I’ve never had the chance to handle a custom or even a high end production slip joint, just the old pocket knives floating about that we all run into. I’ve made some slip joints and it seems that each one I make, I make the spring a little stronger on. The one I’m working on now, I’ve thought maybe the spring is too strong but this weekend I had the opportunity to examine two Case/Bose knives. I was quite surprised at how strong the springs were, in fact to the point where it seemed (to me anyway) difficult to pull the blade out of the handle and while they had a good snap going into the open, half stop and closed positions it seemed to me that it took quite a bit of force to move the blade between positions. I guess I’ve aimed for a good strong snap but still an easy-rotating blade (if that makes any sense) in the knives I’ve made. I’ve also seen some custom knives on the net that are accompanied by a separate custom tool used to engage the nail nick and pull the blade open. Apparently these knives have quite a strong spring.
So I wonder, what is “usual and customary” for a custom-made slip joint? What are the expectations users and collectors have? I understand, one 20 or 30 year old man’s “just right” may be another 70 year old lady with arthritis’s “can’t get it open” but still I wonder what most people’s preference is as far as a custom? I want to try to make stuff that folks are happy with...
So I wonder, what is “usual and customary” for a custom-made slip joint? What are the expectations users and collectors have? I understand, one 20 or 30 year old man’s “just right” may be another 70 year old lady with arthritis’s “can’t get it open” but still I wonder what most people’s preference is as far as a custom? I want to try to make stuff that folks are happy with...