New member from Australia
Posted: Tue Oct 01, 2019 2:24 am
Hi.
I've been interested in knives, collecting, knife making, historical metal working, and tinkering/restoration for a long time.
I did a metal working apprenticeship when I was younger (maintenance fitter/machinist) and currently work in a technical position where knives occasionally come under my responsibility as a product/materiel.
Got a small number of knives I've collected over the years, including one I hand forged myself (under the instruction of a professional). Recently bought a couple of old two bladed folders I thought would be good to get started in restoration. They were in working condition with surface rust.
Unfortunately, I was giving them a soak in some vinegar to help remove the rust and the backspring for the smaller blade broke on both knives.
My theory - I can only assume it has something to do with the fact the knives had been displayed, at the antique store, with the small blade partially opened so as to keep the backspring under constant tension (as per image). They were probably displayed like this for months or years. I think this must have created some fatigue or micro cracking in the spring which has then finally broken when the vinegar started to eat away at corrosion.
Anyway, what ever caused the break, having looked at this forum I think the advice and tips available are going to help me in the future.
For interest the tang stamps of the two folders that broke are STAG Ireland & Imperial Prov. R.I USA (with a crown above the 2nd I in Imperial and USA written vertically). I might try and turn them into single blade folders.
Cheers.
I've been interested in knives, collecting, knife making, historical metal working, and tinkering/restoration for a long time.
I did a metal working apprenticeship when I was younger (maintenance fitter/machinist) and currently work in a technical position where knives occasionally come under my responsibility as a product/materiel.
Got a small number of knives I've collected over the years, including one I hand forged myself (under the instruction of a professional). Recently bought a couple of old two bladed folders I thought would be good to get started in restoration. They were in working condition with surface rust.
Unfortunately, I was giving them a soak in some vinegar to help remove the rust and the backspring for the smaller blade broke on both knives.
My theory - I can only assume it has something to do with the fact the knives had been displayed, at the antique store, with the small blade partially opened so as to keep the backspring under constant tension (as per image). They were probably displayed like this for months or years. I think this must have created some fatigue or micro cracking in the spring which has then finally broken when the vinegar started to eat away at corrosion.
Anyway, what ever caused the break, having looked at this forum I think the advice and tips available are going to help me in the future.
For interest the tang stamps of the two folders that broke are STAG Ireland & Imperial Prov. R.I USA (with a crown above the 2nd I in Imperial and USA written vertically). I might try and turn them into single blade folders.
Cheers.
to AAPK. 
