How to Loosen a Tight Pocket Knife Blade

• #1

I recently acquired an older SOG with a really stiff back lock. It makes the knife harder to open and to disengage the lock. How do I loosen it up? I already oiled the mechanism but that didnt do anything. I was thinking about tying the back lock in the down position and leaving it overnight in order to wear down the spring a little. Is this a good idea? I could use some advice right now

Joined

Nov 18, 2001

Messages

3,586

• #2

If you have already lubricated the blade where it meets the handle and let some of the oil drip between the spine and the liners of the knfe, Just hold the tip of the blade and the butt of the handle and work the blade back and forth for a while. If you pay attention, you wil feel where metal is rubbing against metal. This is your point of wear and most needed of lubrication. Some knives open "stiff" because the backspring is strong. This is a good thing because it prevents the blade from closing with minimal force. Some knives, depending on what you have, are just hard to open and close. Once you get used to it's behavior you will become accustommed to how it works and how to use it. Keep in mind that hard to open usually means hard to close. Like where your fingers are at.
Greg

Welcome to the Forums Tommy !! You'll like it here.

• #3

For some lockbacks.....there's nothing you can do. No amount of oil, or working it back and forth will help. I have a buck like that. After 3 yrs, a qt of oil, and thousands of openings.....it's as hard as ever to open.

• #4

1. Remove blade
2. Extract spring bar
3. CAREFULLY bend spring bar
4. Put back together
5. Enjoy?

elkins45

Joined

Jun 17, 2006

Messages

4,045

• #5

Sorry for asking an obvious question, but is the knife pinned together or does it use screws?

cziv

Joined

Nov 24, 2005

Messages

10,038

• #6

Depending on the answer to elkins45's question, you may not want to consider Vicarious Reality's "fix."

What I've done with a couple of stiff "pinned" lockbacks, was to lube them and carefully work the blade open & close (w/o locking it) as much as possible.

Then open the blade to the spot that raises the lockbar to the highest point and leave it like that over night. Repeat, repeat, repeat as desired. Mine loosened/smoothed up fairly well, YMMV. :thumbup:

• #7

Depending on the answer to elkins45's question, you may not want to consider Vicarious Reality's "fix."

What I've done with a couple of stiff "pinned" lockbacks, was to lube them and carefully work the blade open & close (w/o locking it) as much as possible.

Then open the blade to the spot that raises the lockbar to the highest point and leave it like that over night. Repeat, repeat, repeat as desired. Mine loosened/smoothed up fairly well, YMMV. :thumbup:

It's pinned construction. I tried your suggestion of leaving it partway open for a couple days and it's already loosening up a little. I'll keep it up for a week or two and see what happens. Thanks for the advice everyone!

How to Loosen a Tight Pocket Knife Blade

Source: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/how-do-i-loosen-up-a-stiff-back-lock.829604/

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