Malfunctioning backspring? Boker 1200

[TripleF]

There's something funny about this knife.......the spring isn't snappy and needs manual assistance. Not only do I notice it on this knife but another ebayer who sold the exact same knife listed the exact same problem, so maybe these are defects......

You have to use your thumb to press down the spring to "lock" the blade into place. And she does "LOCK" firmly into place. Then, the same procedure must happen when posting the blade into the cavity. There is no snap.

Any suggestions as to what might be the problem, or if and how to fix it?

Both pics below show the exposed area of the spring that needs to be depressed to finish locking the blade open, or closing it in the cavity.

[woseyjales]

I've read several posts about Boker's great customer service.
If cleaning out the blade well & pivot w/Qtips or round toofpicks
followed by few drops of new oil doesn't solve the problem
I'd recommend a call or email to Boker about repair or replacement.
Hope this helps

[jerryd6818]

Scott, I agree with Wosey.

I had a huge ole Sharp that had the same problem. Since it was a piece of crap knife anyway, I took it apart. I discovered that though the knife blade, handles and back spring were stainless steel, the spring buried down in the works was not. The spring was badly rusted and that was what was binding it up. A few more quarts of oil and a lot of working the back lock may have freed it up, or maybe not.

That may or may not be your problem. Wosey's advice sounds better to me than dinkin' around with it and driving yourself crazy.

[ea42]

Scott, assuming that the spring isn't broken (can you look down between the handles and see the spring? If so you'll be able to tell if it's broken), the handles are probably pinching the lockbar, either at the blade tang or near the butt where the cutout is. Another possibility is that the center pin is too tight and is keeping the lockbar from pivoting freely.

Eric

[TripleF]

Eric - I looked at the spring and it appears to be complete, not broken, and it pivots on the pin fairly easily. Push the spring down where the cut out it - it rises at tang end. Push tang end down, spring lies flat as would be expected. Seems to work as a spring should , but doesn't have any snap and as stated, needs to be manually pressed to be flush with scales.

I did call Boker and the guy in service had a recording stating - he'd be back on Monday....I thought that was weird....just one guy at Boker?

[ea42]

Scott, that'd be the backlever, on a lockback the spring is located inside at the butt end of the knife. It's sometimes attached to the butt piece (which that ferrule is likely holding in place) or in some cases is integral with the butt piece. If it were broken you wouldn't have any walk and talk at all. Seems like those handles are binding the lever up too much for it to work freely. Seeing as there aren't any exposed pins it looks to me like the knife has some kind of skeleton construction, which the handles would snap over. Never seen one of those though so it's hard to say.

Eric

[TripleF]

Yeah, there's no walk and talk at all.....and there is some resistance in the tang area of the knife when closing...feels kinds mushy.

I appreciate your input on this Eric!

[knives-are-quiet]

Sounds like the spring is binding somehow.

Is this a new knife?
Did this knife ever work properly?
Is this knife able to be taken apart?
What does the other side of the knife look like?
Does this knife have metal liners?
Is this a low end Boker knife?

JW~

[TripleF]

Won it in a "lot" purchase on ebay.

Here's more pics....

[rangerbluedog]

IIRC, the 1200 was a cheap knife, made 1988 thru 2000. There is a piece of plastic that held the spring in place. They are notorious for breaking. I had one that did the same thing.
It went in el garbage.


Oh yeah, here's a pic, along with the 1988 catalog description.

[knives-are-quiet]

Won it in a "lot" purchase on ebay.

Here's more pics....

I can't find anything about that model online.
I think the knife is a low end knife and most of the quality is probably in the blade.
I have had lockback knives with this same problem.
The spring is binding some where. Probably the center pin.
Do as previously posted - try cleaning and oiling the spring area.
You can also try if you have the time. Keep pushing that spring in about a hundred or so times.
It might wear the spring and pivot area to where it works properly.
Either that or pry the liners apart a little at the center pin with a soft piece of wood.
Or send it off to Boker.

JW~

[TripleF]

No wonder Boker won't return my calls....I've left 2 voice mails....nah-dah!