1976 Bicentennial Sod Buster No Snap

[Jmcallisterfsu]

Picked up a 3 piece Bicentennial set from a local dealer today. You can tell the set lived in a display it's whole life. The other 2 have great snap, while the stag one has hardly any. Being an non-user, should a good oiling fix the problem?

[Mumbleypeg]

From the looks of the knife in your picture it appears the blade tang is depressing the spring, which is a good sign. It may just be a little tight. Only one way to find out if oil will help. Quick Release oil is the best I know of for that purpose but any light oil like 3-in-1 should tell you. You may just have to work it open and closed until it loosens up.

Ken

[Jmcallisterfsu]

From the looks of the knife in your picture it appears the blade tang is depressing the spring, which is a good sign. It may just be a little tight. Only one way to find out if oil will help. Quick Release oil is the best I know of for that purpose but any light oil like 3-in-1 should tell you. You may just have to work it open and closed until it loosens up.

Ken

Opening it up, there is some snap. It's when it's closing that it seems kind of lazy and closes softly. Definitely not the snap I'd like.

[herbva]

As Ken said, try Quick Release Oil first and work it in, opening and closing the blade as a first step. If that doesn't help, take a close look at the inside of the liners on either side of the blade tang as you slowly close the blade. Since you say there is opening snap, but no closing snap, the tang is probably getting pinched by the liners as the blade closes. If you can see where the tang is getting pinched, sometimes there are minor adjustments which can be made. For example, I've had success with using a small, flat, jeweler's file to shave the liners down a little bit where the pinch is occurring. You can also try using folded sand paper inside of the blade well. Make sure that you clean out any filings or grit from the sand paper before you close the blade. Compressed air works well for that last step.

[ea42]

I think a good oiling should definitely help. If you have Break Free or Quick Release all the better. It may need a little cutlering as well but try the oil first. I wouldn't do any kind of sanding on it. Those Kentucky knives regularly bring $100 and more by themselves in mint condition so you definitely don't want to be messing with it.

Eric

[Jmcallisterfsu]

Thanks for the advice and suggestions. I'll report back after I do a little oiling to see if it works.

[edge213]

Thanks for the advice and suggestions. I'll report back after I do a little oiling to see if it works.

If it just going to stay in this display case why oil it at all?
Maybe Ren Wax for protection.

[eveled]

Thanks for the advice and suggestions. I'll report back after I do a little oiling to see if it works.

If it just going to stay in this display case why oil it at all?
Maybe Ren Wax for protection.

My thoughts too. Oil will leach out and stain the red felt.

Oiling may or may not fix the problem, but not oiling it won’t cause any damage.