All About Pocket Knives

I got this Uncle Henry 227UH from the bay and it didn't look too terribly bad...... UNTIL, I got it in my hands.
Being a Schrade-Walden, I figured it was worth saving.

This knife had some real issues that weren't evident in the seller pics (of course).
The blades are made of stainless, of course, but the springs being made of carbon steel are subject to issues!

Here is a couple of the pics I took when he arrived at my office.


First thing I noticed when I opened the main blade was the side-to-side AND up-and-down slop in the blade. What a mess! You could hold the knife by the handle and shake the blade all around!
SO.... I closed the blade and looked at the pivot end. This is what I saw.....


The spring for the main blade was almost half gone!!
Here we go.....
Well, time for disassembly.......

As I take it apart, I start seeing what dirt in between moving parts can do. The end of the spring for the main blade had been worn down and rounded off! In this picture you can see the spring above the liner with the main blade still attached.....


I put the spring for the secondary spring in a jig and marked around the end with a scribe. Then, I put the spring for the main blade in and this is when the problem became VERY OBVIOUS....


I welded some filler metal on the end of the spring and then I ground it down to the shape of the spring from the opposite side. The swinden key was still holding the blade to the liner, so I kept putting in the spring to check for fit and function.....


I noticed that the blade kick was sitting in a divot in the spring, so I filled it with weld and ground it down.
After I got the spring to the shape that I was pleased with, I hardened that end of the spring so it would not wear as fast.
(Best thing to do is..... keep your knife CLEAN and OILED! This issue shows you WHY you need to do that!)

I took the blade out of the lined and the piece of swinden key came out after some digging. The swinden key hole was packed full of HARD dirt and... whatever. After I took it out I saw this......


The swinden key was almost half worn away! SO.... you see just what dirt can do to a knife at the pivot point!!
After cleaning it up somewhat, and re-assembly, I figure I have a nice daily use knife.
Here he is all back together.......


I hope y'all learned something from this. That is why I post up these repairs.
I know some of you guys might do some things differently so, if you have suggestions and comments, they are VERY welcome!
Have a rgeat week everyone!

Thanks for this great tutorial!
Most don't think that a little dirt in their knives will do any damage but dirt is made up mostly of microscopic stone.
Over time it will destroy your knife. Great advice "KEEP 'EM OILED".

Nice explanation and pictures of what you did in the shop.
The knife turned out great. Good job!

Bob

Great thread very educational informative and appreciated.

Nice save and a great tutorial Mike! Nice job on the re-weld too!
Jeff

Thanks everyone!

I'm glad y'all enjoyed it.

eveled wrote: ↑Mon Nov 01, 2021 2:13 pm Great thread very educational informative and appreciated.

X2!

What technique do use use to weld springs?

Very cool post, Mike.

eveled wrote: ↑Mon Nov 01, 2021 4:32 pm What technique do use use to weld springs?

I have a wire welder.
That makes it easier to weld the thinner materials.

Wow, you have much more patience than I do. That would have gone into my parts drawer. Kudos to you for sticking with it and turning out a nice user!

Thanks Glenn!

. Thanks for sharing.

Meridian_Mike wrote: ↑Mon Nov 01, 2021 5:57 pm

eveled wrote: ↑Mon Nov 01, 2021 4:32 pm What technique do use use to weld springs?

I have a wire welder.
That makes it easier to weld the thinner materials.

Flux core? Or with shielding gas? I’m going to have to try this but my machine is only flux core. Thanks

Great job! I would have expected the tang to be worn out as well, not just the spring. I have a few that I have resigned to the "parts bin" for that reason.
I have replaced a few Swinden keys as well, but never seen one that was worn like that! I appreciate you sharing what you found. Your knife was definitely worth the effort!

eveled wrote: ↑Mon Nov 01, 2021 10:53 pm

Meridian_Mike wrote: ↑Mon Nov 01, 2021 5:57 pm

eveled wrote: ↑Mon Nov 01, 2021 4:32 pm What technique do use use to weld springs?

I have a wire welder.
That makes it easier to weld the thinner materials.

Flux core? Or with shielding gas? I’m going to have to try this but my machine is only flux core. Thanks

My welder has shielding gas and it makes a MUCH cleaner weld.
You might be able to use your flux core wire. I'm not sure.....

I use short "bursts" with the trigger since I only want to apply small amounts of weld.

Reverand wrote: ↑Tue Nov 02, 2021 1:05 am Great job! I would have expected the tang to be worn out as well, not just the spring. I have a few that I have resigned to the "parts bin" for that reason.

I was surprised that there was no wear to the blades at all. I guess the stainless steel blades helped in that situation.

I THINK the springs experienced rust a good bit of it's life. SO.... the rust made the carbon steel springs a lot more prone to wear right at the point of the most friction.