All About Pocket Knives

Good evening all!

I’m new to this forum and hoping for some guidance on knife repair if possible.

My wife’s grandfather passed away last year and when we were clearing out his house my mother in law gave me his old pocket knife that he used to take out in the garden with him. It’s a foldable lock knife. The handle secured together by rivets. The blade must have snapped because it’s been cut down at some point.

My questions are:

- Is it possible to open the knife and replace the blade?
- If so, how tricky is this?
- Is there anywhere that does these repairs? (UK based)

Thanks in advance for your help and advice

Wow, that knife has been used! If it could talk I bet it could tell some stories.

Yes, it is repairable(with a replacement blade). I know of many mechanics in the US, but I'm sorry, I don't know of any in your region

I have a knife from my dad with a damaged blade. I've decided to leave it as I know he continued to use it even after the damage. I can buy a new knife but I can never replace the one from him. Just memories for me. Glad you got it.

doglegg wrote:I have a knife from my dad with a damaged blade. I've decided to leave it as I know he continued to use it even after the damage. I can buy a new knife but I can never replace the one from him. Just memories for me. Glad you got it.

I have the only knife existing from my paternal grandfather (1876-1970), although he had many. It is heavily worn; I bought an identical one in new condition (from the 1950s) and I keep them together; I would not repair the heirloom knife nor release it to anyone.

Yes, it could be repaired; but is it economically feasible? Then it would be a different knife than your wifes ancestor used. I would keep it the way it is.

It’s not practical to repair that. But I think finding one just like it in better condition would be the answer. Keep it the way it is and either use it or display it somewhere to remind you of him. The newer version would be a way to honor that memory if you wanted a good knife to use, but having the old one around to place in your hand every now and then would be nice too.
SSk

It reminds me of a saying I heard (I think) here on AAPK. "This is my grandfather's ax. My father replaced the bit and I replaced the handle." The point being that when you start repairing something like your grandfather's knife by replacing parts, at some point, determined by you, it no longer becomes your grandfather's knife. I'm a sentimental old fool and my opinion is leave it as is.