All About Pocket Knives

Looking for a restoration service, mainly a slow blade on an old congress. Any suggestions?

It is likely that either the blade tang is badly worn, or the spring has a groove worn in it. When you open the blade does the spring raise up from the liner? Neither of those problems is easily or cheaply fixed.

I've seen videos of a guy on Facebook who bends the backspring a tick to get better snap, for the life of me I can't find it. The knife in question is totally worth the cost. A 1920 ish Utica

You've probably already done this but sometimes a bit of lubrication will do wonders for some knives that don't walk and talk like we want them to.
Treefarmer

I lubed and leaned it out with compressed air. It improved for sure

Mark Lightner wrote: ↑Mon Jul 07, 2025 1:36 pm I've seen videos of a guy on Facebook who bends the backspring a tick to get better snap, for the life of me I can't find it. The knife in question is totally worth the cost. A 1920 ish Utica

I don't think I'd push that old sweetheart around too much to get her to move. I'd rely on oil and time first.

Thank you

This Knife Repair and Restoration forum contains many posts from folks who do the kind of repairs you’re seeking. In addition to moving your request here, read through the posts and find some members whose work you like, and contact them about repairing your knife. If you search it for keywords like “snap” you will find specific posts and tutorials on the subject. For example https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kn ... 37&t=64344.
Just one example - there are many. The solution you need may or may not be in that thread, but may be in others.

You might be able to determine what the problem is by partially opening the blade and observing what happens at the interface of the spring and the blade’s tang. If working properly that should depress the spring such that it protrudes slightly. If it does not move, or only moves very slightly, then the interface has worn down due to lack of lubrication. Either the end of the tang, the spring, or both, have lost enough metal to make that mechanism not function properly.

Other possibilities include the bolsters squeezing too tightly on the blade and thus inhibiting it from freely moving. Not likely on an old knife, but nonetheless possible. Either way based on personal experience I recommend the pro-active approach of finding and contacting knife mechanics rather than waiting for someone to contact you.

Ken

Thank you very much.

It could be a variety of issues or combination of a few including but not limited to a worn/bent pivot pin, grime/rust, frame pinching the blade, bent backspring, worn backspring or worn tang. I can correct any of these, price is dependent on what the actual issue is though.