All About Pocket Knives

Hi all, Got around to making a slackener the other day.
The handles are saved from a broken set, you'll notice one hole is a bit offset, I had to work around
the broken edge, but still works.
Was going to put in landyard hole, but with my expertise probably would've been a disaster.
Anyhow she works.
She's 3&3/8 long, 10thou. blade.
Comments wellcome.


cheers Gary.


Pic's leave a fair bit to be desired, really shines pretty good.

Looks like a good job.I just have one question:What is a slackener? Haven't heard the term before.

Looks like a tool to keep space between the liners and blades from getting to tight or stiff when putting a knife together or back together... ....thats my guess.

johnnierotten wrote:Looks like a tool to keep space between the liners and blades from getting to tight or stiff when putting a knife together or back together... ....thats my guess.

You are right Johnnie~
Althought the term is "slacking tool"
You can also use tin foil folded to .010 to .015 thickness.
It is actually just a spacer or shim..........

Gary~
Your slacking tool looks as good as some of the knives you made.
Wow!!! I just use an old putty knife.
You need to make a spreader tool now.

(PS) The pins being a little offset just shows it was hand made.
I've made knives where the pins aren't symmetrical.
If you look at antique knives, they are by no means perfect.


J W

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Nice gary..This was a feeler gauge?
Did you use a Dremmel to cut the slot?
Been meaning to make one.

I Put my first knife together a few years ago and that was one of the things
I forgot to do ,and that knife is TIGHT!

Thanks to those who posted an answer;I learned something today.Just trying to follow my grandfather's instructions:"If you don't learn something each day,you probably are not breathing!"

Nice handle Gary.

knives-are-quiet wrote: You are right Johnnie~
Althought the term is "slacking tool"

J W

The terms are synonymous. Adrian Harris calls it a slacking tool in his book & Ben Kelly calls it a slackner in his book. It depends on which book you read or what you learned to call it. They are the same tool.

I thought about putting handles on my slackners, but the thinner ones will sometimes tear when they are removed, usually those that are 0.008” or less, so I make mine out of feeler gauges and if they tear, I cut them off and cut a new slot in it.

Nice slackener Gary, going high end I see

Cattaraugus, you can loosen that tight blade up. There are a number of ways, although if it's REALLY tight you'd likely have to loosen it to the point of pin-show and re-glaze the bolsters. One thing you can try which can usually be done without the pins poppin' is to open the knife roughly half way with the blade facing away from you. Now tilt the blade about forty five degrees and rest the kick on a solid surface, such as a steady or even a workbech edge. Give the spine of the blade (near the base) a whack with a mallet, then turn the blade so the spine is resting on the surface, again at a forty five degree angle, and hit the kick in the same manner (try not to hit the blade edge). You can try it lightly at first, and if it's still tight hit it a bit harder. This action kind of twists the blade back and forth and gives you a bit of slack without popping the pins. Oftentimes that's all you need.

Eric

Here's a stupid question---do you just use one slacking tool when assembling a knife? Meaning, just on one side, or do you use one for each side?

gruntmedik wrote:Here's a stupid question---do you just use one slacking tool when assembling a knife? Meaning, just on one side, or do you use one for each side?

Your question is a valid one and not stupid at all.

Only on one side is needed against the spring and liner.
And it doesn't matter which side.
It is a precaution so you don't pin too tight.
When you remove the spacer or slackner there still may be a little play.
One gentle tap then check for play.
You repeat if necessary till you just get rid of the play.
If too tight, use spreader tool and re-tap till you get it just right.
After pinning so many knives for so many years you get the feel for it and won't need the use of this tool anymore. I very rairly use one , only if I'm in a hurry.......

J W

gruntmedik wrote:Here's a stupid question---do you just use one slacking tool when assembling a knife? Meaning, just on one side, or do you use one for each side?

1 will work, I use 2 thinner ones if the need arises. helps to keep the blade centered on stubborn knives. sometimes it works sometimes it don't.

muskrat man wrote:1 will work, I use 2 thinner ones if the need arises. helps to keep the blade centered on stubborn knives. sometimes it works sometimes it don't.

Well said Kaleb!

Thanks.

These older posts can be very helpful, thanks, guys.