All About Pocket Knives

So - I've been trying to fix up this cute little stockman Schrade. It had a busted main spring for the two smaller blades....so I cleaned it up, made a new spring - then the fun started.

The spring was too soft...so I made another one. Then it wasn't shaped just right, so I did it again. Put it all together for a test run and the spey blade needed just a little crinking, AND the newest spring was too soft again....Tried to crink it and broke the darn thing.

All in all, I think I've spent almost 8 hours on that stupid little knife - and now I'm throwing it in my junk box until I feel like trying to make both a new spring AND a new blade.

So - of all the projects you start, how many turn out the way you want?

J

When things start to g wrong with a project I just go in the house & watch TV or I decide to clean my shop. I put it down and do something else. Most of the time when I get back to it goes right together.

If I keep working on it, I will mess it up & get really frustrated. So I quit & come back to it later.

Just what works for me,
Dale

yep, today. screwed up a horn handle on a knife I was working on, peened it too much. got mad so went for a walk out in the woods to dig some briar root. Got home relieved and in a better mood, went out in the shop and made a new handle for it and did another in ivory. best thing to do is walk away and do something to take your mind off things and come back to it later. Your mind will tell you when the time is right.

Thanks guys. Working in the shop is supposed to be my relaxing time from my stressful job....can't stand it when I make errors that get me worked up.

Tonight however, it's too damn cold again, maybe tomorrow.

J

flow with it d\j, flow with it!

Are you heat treating the springs?

Hukk - yes I did, but I just used a torch and kept it at cherry red (non-magnetic) for a couple of minutes...then a water quench (first mistake)...then I drew out some temper with careful application of the torch (to a dark straw).

Still trying to learn that end of things. The reason I broke the first one was that I tried to "adjust" it a bit too aggressively. The blade broke because I was a dumb a$$.... grin.

j