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Fixing "No Snap".. How hard is it to fix?
Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2015 4:33 am
by wornoutwrench
When an old knife has no snap in either direction, and the back spring is sitting low, what usually wears? The blade, the spring or both? Is welding needed? Beyond hope? Anyone here do that kind of work?
Thanks.
Re: Fixing "No Snap".. How hard is it to fix?
Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2015 5:29 am
by TripleF
Give 'er a good cleaning.....shoot some vinegar down in the joint.....then drop
a drop of Quick Release Oil in there. That should fix the problemo!
Re: Fixing "No Snap".. How hard is it to fix?
Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2015 6:06 am
by junebug
When an old knife has no snap in either direction, and the back spring is sitting low, what usually wears? BLADE USUALLY
Is welding needed? YA TECHNICALLY COULD,BUT WHAT A PAIN IN THE ......... (MOST REPLACE BLADE OR SPRING.
Beyond hope? NO... SWAP IN A NEW/OLD PART FOR WORN PART
Anyone here do that kind of work? YEP...SEVERAL,THERE IS A SECTION HERE FOR THAT,AND IF
YA SURF IT FOR A BIT, YOU WILL SEE WHO THOSE FELLERS ARE
SEE ONE OF THESE FORUM SECTIONS
Customized Factory Knives
Knife Mechanic's Swap Forum
Knife Repair and Restoration
Re: Fixing "No Snap".. How hard is it to fix?
Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2015 11:06 am
by jerryd6818
I'm sure I have a picture around here someplace showing a worn tang but I can't seem to find it. I did however find the comparison of the rise of the back spring on a knife with good snap and the lack of backspring rise on a knife with no snap. (see below - click on picture twice for full size)
Keep an eye out when cruisin' eBay. Occasionally the sellers picture will be taken with the blades half open and at an angle where you can see how much rise the back spring has. A knife with good rise but poor snap is usually easily fixed with a little cleaning and a few drops of oil.
If the backspring has plenty of rise, Scotts method should work.
If there is NO or very small rise on the backspring then what Josh (junebug) said, applies.
Re: Fixing "No Snap".. How hard is it to fix?
Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2015 11:58 am
by tjmurphy
Here's a worn tang. Easy to see that the spring steel is a
LOT harder than the tang steel. Jerry, if you want to add your little arrows to highlight the area, please feel free
Re: Fixing "No Snap".. How hard is it to fix?
Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2015 12:19 pm
by whitebuffalo58
On TJ's knife, not only is the worn tang a problem, but the hangnail left behind really fouls things up. Welding is an option, but usually not very cost effective.
WB
Re: Fixing "No Snap".. How hard is it to fix?
Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2015 12:49 pm
by jerryd6818
T.J. those two pictures do a splendid job of showing a worn tang.
Re: Fixing "No Snap".. How hard is it to fix?
Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2015 2:38 pm
by tjmurphy
It would also appear that the thickness of the spring is less than the thickness of the tang.
Re: Fixing "No Snap".. How hard is it to fix?
Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2015 3:02 pm
by muskrat man
tang or spring or both, needs welded, they are fixable but needs to be a higher end knife to justify the cost of fix
Re: Fixing "No Snap".. How hard is it to fix?
Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2015 3:12 pm
by wornoutwrench
Thanks for all the great responses and photos. The knife is clean and lubed. I guessed it would more likely be the blade material but wanted a few experienced ideas.
Thanks again.
Re: Fixing "No Snap".. How hard is it to fix?
Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2015 10:10 pm
by Elvis
Re: Fixing "No Snap".. How hard is it to fix?
Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2025 10:05 pm
by tvic
This is one of the reasons I love AAPK. I was searching the Internet to see if there was any “fix” to a Kwik Kut Barlow I got. Small blade has a little snap. The main blade has exactly “zero” snap. I found this 10 year old thread, and now I’ve learned something new - the fine people here have described my problem perfectly. Notice the difference in the tangs in the top photo? One is pretty squared off as it should be. The one on the bottom is rounded off and totally different than the tang on top. Also,look at the two springs in the other photo. Both blades are in the same position, yet the spring on the right hasn’t been pushed out at all - just like jerry and tjmurphy described above! Now it’s very clear why all my cleaning and oiling didn’t help.
Re: Fixing "No Snap".. How hard is it to fix?
Posted: Tue Jan 21, 2025 2:06 am
by Reverand
tvic wrote: ↑Mon Jan 20, 2025 10:05 pm
This is one of the reasons I love AAPK. I was searching the Internet to see if there was any “fix” to a Kwik Kut Barlow I got. Small blade has a little snap. The main blade has exactly “zero” snap. I found this 10 year old thread, and now I’ve learned something new - the fine people here have described my problem perfectly. Notice the difference in the tangs in the top photo? One is pretty squared off as it should be. The one on the bottom is rounded off and totally different than the tang on top. Also,look at the two springs in the other photo. Both blades are in the same position, yet the spring on the right hasn’t been pushed out at all - just like jerry and tjmurphy described above! Now it’s very clear why all my cleaning and oiling didn’t help.
IMG_1135.jpegIMG_1136.jpeg
It can be repaired, however.
https://youtu.be/jZjaFl9A8Io?si=JX9m2OKHFQhbT6y2
Re: Fixing "No Snap".. How hard is it to fix?
Posted: Tue Jan 21, 2025 2:28 am
by tvic
Thanks, Reverand. Really don’t believe this knife would have enough value to warrant that kind of time, effort and investment.