Suggestions for adding a nail nick on a traditional slippie???

[AimlessWanderer]

I've got a nice little Sheffield made slippie in a barlow pattern, which is particularly nice as the main blade is a lambsfoot blade rather than a clip. Only problem is the nail nick on the main blade is completely obscured by the pen blade ... PLUS ... both backsprings are VERY robust.

There's enough main blade showing at the end of the penblade to add another nail nick, but it would need to be one that you can get a good purchase on to overcome the backspring. I thought about using a slitting disc from a Dremel, but am concerned as to whether that would chamfer the edge so your thumbnail rides off with the resistance from the spring

Hope that all makes sense, and open to all suggestions 

[Mr. Whippy]

I thought nail nicks were made before the blade is hardened.  Maybe a thumb stud?

[AimlessWanderer]

Yeah that's right, they're stamped in before hardening so stamping another isn't an option. The main blade being longer allows for a nail nick further down, but that's totally the wrong place for it - almost the tip of the blade. Also, the spines of the two blades are level until the pen blade tapers away, so there isn't any additional height to reach over the pen blade if that makes sense 

As an alternative (if producing nail nick two isn't an option) I could grind away part of the pen blade, but realistically that would either mean turning it into a mini clip blade, or shortening the blade by about 10mm (3/8") if I kept it as a pen blade

[16VGTIDave]

Could the pen blade be lowered without obscuring its nail nick?

Got a pic?

Dave


Sent from my iPad2

[AimlessWanderer]

Could the pen blade be lowered without obscuring its nail nick?

Got a pic?

Dave


Sent from my iPad2

Good question, but unfortunately no 
Having a few camera issues at the moment - hoping to have a resolution to that shortly 

[radioactive_Man]

Sounds like cutting a nail nick with a Dremel would be the best bet. If you're worried about creating a chamfer along the top edge just angle the Dremel towards the blade a little and that should create a good perch for your nail to grab.

[jzmtl]

Dremel is what I'm thinking, use the cutoff wheels to cut straight into blade, you'll need a jig or VERY steady hands or you'll slip and scratch the hell out of blade.

[Syph007]

Before hardening most guy use a fly cutter on a mill.  Post hardening, I would use a large straight milling bit and clamp the work on an angle.

If you arent picky about the cosmetics a dremel wheel works fine.  Well maybe your hand is steadier than mine.  I made a servicable one that way, but far from perfect.  Practice on some scrap metal and maybe you can get a decent result.   

[dks]

Assuming, as you said that the kick cannot be filed down so as to lower the obstructing blade then the dremmel seem like the best option. As for filing the kick, I did try to do it once and on a hardened blade it is very hard to do..
Another solution is to open the obstructing blade first, then the other one    , so your knife does not get damaged by any botched modification attempts..

..or get really strong so that you can pinch really hard and open the blade!!

[Zed]

Al on the pen blades tang does it stick forward on the blade side lower section because if it does you coul grind it away s bit to lower the pen blade,do i make sense 

[parnass]

I've used a Dremel tool fitted with a cutoff wheel to create a nail nick in an old slipjoint, but the results would have looked better if my hands were more steady.

Wonder if one could cut an angled notch in the blade's spine instead of the more conventional nick in the side of the blade?

[neillcurrie]

I used a Dremel with a parting disc to cut a finger nick into a Gerber multitool blade that somehow had no nick in it from the factory.
I made the first cut, and it was almost the same width as the thickness of my fingernail, which made me uncomfortable: one day I knew I would get my nail caught and torn.
So I sandwiched two parting discs together and repeated the nick. It works, but I am not a fan of the cosmetics of the operation, no slips with the Dremel or anything untoward, but I doubt it's possible to replicate how the factory nail nicks look. Just sayin....

[Sparky415]

I have been thinking about this one for a while now

How about using the dremel to cut a parallel slot all the way through the blade (as Neillcurrie says above with two cutting disks) I'm sure there's a name for this slot     anyway I think it might be easier to do nicely than a dremeled nail-nick 

Before any health and safety muppets start, make sure you take appropriate measures to ensure your safety while using electricity and water also wear a mask, goggles, jock strap etc etc etc 

Get a dish and fill it with enough water to touch the underside of the blade
Hang on let me take a pic....

Its a bit hard to see but the top side of the blade is out of the water and the bottom is touching

[oreogaborio]

Get a dish and fill it with enough water to touch the underside of the blade
Hang on let me take a pic....

Its a bit hard to see but the top side of the blade is out of the water and the bottom is touching

Interesting.... I assume this to guard against heat of friction affecting the strength of the blade?

[AimlessWanderer]

Thanks guys. I really need to go and fetch my Dremel at some point .... 

[Farmman]

Thanks guys. I really need to go and fetch my Dremel at some point .... 

I know someone that owns one not too far away from you.

[AimlessWanderer]

Thanks guys. I really need to go and fetch my Dremel at some point .... 

I know someone that owns one not too far away from you.

Too far away to come round for a beer though it seems 

[Sparky415]

Get a dish and fill it with enough water to touch the underside of the blade
Hang on let me take a pic....

Its a bit hard to see but the top side of the blade is out of the water and the bottom is touching

Interesting.... I assume this to guard against heat of friction affecting the strength of the blade?

@ Oreogaborio,
Yes it was an idea I came across on another site, It stops the metal getting hot and affecting the blades temper,  Its a bit fiddly but easier than stopping every few seconds to dip the blade in water


  Al

 

[Farmman]

Thanks guys. I really need to go and fetch my Dremel at some point .... 

I know someone that owns one not too far away from you.

Too far away to come round for a beer though it seems 

I know must find my passport and come and visit.