Replacement spring for vintage leverlock

This is a forum for discussion on automatic an switchblade knives.

Moderator: The Motley Crew

Forum rules
There are a few things you should know before posting in these forums. If you are a new user, please click here and read carefully. Thanks a lot!
User avatar
Panzerfaust
Posts: 1342
Joined: Mon Nov 08, 2010 10:23 pm

Replacement spring for vintage leverlock

Post by Panzerfaust »

I just got in a vintage leverlock that has a broken kickspring. The spring is a slip-in type. The only ones I have been able to find are Hubertus springs. Anyone have a source for these or will a Hubie spring work? Here are some pics of the knife. The only marking on the tang is SOLINGEN GERMANY.
Attachments
DSCF1836.JPG
DSCF1836.JPG (48.08 KiB) Viewed 10153 times
DSCF1835.JPG
DSCF1835.JPG (36.15 KiB) Viewed 10153 times
DSCF1834.JPG
DSCF1834.JPG (41.47 KiB) Viewed 10153 times
METALGOD
Posts: 1335
Joined: Fri Mar 05, 2004 2:55 pm

Re: Replacement spring for vintage leverlock

Post by METALGOD »

Hi if the spring is the correct thickness and correct length (after seated) yes it will work great. just a heads up though the hubertus springs are known in the past to break after a year or 2 or sooner , not sure if they got a weak batch of metal or didnt harden them right or what but i had one closed in my case and it broke just from sitting closed :shock: , Bill D makes super nice springs but i dont think he sells just the springs you would have to send knife to him then he would fix it for you, you may want to try Tank from TbarK custom knives he make you a spring also if Bill is too busy.
User avatar
Vagrant
Self Appointed Authority
Posts: 25715
Joined: Fri May 24, 2002 10:07 am
Location: Live Free or Die
Contact:

Re: Replacement spring for vintage leverlock

Post by Vagrant »

METALGOD wrote:Hi if the spring is the correct thickness and correct length (after seated) yes it will work great. just a heads up though the hubertus springs are known in the past to break after a year or 2 or sooner , not sure if they got a weak batch of metal or didnt harden them right or what but i had one closed in my case and it broke just from sitting closed :shock: , Bill D makes super nice springs but i dont think he sells just the springs you would have to send knife to him then he would fix it for you, you may want to try Tank from TbarK custom knives he make you a spring also if Bill is too busy.
AT LAST, someone else states the obvious and undeniable - "just a heads up though the hubertus springs are known in the past to break after a year or 2 or sooner" :idea: :idea: :wink:
User avatar
Panzerfaust
Posts: 1342
Joined: Mon Nov 08, 2010 10:23 pm

Re: Replacement spring for vintage leverlock

Post by Panzerfaust »

I too am aware that Hubertus springs break way too soon. This happened on one my Hubies when it was less than two years old. Is there anyone else who makes replacement springs? I have already removed the old spring and I don't want to send the knife off. I did replace the spring in my Hubertus and it was no problem to get the new spring in. The hardest part was getting the old one out, but even that was not too difficult.
User avatar
Bill DeShivs
Yes.
Posts: 7342
Joined: Sat May 25, 2002 2:50 pm
Location: In de lan o' cotton
Contact:

Re: Replacement spring for vintage leverlock

Post by Bill DeShivs »

The spring in your knife should be installed from the side. This requires disassembling the knife.
Hubertus springs are fitted loosely, so they can be installed after the knives are assembled. The reason they break, is that they begin to creep out of the slot because they are loose. When these springs slip forward, they can put undue stress on the backspring-breaking it.
I'll make you a spring, or repair your knife, for the same price. If I make the spring, you won't be able to "slip" it in. You'll have to open up the knife. I will not guarantee the spring unless I install it.
If you drove the broken spring out without disassembling the knife, you likely have damaged the backspring already.
Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler
http://www.billdeshivs.com
Factory authorized repairs for:
Latama, Mauro Mario, LePre, Colonial, Kabar, Flylock, Schrade Cut Co., Presto, Press Button, Hubertus, Grafrath, Kuno Ritter knives, Puma, Burrell Cutlery.
User avatar
Panzerfaust
Posts: 1342
Joined: Mon Nov 08, 2010 10:23 pm

Re: Replacement spring for vintage leverlock

Post by Panzerfaust »

Bill,
I did remove the old spring, but it came out with a gentle "tap."
User avatar
john
Posts: 4524
Joined: Tue Dec 01, 2009 11:40 am
Location: New England, MA USA

Re: Replacement spring for vintage leverlock

Post by john »

Hi Panzer,
That's a nice knife. It's worth sending it off to be repaired correctly or if you have the skill and tools I'm sure you can replace it without a problem. It does have a nail nick so I guess you can always use it as a folder.
John
Your friend on the web's most friendly community on knives and blades,
John

Massachusetts Where Everything is Illegal or Taxed
User avatar
autoknife
Posts: 449
Joined: Sun May 26, 2002 12:53 pm
Location: USA
Contact:

Re: Replacement spring for vintage leverlock

Post by autoknife »

