they couldn't put the knife together properly, like something wasn't measured right. When its like that, it feels like the maker didn't care about what they were doing and what they sold me. It associates the knife with negative feelings which takes away from the joy in using it. It shouldn't matter but it does.
 
While flaws bother me, it's much less than when I started collecting. When I started using a loupe to find problems(with watches) I realized that I needed to let it go. Most of my knives have a gap here or there, nothing major though.
 
Thank you, guys.

Here are a couple photos of the knife. I'll definitely be keeping it and I think I'll enjoy using this one a lot. The mechanics are perfect and the grinds are pretty good for a modern (1988) knife. I does have several small gaps though... I think they show up well in the enlarged scan.

winchester-1.jpg

winchester-2.jpg
 
I have a Case trapper from the 60's. It has gaps and other flaws. Its the most solid and smooth Case knife I have.

I, for one, sort of like the little imperfections. I don't feel like I have to baby a knife if it's already a little imperfect.

Some people like to collect vintage cars. I doubt they would drive their most expensive, perfect, rare, and interesting ones very often.... Ford pickups and Sodbusters for this me!
 
Jake, those gaps wouldn't bother me :) Unfortunately I don't have a pic to demonstrate what I'm talking about and if I have any knives in that category, my subconscious must be blocking them out.

One thing I didn't say is that if the knife is inexpensive then it doesn't bug me nearly as much. I have Kutmaster that I only paid a few bucks for including shipping that has gaps and wobble but don't really bug me.
 
Jake,

My main EDC right now is an ebony 85. When I first got it I was very disappointed and I made a few calls to communicate that feeling. It was the first GEC that had gaps. I got a few of the 85's and they were all the same. It just didn't make sense. Well, the saving grace is that the gaps are not on the pivot end. They are on the lanyard end where the backspring does not rise and fall. I don't like gaps at all near the pivot. It gives room for dirt, gravel, etc to get in between the spring and liners. That WILL make the action gritty and actually cause damage and premature wear. When that gravel breaks up more and works its way into the pivot area...blade play...

I like my knives 'gapless'. Its not just about looks, though that is a part of it. I don't like the look of gaps. I also feel a knife with NO gaps feels much more solid and actually smooth.

Just elaborating.

Kevin
 
sitflyer said:
I think it's more about aesthetics than anything else...gaps don't bother me a bit...
Click to expand...

That's what everyone with gaps in their knives says!!!:eek:

Just kidding. Just kidding. I couldn't let it pass.:rolleyes:

You've shown quite a few very nice knives sitflyer.:thumbup:
 
2Dead said:
I'd prefer no gaps but assuming they are small, they are ok for a user. A gap here or there isn't a huge issue but I don't like it when they are all over the place. It looks like they couldn't put the knife together properly, like something wasn't measured right. When its like that, it feels like the maker didn't care about what they were doing and what they sold me. It associates the knife with negative feelings which takes away from the joy in using it. It shouldn't matter but it does.
Click to expand...

Well said Trand. My feelings as well.

Now an older, well used, and often carried knife may exhibit some signs of gaps as pins wear and parts possibly shift.
 
I got a good price on this one (I think). The Bull-Head is one of my favorite patterns from the "black box" series (along with the Sowbelly). I took a look at my other "black box" knives and they all have small gaps. Below is a photo of the springs on the Sowbelly --marked "Queen" in the photo. I've used the knife a lot since then and it seems to be holding up well. Time will tell. I'm enjoying the knives at least.

img603.jpg
 
That yellow bone is great!
What bothers me more than gaps is wimpy walk and talk. I'll ignore gaps if the blade action is smooth, but if a knife has both flaws back it goes. I have one now that will be boxed up and sent to the maker, should have never left the factory like it is.
 
supratentorial said:
I got a good price on this one (I think). The Bull-Head is one of my favorite patterns from the "black box" series (along with the Sowbelly). I took a look at my other "black box" knives and they all have small gaps. Below is a photo of the springs on the Sowbelly --marked "Queen" in the photo. I've used the knife a lot since then and it seems to be holding up well. Time will tell. I'm enjoying the knives at least.

img603.jpg
Click to expand...

What gaps? I don't see any gaps.:D
 
It seems to me that small gaps between the springs are more of a normality than an abnormality... at least in the world of production knives.

The gaps that bother me are ones that have to deal with the scale meeting the bolster or the scale meeting the liner (pictured above "RR"). For me, if there is gap between the scale and ____, then that looks like sloppy craftsmanship... That's just my .10
 
Modoc ED said:
That's what everyone with gaps in their knives says!!!:eek:

Just kidding. Just kidding. I couldn't let it pass.:rolleyes:

You've shown quite a few very nice knives sitflyer.:thumbup:
Click to expand...
:D you actually got a good belly laugh out of me with that one:thumbup: :)
Like others have said... If it's an expensive,custom,or high end production maybe I'd be a little tweaked, otherwise I'm more concerned with other aspects. Any knife pocket carried will get lint,grit,etc in it from the open wells. That's normal, and normal maintenance and cleaning will minimize any effects from this.
Good thread!
 
Now you've done it. I've just spent the past five minutes going through my slipjoints looking for gaps. None of my three custom slips have gaps; they are a study in fine craftsmanship. You'd expect that though, attention to detail is one of the reasons I stepped up to custom knives.

All of my production slipjoints have gaps. Every single one. Doesn't bother me, it's par for the course.

I want to point out that not all gaps are created equal. Some gaps can only be seen when held up to the light. Others are wide enough to slip a sheet of paper through. As long as I can't fit a business card through a gap, I can live with it.

- Christian
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top