Why I don't care for unsecured stop pins

[STR]

Every now and then I get a knife in the mail from an end line user that reports their folder has started acting weird. This was no exception. I've had to replace stop pins in Emersons, and Gerbers, Kershaws, and many others over the years and this one happens to be a Kabar that just came to me.

You guys that elect to leave your pivots sloppy loose where you develop a bit of lateral (side to side) blade play should give this a look see. The Emersons I get here for clips and other work frequently have loose pivots and when you combine this with the stop pin held in place by pivot tension it can at times depending on the tolerances of the fittings equal a lost pin. I get reports from guys with Waved folders all the time when I inquire as to why their carry knife is so loose that they like it that way because it "Waves eaiser". Ok, makes sense but you better have a spare stop pin in your watch pocket for just in case.

Seen here is a shot of this nice Kabar with a nicely done D2 blade. Notice anything missing?

STR

 

[STR]

All fixed up now.

As is usual with these there can be more involved.

This knife is equipped with a bushing much like the Reeve Sebenza has in it. These are nice and all but when it comes to putting take apart knives in the hands of end line users I shy away from these for one reason. They take the knives apart and then never put them back together correctly. They think they do but then the knife is weird or not looking right and they can't figure it out.

What happens is that the bushing actually is thicker than the blade. Follow me.

The example here has a .125 blade. the bushing is .168 and the washers make up the difference and are supposed to sit over and around the bushing. In other words the hole in these washers is the same size exactly as the bushing is in diameter.

What occured here that I discovered once I had it apart is that the gentleman that owns the knife apparently took it apart, probably to clean it, and then when he put it back together he did not get the washer stradled around the bushing properly so instead of sitting over and around it so the bushing went through the washer as it should, the washer was wedged and sitting up on top of bushing on one part of it and this kept the pivot from tightening down and squeezing together all the way.

What is tough to know is that to the outside observer it looked and felt like there was no blade play because it was tight and the blade even pivoted albeit a bit stiff. Fact is though this is what provided the gap to lose the stop pin.

STR

 

[jaislandboy]

thanks for the edgucational post STR... :thumbup:

 

[DaveH]

then never put them back together correctly

Sometimes I have to struggle with getting a seb together correctly as you mentioned but I'm very glad for the design.

 

[STR]

I understand that appreciation but its really not necessary for a bushing IMO. The Bradley and several others like my recent trade acquistion in a knife by Gene Baskett that don't have them prove out. These are every bit as smooth and functional as the Sebenza and lots easier to take apart and put back together for the novice.

STR