All About Pocket Knives

Since I joined AAPK 2 1/2 years ago I have learned a lot of stuff. One thing is not to have 2 blades half open on the same spring at the same time as it puts an unusual stress on the spring. Probably the only time more than one blade is open is when the knife is open for taking photos to post on AAPK, at least in my case. WELL, you guys were right, I messed up and look what happened. I had this Hammer Brand Kamp King out and was taking a photo of it. I carefully opened two of the blades full open on opposite springs, then the other 2 blades 1/2 open. I took my pics, and then when I went to close the blades I first closed the half open can opener, then the fully open bottle opener. Then the brain shifted to neutral and I made the mistake of closing the full open spear blade while the awl was still 1/2 open and POW!! the spring broke and flew half way across the room. Lesson learned. I will give you that this is an old knife and a cheap knife, but still. I will have to check, I think I have some Kamp King parts somewhere.

Ow!
Hope you have the parts you need!!

Yep, I learned the hard way. A dear friend of the family passed away and his son had just given me his EDC knife. I just had to get some pictures and SNAP!

I never even had a chance to carry the knife which I intended to do in honor of my friend. Not only did my heart sink but I also had to tell his son what happened.

If you ever see me posting pictures of two blades partially opened on the same spring, they are old pictures taken before I learned this lesson. I can guarantee you that.

I open blades like that all the time for pictures and never have problems. There's also knives that have sat for many years (like store displays) with blades half open on the same spring and I haven't seen any of those break.

I wonder what it is that makes them break. Maybe flaws or lower quality knives?

KnifeSlinger#81 wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2020 11:51 pm I open blades like that all the time for pictures and never have problems. There's also many knives that have been displayed for many years (like store displays) with blades half open on the same spring and I haven't seen one of those break.

I wonder what it is that makes them break. Maybe flaws or lower quality knives?

I have to wonder if it's mostly isolated to Scout knives. The spring that broke on me was on this Ulster Boy Scout knife. Could just be coincidence but maybe not.

The worst thing about it is that you can't see it coming. The spring just snaps in two and then it's too late.

I guess someday it will happen to me 'cause like Paul says, "I do it all the time ."

As has been said, in my opinion it's more likely a defective spring but what do I know.

Sorry to hear about your misadventure. Hope you can fix it.
Thanks for the reminder too. My next project with my knives
is to take a good picture then file it with all the info.

Bob

I will say that on some knives when I'm opening two blades on the same spring and they feel like they have excessive tension before they're fully in position then I back off and don't do it.

The only spring I have ever had break on me was a single spring gec, and it broke when it was closed and laying on a shelf overnight. I discovered the problem the next morning. Go figure.

I got it all fixed up as I had a Kamp King parts knife. For those of you who have never worked on shell handled knives, its easy. In the case of the Kamp King, there are a lot of pieces and it pays to keep them organized so they get reassembled correctly. If you inadvertently have the liners inside out, you will not be able to install the shell handle tabs. I make a little diagram on a sticky note when dis assembling. This knife had steel liners, divider and spacer, but used brass 3/32" pins. Later Kamp Kings had steel pins. Just grind off the head on one side to remove after removing the shell handles. The parts have numbers or other ID marks on them like "evenback", must have aided the Imperial factory workers in the assembly. I use a snap ring plier to remove the bail, it allows you to expand the bail without mangling it or scratching the bolsters. The spring that broke, the break came in the thinner part of the spring. If you have to do any grinding and sanding on the outside of the springs to even things up, do it after repinning but before reinstalling the shell handles so you don't grind thru the thin plastic handle cover at the edge and ruin it. Reattach the shell handles and crimp the tabs down with a small plier. All Done!

OLDE CUTLER, Thanks for the reminder and the pictures description of the repair.

Railsplitter, I broke the exact same Ulster Boy Scout knife.

OC, an excellent tutorial.

Nice save OC!