Oops........a Heartbreaker

[orvet]

I suppose it happens to everyone who rebuilds many knives, but I don't like it!

I found this great old Camillus rope knife that had had a lot of use.

I put new longer bolsters on it. and some jigged Honey Horn scales. I put it together to check the fit and noticed the spring was a bit weak.
So.............I tried to add just a bit more to it. It roke!

Oh well, maybe some day I will find another one that has a good backspring.
I guess the lesson here is to tweak the spring before doing the file work. If it breaks, it least you don't have the time of the file work invested in it.

Dale

[Hukk]

Can you make another spring?

[Diligence]

Dale,

LOL - I'm only laughing because I've just done the exact same thing. My best file work to date too! but, here's a twist. I broke the spring, but only about 1/4" off the end. I said, "no problem", I can just shorten the blade and the scales to suit (its an old hawkbill). Got it all sorted out and realized that the spring needed to be tweaked for some walk n' talk. Well, guess what I did - yes, I broke it again...this time it's ruined.

Oh well, I guess I get to make a spring now....

Don't feel lonely, there's another butter fingers right here beside you.

J

[orvet]

I figured I was in good company!
I really liked the file work on the spring too. That along with the fact that it is an unusual pattern that I really liked, made me feel so bad.

I suppose I could make another spring, but I don't have a heat treating oven. I would have to do it with my oxy-acetylene torch, and a by-guess & by-golly as far as the temp goes. I haven't tried it yet.
If anyone knows how to heat treat a spring, please let me know. I have plenty of 1095 stock to work with.

Thanks for the encouragement,
Dale

[muskrat man]

Dale, Yep- It's always a good idea to tune things before investing time. I did it to a 77OT I was working on a while back, that's why I ended up with the 77OT EDC with jeancarta scales . Those handles are beautiful. I'm sure you could make a new spring without too much hassle. Just trim it to the correct thickness and grind it out to match the other, but be careful! I have learnt that if you copy a weak spring, the spring you may will be weak too. make it to have more angle, not alot, just enough to see. Draw it up to nonmagnetic with your torch and oil quench it. clean the black off and draw it back to a purple or dark blue and quench in water to temper your spring.

[Hukk]

Dale, Yep- It's always a good idea to tune things before investing time. I did it to a 77OT I was working on a while back, that's why I ended up with the 77OT EDC with jeancarta scales . Those handles are beautiful. I'm sure you could make a new spring without too much hassle. Just trim it to the correct thickness and grind it out to match the other, but be careful! I have learnt that if you copy a weak spring, the spring you may will be weak too. make it to have more angle, not alot, just enough to see. Draw it up to nonmagnetic with your torch and oil quench it. clean the black off and draw it back to a purple or dark blue and quench in water to temper your spring.

The spring temper will be about 2/3 of say 1095's top hardness which would be about 66 Rc. So, you would/should come out around 42 to 46 Rc + or - a couple following MM's recommendation. For 1095 a fast quench oil is recommended. But any oil will do, a quart of vet grade mineral oil heated to 130 or 140 F will work just fine given the small size of the spring.

You can also anneal it, go to non magnetic and throw it into a bucket of vermiculite (from a nursury or garden shop) over night (just bury it in the center). Your filework will be the easiest you ever had once you anneal it.

Those are beautiful scales, gotta rescue the project.

[orvet]

Thanks MM & Hukk.
Now I have to get my torch going. My Dad gave me his old one with tanks. If they have gas left in them I am in good shape. If not, I will have to get a couple bottled.

Thanks again,
Dale