Bill DeShivs wrote:The spring in your knife should be installed from the side. This requires disassembling the knife.
Hubertus springs are fitted loosely, so they can be installed after the knives are assembled. The reason they break, is that they begin to creep out of the slot because they are loose. When these springs slip forward, they can put undue stress on the backspring-breaking it.
I'll make you a spring, or repair your knife, for the same price. If I make the spring, you won't be able to "slip" it in. You'll have to open up the knife. I will not guarantee the spring unless I install it.
If you drove the broken spring out without disassembling the knife, you likely have damaged the backspring already.
Every knife that Hubertus sends to the US has had the spring factory installed, and then removed for shipping. My guess is most of the dealers now a days don't know how to properly seat the springs. I never had any problems with broken springs or them falling out, but this was over 10 years ago and maybe they were made better back then.
No, I'm not happy to see you, that's my 12cm "Red Rose" in my pocket!
User avatar
Bill DeShivs
Yes.
Posts: 7342
Joined: Sat May 25, 2002 2:50 pm
Location: In de lan o' cotton
Contact:

Re: Replacement spring for vintage leverlock

Post by Bill DeShivs »

They were!
Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler
http://www.billdeshivs.com
Factory authorized repairs for:
Latama, Mauro Mario, LePre, Colonial, Kabar, Flylock, Schrade Cut Co., Presto, Press Button, Hubertus, Grafrath, Kuno Ritter knives, Puma, Burrell Cutlery.
User avatar
Panzerfaust
Posts: 1342
Joined: Mon Nov 08, 2010 10:23 pm

Re: Replacement spring for vintage leverlock

Post by Panzerfaust »

My Hubertus was bought in Germany in 1991 and the spring broke a little more than a year later. I saw no evidence of it being loose. I think it was just poorly tempered.
wild zebra
Posts: 314
Joined: Wed Oct 29, 2008 2:40 pm

Re: Replacement spring for vintage leverlock

Post by wild zebra »

I have Hubertus springs in two leverlocks I have repaired for myself. As an experiment mostly, one in a shellpuller, I installed from the side as Bill has mentioned and "staked" it. The other in a smaller Bonsa which I did not stake. I can tell you it walked out once on me in the Bonsa but did not break. Both needed minimal modifying to fit. If you're on a budget and adventurous (in my opinion) you can use a Hubertus spring, but you will still need to install it from the side. Will it break? I don't know, maybe, maybe not. Mine haven't and they cost around five bucks also. If you want it done right and want a guarantee the spring won't break please send it off to Bill and have it done by a pro.

This is just my opinion and I only have a drop in the bucket as experience goes compared to Bill and others.
User avatar
whippersnapper
Posts: 8354
Joined: Sat Oct 16, 2004 12:39 pm
Location: Michigan

Re: Replacement spring for vintage leverlock

Post by whippersnapper »

Since you just got the knife, Panzerfaust, and it came with a broken spring, the first thing I would check before putting alot of money into it was if it was going to peek with a spring installed.

Close the knife and gently pull up on the blade without pushing down the lever (as if there was spring pressure pushing the blade open). If the tip of the knife comes above the liners, it is probably going to peek, and maybe not be worth putting a spring in, unless you are willing to pay to try to get that fixed too. Again, jmo because I hate peeky knives.
User avatar
tr4252
Special Agent Oy Oy Seven
Posts: 3764
Joined: Sat Aug 02, 2003 9:21 pm
Contact:

Re: Replacement spring for vintage leverlock

Post by tr4252 »

whippersnapper wrote:Since you just got the knife, Panzerfaust, and it came with a broken spring, the first thing I would check before putting alot of money into it was if it was going to peek with a spring installed.

Close the knife and gently pull up on the blade without pushing down the lever (as if there was spring pressure pushing the blade open). If the tip of the knife comes above the liners, it is probably going to peek, and maybe not be worth putting a spring in, unless you are willing to pay to try to get that fixed too. Again, jmo because I hate peeky knives.
Me too; in my experience at least, a peeky blade eventually equals a cut finger, when you reach into your pocket and snag the tip.

Tom
Is it...Tomorrow....Or just the end of time?
User avatar
Panzerfaust
Posts: 1342
Joined: Mon Nov 08, 2010 10:23 pm

Re: Replacement spring for vintage leverlock

Post by Panzerfaust »

tr4252 wrote:
whippersnapper wrote:Since you just got the knife, Panzerfaust, and it came with a broken spring, the first thing I would check before putting alot of money into it was if it was going to peek with a spring installed.

Close the knife and gently pull up on the blade without pushing down the lever (as if there was spring pressure pushing the blade open). If the tip of the knife comes above the liners, it is probably going to peek, and maybe not be worth putting a spring in, unless you are willing to pay to try to get that fixed too. Again, jmo because I hate peeky knives.
Me too; in my experience at least, a peeky blade eventually equals a cut finger, when you reach into your pocket and snag the tip.

Tom

Yes, the blade will peek, and although I agree with both of you guys, that is not a deterrent to fixing it because I won't be carrying it anyway. I have decided that I am going to try a slide-in spring, and if that does not work, or it causes too much peekage, I will just leave it as is. I don't mind having a non-functional vintage knife.
User avatar
Bill DeShivs
Yes.
Posts: 7342
Joined: Sat May 25, 2002 2:50 pm
Location: In de lan o' cotton
Contact:

Re: Replacement spring for vintage leverlock

Post by Bill DeShivs »

Why the reticence to have this knife properly repaired? It's worth it, and the cost is very reasonable.
Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler
http://www.billdeshivs.com
Factory authorized repairs for:
Latama, Mauro Mario, LePre, Colonial, Kabar, Flylock, Schrade Cut Co., Presto, Press Button, Hubertus, Grafrath, Kuno Ritter knives, Puma, Burrell Cutlery.
Post Reply