All About Pocket Knives

If the locking mechanism on a Schrade LB7 is broke, how possible is it to repair? Would it be likely to need parts? I have a friend who has one like this. I'm thinking it might just be easier to find a replacement knife, than try to get it fixed. Thanks for the help.

If the LB7 is put together like the Old Timer lockbacks, there is a small set of springs at the rear bolster that keeps the lock bar under pressure. If those springs snap, then you won't your lockbar just kinda sits there. Providing the right parts, there are definitely people here that could fix it for ya (Me not being one of them, No time :/). Of course if you have to track down another LB7 for parts, your halfway to a new knife anyways, right?

most of the LB7's I have seen have a spring construction much like a buck 110, a butt spacer that holds a peice of spring steel wire, if just the wire it broke it can be replaced fairly easy (this is the most common, becuase they tempered the rods too hard) if it is one of the oddballs with a 1 peice spring/buttspacer then you're looking at etiher converting it or searching a while for some parts.

Here is a pic of the 2 types of spring systems that MM was speaking of.
These are from an LB5, & are just smaller than the LB7 parts, but the same system.

The lower 2 springs are the one-piece type, it requires 2 springs side by side.
MM is right… these are a PAIN! They tend to break and are nearly impossible to find.

The upper spring & keeper type can be made.
The keeper from nickel silver, stainless, or whatever, the spring is made of spring steel.
Jantz (and I am sure others) carry spring steel in 3 different sizes that can be cut to the proper length to replace the broken spring.

Really it is a pretty easy fix & much cheaper than buying a new knife.

Hope this helps,
Dale

Can the construction method be identified from the ouside, or do you have to take it apart first?

look down inside it with a flashlight (might need to rake out pocket lint first) and you will be able to see which it is, if not look at it from the butt end and see if you can see a seam in the middle of the butt spacer, if you can it's the 1 peice spring/spring holder and is the harder one to replace

MM covered it.
If you can see a seam in the butt spacer it is the two single piece springs. If that is what you have I would recommend making a holder & a piece of spring steel to replace those two single piece springs.

If you are handy with a file you could do it, or else MM, myself or a number of other guys here on AAPK could fix it for you.

Dale