Slipjoint - why won't it close fully?

[conw]

I got this at a pawn shop a year or two ago. It seems like a pretty good quality little vintage slipjoint, but it won't close fully. There is good backspring tension and action but as you can see from the pic it won't close fully.

I can press the blades down into the recess but they don't stay - the spring tension just pushes them back out.

Maybe it was just made this way... any input? I want to like it but it would help to be able to keep it in my pocket without the point on the main blade potentially snagging things.

 

[MutinousDoug]

Is there a button on the choil you could file down so the blades rest lower?
I'm imagining these blades have been sharpened many times.

 

[hso]

http://www.medawebs.com/knives/tutorials/Slipjoint/Part1_Geometry.htm

Note the close position drawing. Is the backspring flush? Is there something like a toothpick lodged inside? With both blades being "proud" I'd look inside for something wedged under the tangs.

 

[JTW Jr.]

Has it always been like this ?

I know of a few people who purposely put something on the inside of the backspring to hold the blade proud of the liners like that so they can hook the blade on their pocket and open it one handed. Though with the way that knife is made, you wouldnt need to.

 

[Cocked & Locked]

What does the bottom side of the knife look like when blades are closed? Perhaps a broken pin letting the springs ride hide?

 

[conw]

It's always been like this (since I got it a year or two ago).

The lockup when fully extended is fine and the backspring is flush. No toothpick or anything.

I guess the part of the knife you could refer to as the choil being shaped oddly may be the reason.

 

[rcmodel]

Either the springs are sprung.
The liners are bent.
Or the blade pivit pin is bent.

In any case, it wasn't made to work that way.

rc

 

[conw]

RC the blades don't really center up well relative to the liner... but what's weird is the spring action actively pushes them back out to "proud," so it isn't like they are actually getting stuck against the liner.

Spring action is good and consistent on both blades.

Guess that leaves some other reason I don't fully understand! I would send this little guy to someone if they want to fix it and maybe send it back or just keep it as a charity case .