Does this feature have a name ?

[OSCAR]

I am not sure what it’s called but I just noticed a seldom seen feature on one of my RRR’s. On some of my AG Russell traditional knives there is a pin inside the knife that prevents the sharpened edge from hitting the back spring when you close it. I just noticed it on my RRR denim micarta lockback. I will check my other RRR’s later today to see if they all have this feature.

[Mumbleypeg]

Striker pin.

Ken

[OSCAR]

Striker pin.

Ken

Thanks Ken. It’s a great feature that should be on every folder. Never knew what it is called (until now).

[garddogg56]

Most blades have a kick on the tang that does the same thing no need for a striker pin.

[Mumbleypeg]

Serves the same function as the blade “kick” on a properly fitted knife. Given today’s dearth of skilled cutlers you’re probably right.

Ken

[philco]

A.G. Russell refers to that as a "Stop Pin".

[OSCAR]

A.G. Russell refers to that as a "Stop Pin".

Thanks Phil.
I think it’s a great feature.

[QTCut5]

I may be totally wrong about this, but I have always believed that the striker (or stop) pin was designed for two purposes: 1) to prevent the blade edge from striking the back spring when the blade is closed (as has already been mentioned), and 2) to reduce the size of the kick so that it didn't have as much of a sharp corner sticking up when the blade was in the closed position (similar to what a sunken joint does in that regard).

[FRJ]

I'll take a kick any day.
It gives you a very efficient option for future worn blades that expose the tip above the blade well.

Get your kicks .....

[catspa]

I’m with Joe.

Parker

[Railsplitter]

I'm a fan of the striker pin. In addition to eliminating blade rap, it also allows the tip to sit much farther drown inside the blade well because there is no kick extending past the edge.

I only have one photographic example but I have noticed that the blade tip sits very low in the blade well on knives that I've seen with striker pins.

In this example, and most that I've seen, it would be a very long time before the edge extended above the blade well when closed. So long that the blade would be a toothpick and it would be time for new knife anyway.

A kick does provide a method of adjustment if needed but a striker pin seems to eliminate the need altogether. In the unlikely even that the blade did need lowered, the indent where the striker pin contacts the blade could be filed just as easily as a kick.

[OSCAR]

I'm a fan of the striker pin. In addition to eliminating blade rap, it also allows the tip to sit much farther drown inside the blade well because there is no kick extending past the edge.

I only have one photographic example but I have noticed that the blade tip sits very low in the blade well on knives that I've seen with striker pins.

In this example, and most that I've seen, it would be a very long time before the edge extended above the blade well when closed. So long that the blade would be a toothpick and it would be time for new knife anyway.

A kick does provide a method of adjustment if needed but a striker pin seems to eliminate the need altogether. In the unlikely even that the blade did need lowered, the indent where the striker pin contacts the blade could be filed just as easily as a kick.

Railsplitter, that’s a good point you make. Also, that’s a great looking AG Russell in the photo.

[C-WADE7]

I only have one photographic example but I have noticed that the blade tip sits very low in the blade well on knives that I've seen with striker pins.

I see what you mean to an extent but wouldn’t blade shape vs handle sharp have a lot to do with how deep it sits in the blade well as well? At the end of the day the method of how the stop is achieved doesn’t affect where the stop point is does it, you just eliminate the tang having a kick.

[Railsplitter]

I think I understand what you're saying and I agree that the shape of the blade and handle play a role here also.

I do think that the stopping point is lower on a knife with a striker pin. I wish I had better examples but in this photo you can imagine if the knife had a kick instead of a striker pin. The striker pin contacts the blade at the point that the arrow points to. If the same knife/blade assembly had a kick instead, the blade would be forced to sit higher in the blade well because the kick would extend below the edge.

On this example, the stopping point is above the edge. With a kick, it would be below the edge.

[knife7knut]

I have a quill knife from the King William era(1830-1837) that has a small piece of bone at the rear between the liners that acts as a blade stop.

[OSCAR]

I have a quill knife from the King William era(1830-1837) that has a small piece of bone at the rear between the liners that acts as a blade stop.

Awesome knife

[Dinadan]

This is an interesting thread. A quick look at some of my knives did not turn up any stop pins.

I note that a couple of the examples with stop pins are lock backs. The spring in a lock back is often rather weak compared to a similar sized slip joint. I can see where the stop pin would keep the blade off the spring if the spring were not robust enough.

[OSCAR]

This is an interesting thread. A quick look at some of my knives did not turn up any stop pins.

I note that a couple of the examples with stop pins are lock backs. The spring in a lock back is often rather weak compared to a similar sized slip joint. I can see where the stop pin would keep the blade off the spring if the spring were not robust enough.

Dinadan, I have some lockbacks with stop pins, but also I have some slip joint knives with them.

[C-WADE7]

I think I understand what you're saying and I agree that the shape of the blade and handle play a role here also.…

I see what you mean and that makes sense. It allows a teardrop design with a wider blade end especially to sit deeper. It’s a very interesting topic for sure.