My Uncle Henry visited the shop last weekend
- Meridian_Mike
- Posts: 4981
- Joined: Mon Apr 21, 2014 8:36 pm
- Location: Mississippi
My Uncle Henry visited the shop last weekend
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!
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!
"Life is tough.... but it's tougher if you're stupid."....John Wayne
- Beavertail
- Posts: 1195
- Joined: Sun Feb 24, 2008 9:47 pm
- Location: Way down south in Dixie
Re: My Uncle Henry visited the shop last weekend
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".
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".
Tim
Re: My Uncle Henry visited the shop last weekend
Nice explanation and pictures of what you did in the shop.
The knife turned out great. Good job!
Bob
The knife turned out great. Good job!
Bob
Re: My Uncle Henry visited the shop last weekend
Great thread very educational informative and appreciated.
Re: My Uncle Henry visited the shop last weekend
Nice save and a great tutorial Mike! Nice job on the re-weld too!
Jeff
Jeff
Hey … it’s a pocketknife for gosh sakes. I’m not selling the Mona Lisa….Bullitt4001
https://www.jfinamoreknives.com
http://www.secondlifeknives.com
https://www.jfinamoreknives.com
http://www.secondlifeknives.com
- Meridian_Mike
- Posts: 4981
- Joined: Mon Apr 21, 2014 8:36 pm
- Location: Mississippi
Re: My Uncle Henry visited the shop last weekend
Thanks everyone!
I'm glad y'all enjoyed it.
I'm glad y'all enjoyed it.
"Life is tough.... but it's tougher if you're stupid."....John Wayne
- tongueriver
- Posts: 6834
- Joined: Tue Sep 16, 2008 8:01 pm
Re: My Uncle Henry visited the shop last weekend
What technique do use use to weld springs?
- 1967redrider
- Gold Tier
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- Joined: Wed Feb 02, 2011 4:23 pm
- Location: Alexandria, VA
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Re: My Uncle Henry visited the shop last weekend
Very cool post, Mike.
Pocket, fixed, machete, axe, it's all good!
You're going to look awfully silly with that knife sticking out of your @#$. -Clint Eastwood, High Plains Drifter
You're going to look awfully silly with that knife sticking out of your @#$. -Clint Eastwood, High Plains Drifter
- Meridian_Mike
- Posts: 4981
- Joined: Mon Apr 21, 2014 8:36 pm
- Location: Mississippi
Re: My Uncle Henry visited the shop last weekend
I have a wire welder.
That makes it easier to weld the thinner materials.
"Life is tough.... but it's tougher if you're stupid."....John Wayne
Re: My Uncle Henry visited the shop last weekend
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!
- Meridian_Mike
- Posts: 4981
- Joined: Mon Apr 21, 2014 8:36 pm
- Location: Mississippi
Re: My Uncle Henry visited the shop last weekend
Thanks Glenn!
"Life is tough.... but it's tougher if you're stupid."....John Wayne
Re: My Uncle Henry visited the shop last weekend
. Thanks for sharing.
Re: My Uncle Henry visited the shop last weekend
Flux core? Or with shielding gas? I’m going to have to try this but my machine is only flux core. ThanksMeridian_Mike wrote: ↑Mon Nov 01, 2021 5:57 pmI have a wire welder.
That makes it easier to weld the thinner materials.
Re: My Uncle Henry visited the shop last weekend
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!
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!
Jesus is life.
Everything else is just a hobby.
~Reverand
Everything else is just a hobby.
~Reverand
- Meridian_Mike
- Posts: 4981
- Joined: Mon Apr 21, 2014 8:36 pm
- Location: Mississippi
Re: My Uncle Henry visited the shop last weekend
My welder has shielding gas and it makes a MUCH cleaner weld.eveled wrote: ↑Mon Nov 01, 2021 10:53 pmFlux core? Or with shielding gas? I’m going to have to try this but my machine is only flux core. ThanksMeridian_Mike wrote: ↑Mon Nov 01, 2021 5:57 pmI have a wire welder.
That makes it easier to weld the thinner materials.
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.
"Life is tough.... but it's tougher if you're stupid."....John Wayne
- Meridian_Mike
- Posts: 4981
- Joined: Mon Apr 21, 2014 8:36 pm
- Location: Mississippi
Re: My Uncle Henry visited the shop last weekend
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.
"Life is tough.... but it's tougher if you're stupid."....John Wayne