Kick spring visible?

Roccomo · Post by **Roccomo** » Fri Jul 05, 2002 2:25 am

I love all my new switchblades but was wondering why the kick spring on the stilettos protrudes from the frame. My 'pre-internet' era switches generally fire stronger and none of them has this. Whats up wit dat?

Vagrant · Post by **Vagrant** » Fri Jul 05, 2002 3:17 am

Most but not all of the recent ones are like this. I've been told it's because the modern ones have a stainless steel spring and this is an attempt to
give it similar power to the old carbon steel ones. If true this explanation makes sense but stainless will never have the power of carbon steel.

mr_edge · Post by **mr_edge** » Sat Jul 06, 2002 1:02 am

how does one get their hands a new retail carbon steel one?

Vagrant · Post by **Vagrant** » Sat Jul 06, 2002 1:37 am

Mr. Edge,
how does one get their hands a new retail carbon steel one?

One doesn't, to the best of my knowledge there is no such thing.
One possibility, buy a Do it Yourself Stiletto and before installing the spring
have a Knifemaker or Blacksmith copy the stainless spring in carbon steel.
Install the carbon steel one but it may be too powerful and damage things.
You're on your own if it destroys the knife.

Roccomo · Post by **Roccomo** » Sat Jul 06, 2002 10:14 am

Mr. Vagrant,

Thanks for the reply, what you say makes sense. I have a stiletto that I got about 20 years ago (carbon steel spring) that kicks so hard - and has gotten harder with time and it's been stored closed all this time to try to lower its power. Hasn't worked.

Post by **Bill DeShivs** » Sat Jul 06, 2002 10:35 am

Sorry, Al, but gotta correct you here... The modern knives use carbon steel back/kick springs.
Perhaps the reason they protrude is because they are thinner than the old ones?
Bill

Vagrant · Post by **Vagrant** » Sat Jul 06, 2002 6:41 pm

Bill,
Like I said "I've been told", guess I was told wrong. I checked several
"users" from my collection and they show staining and rust spots that are
consistant with carbon steel. But the "Do it Yourself" knives apppear to have a stainless kick spring [and a great snap]. Also one or two in my collection show no staining or rust despite a fair amount of use. The spring in these appears "different", a smoother stamping with no rough
spots or grind marks that all the others have. They certainly LOOK like
stainless, perhaps a different maker or emergecy substitute?