I was recently given a Kutmaster Barlow that has suffered some damage. I'd like to tare it down and fix it but I'm not sure what I'm getting myself int with this one.
The slabs are a Delrin type material that has come in contact with a solvent and have a melted look to them. No big deal there as it would get new slabs anyway.
What has me a bit puzzled is, if I tear take this knife apart, will the back springs be dificult to straighten? Will I need to heat them?
wow, she shure is turnin to tha right! I've worked on some knives with springs that seem to have warped during heat treat, but they operate just fine as is and the liners keep them true. looks like someone ran over this one though. maybe try to straighten it but if it operates correctly, I wouldn't worry about it too much, would be a conversation piece anyway!
muskrat man wrote:wow, she shure is turnin to tha right! I've worked on some knives with springs that seem to have warped during heat treat, but they operate just fine as is and the liners keep them true. looks like someone ran over this one though. maybe try to straighten it but if it operates correctly, I wouldn't worry about it too much, would be a conversation piece anyway!
Well, it would form-fit to your pocket anyway. Actually, if it works I would leave it alone. Even if you manage to straightening the backsprings they will be weakened. The liners, better off replacing them, they are brass and flexible. I look at it and think it's best to either leave it or rebuild it. If I were to rebuild it I would just customize the whole thing. IMO, it's the best thing to do with a fixer.
If you're gonna disassemble the knife anyway, the springs just MIGHT "spring" back, to the original shape.
Once disassembled, if they're still turned towards LuLu's house, what "I" would try first, is bending them back to straight, in a vise. Open your vise, put one spring against one jaw face, and a piece of about 1/4" thick flat stock against the other face. As you tighten the jaws, the spring will (more than likely) straighten out. As Hukk noted, it will weaken the spring somewhat.... but, since the curve is laterally, once you reassemble, the tension on the blades will be, more or less, vertical.
If that don't work, you're facing annealling, heat-treating and tempering - which is a lotta work, to revive an old Kutmaster.
Someone else may have a sure-fire remedy, but that's what I'd try.
Take Care,
JR
"A knife without a blade, for which the handle is missing."
"Buy more ammo" - Johnnie Fain.
Thanks everyone. I'm new to the whole rebuilding and customizing. It's one of the reasons I'm starting on less valuable knives.
Ringmaster, I'm going to try the vise trick. I'm in no hurry so I'll put it in my 4" vise as you mentioned. Another thing I thought of was to cut a piece of wood with a slight arc/curve and place them in the vise on both sides of the knife before disassembling with the curve opposite the bend in the knife. I can snug the vise and give it a little more pressure every couple days.
Remember that there are only two things that can happen when you put a spring in a vise.
1. It will straighten perfectly and you can reward yourself with a cold refreshment.
2. It will break, and you can sit on the porch with your cold refreshment and wish you hadn't "done that"....
Remember that there are only two things that can happen when you put a spring in a vise.
1. It will straighten perfectly and you can reward yourself with a cold refreshment.
2. It will break, and you can sit on the porch with your cold refreshment and wish you hadn't "done that"....
Cheers,
Jaye
So, you're telling me that there is no real down side?
After all, the knife was free so I either gain a project knife or experience. Sounds like a win-win .
Remember that there are only two things that can happen when you put a spring in a vise.
1. It will straighten perfectly and you can reward yourself with a cold refreshment.
2. It will break, and you can sit on the porch with your cold refreshment and wish you hadn't "done that"....
gringo wrote:ok..the tension is killing me...is that knife done yet? i'd wack it with a hammer to stress relieve it..but then....
Sorry. Didn't mean to leave ya hangin'.
I took it out of the vise yesterday. Its a bit straighter but not much. I'll try to get some pics soon. I pulled the plastic slabs, rear, and pivot pins. I need to pick up some new pins and decide what I'm going to rehandle this one with.
A co-worker/friend of mine and I were discussing knives the other day. I told him I was working on this Barlow and he proceeded to tell me that the first knife that bit him was his fathers Barlow. Funny thing is, a Barlow was the first to bite me as a kid as well. Probably why I'm still not fond of them to this day.
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