Blades that don't close completely

[cattaraugus57]

Most of us have at least seen or own an old knife whose Blade?Blades don't close all the way.
While some may be able to have some of the stop ground off in order to fix this,some
have Springs that have been stretched too far the wrong way due to abuse,the Blade now has a memory in that position.
I'd like to know if it's possible to use a small C clamp to hold it in place for awhile(weeks,month?) to
Force the Spring to remember where it was originally?
Has anyone ever tried this type of action?

[RobesonsRme.com]

No.

The problem is that the tang of the knife no longer has the contour it had when the knife was assembled.

Search Ebay for sterling silver fruit knives and note the large number of knives whose master silver blade sits up like this. Silver is much softer than steel and the blades wear more readily.

This problem can be fixed, but it's expensive and requires disassembly of the knife. New steel can be welded to the worn tang and then reprofiled to bear properly with the spring.

I suspect one would entertain that option only on a knife whose value warranted the expenditure.

Charlie Noyes

[cattaraugus57]

Ok Charlie,so it's the Tang that's worn off and only appears to be a Spring problem.
Man that's a lot of wear.

thanks

[tjmurphy]

I don't understand how adding steel to the kick will cause the blade to ride lower in the blade well?? Looks to me like the spring is sunken causing the blade to ride proud.

[Elvis]

This would be a good knife to repair and take pictures for a tutorial.

[RobesonsRme.com]

TJ; think of the blade as a lever, the hinge pin as the fulcrum and the spring as the force.

The spring is actually applying force on the short side of the lever, the part of the tang beyond the hinge pin, forcing the blade down into the frame.

Charlie

[tjmurphy]

OK, I got cha now. We're talking about the tang and not the kick

[RobesonsRme.com]

Yes. Someone else referred to the kick. I talked about the tang, specifically the part that surrounds the hinge pin.
Charlie

[cattaraugus57]

Would you say then that maybe the Blade steel wasn't as hard as it needed to be and worn faster
than expected?

[RobesonsRme.com]

Not a metallurgist, but I suspect the blade steel is hardly ever as hard as the spring steel.

Noyes

[knifemaker3]

Not a metallurgist, but I suspect the blade steel is hardly ever as hard as the spring steel.

Noyes

Actually should be just the opposite. The blade should be in the upper 50 to low 60 range and springs should be in the 4o's - 50's on the Rockwell C scale.

[RobesonsRme.com]

Guess I stand corrected .

Charlie Noyes

[jerryd6818]

Not a metallurgist, but I suspect the blade steel is hardly ever as hard as the spring steel.

Noyes

Actually should be just the opposite. The blade should be in the upper 50 to low 60 range and springs should be in the 4o's - 50's on the Rockwell C scale.

Because the spring needs to be more flexible and a harder spring might have a higher tendency to break??????????

[cattaraugus57]

Hmmm..interesting stuff.

[buck16]

Yep It makes me appreciate the craftsmanship that a lot of the ole timers had.

[ea42]

The blade tang and spring are likely both around RC45, or spring temper. That's likely a combination of wear on both, most likely accelerated by a lack of oil during its lifetime. An easier fix would be to remove the spring and bend it a bit just forward of the center hole to give it more tension at the tang. Won't solve the sunken effect but at least it'll close.

Eric

[Colonel666]

Hi. That's a beauty of an E-Z open type by Imperial. Many have imitated this design. I don't think there is any problem with that knife at all. Look closely at the nail nick on the main blade. If it were closed any further than it is already the nick would fall below and behind the secondary blade. This E-Z design rides high to make it easier to open than most other kinds of folders. So, in short "Don't Touch That Dial!"

[Mossdancer]

As an opinion only, I think the blade on the easy open has had the tip broken off maybe a quarter inch and to make it look better someone reprofiled the spear to make it look pretty again. With this done and the blade acting in the way it always has would it not stand a bit proud when closed? Just some grist for the mill. This would also lend some credence to what the Colonel666 just said. The blade does look short to me.
moss

[tjmurphy]

Here are two Imperial EO's that I have, full blades, neither sits proud. I'm going along with the worn tang causing the spring to sink and the blade ride proud.

[Colonel666]

Hi TJ! To be helpful, could you show a photo of the backsprings of your two Imperial folders? Also, can the black (featured) Imperial folder be shown in an open position? Really would "get to the point" about the length of the blade being re-ground or not. Remember to put both next to rulers!

[tjmurphy]

[Colonel666]

Hi. First "Thanks TJ", you are quite helpful to this topic! I need to ask "Cateraugus54" to post a photo of his featured black Imperial in open position next to a ruler. Is it same blade length?