Restoring snap to a bent corkscrew, SAK Huntsman Lite

Photopaul65 · **on:** December 15, 2018, 12:59:51 PM

Hello all,
I recently picked up a used Huntsman Lite on ebay. It was really dirty but in good shape, save for a slight outward bend to the corkscrew away from the frame. I bent the corkscrew back to it's proper position, as well as the slight outward bulge it created on the plate, but even after a thorough cleaning, it still lacks any kind of snap. Any way to to make this better? Would a good hammer hit to the pivot rivet do any good? It's on the same spring as the main blade, which still snaps nicely. It stays in place, it's just annoying that it's the only tool on it that doesn't snap.

Dutch_Tooler · **Reply #1 on:** December 15, 2018, 01:20:28 PM

The usefulness of a hammer hit on the pivot depends on the cause of the lack of snap. At a wild guess, it may make things worse rather than better, such as when the pivot is already a little tight. Have you tried whether lubricating the pivot helps? A thorough cleaning should always be followed by a drop of suitable oil.

By the way, welcome to

glenfiddich1983 · **Reply #2 on:** December 15, 2018, 01:24:46 PM

What exactly do you mean with no snap? Is the tension weak (corkscrew feeling loose)? In that case the rivet may have broken. Is it very stuck? In that case it's probably dirt or a bent rivet.

A lack of oil also doesn't help, but if it is really really stuck I think a lack of oil isn't the biggest issue.

cody6268 · **Reply #3 on:** December 15, 2018, 01:25:32 PM

If I were you, I'd send it off to Victorinox. Doing it that way eliminates any chance of messing up. I sent off three: a Pioneer, SwissTool, and Artisan (an 84mm Fielmdaster). At minimal cost to me (minus the cost from sending it via UPS); they replaced the Pioneer and SwissTool; and rebuilt the Artisan.

Problem is that they have a tendency to replace stuff you don't want fixed. The Artisan was 50 years old; and while the large blade showed sharpening and wear, it was in good shape; but they replaced it anyway when I didn't ask them to. Now the funny thing was that the saw was dull; I didn't tell them to fix that, and they didn't.

Photopaul65 · **Reply #4 on:** December 15, 2018, 02:53:39 PM

It has tension, but just doesn't snap. You can't feel the spring tension build at the point where it should to snap it closed. It was cleaned and lubed at all pivot points, cleaned as well as I can without soaking in high powered stuff due to the LED light. It does appear looking through a loupe that there is still some fine lint trapped under it, but it doesn't appear to be much.
I also just got an Explorer off ebay, so maybe I will send this off for repairs. What did the repairs cost you cody6268?

cody6268 · **Reply #5 on:** December 15, 2018, 03:11:44 PM

Quote from: Photopaul65 on December 15, 2018, 02:53:39 PM

It has tension, but just doesn't snap. You can't feel the spring tension build at the point where it should to snap it closed. It was cleaned and lubed at all pivot points, cleaned as well as I can without soaking in high powered stuff due to the LED light. It does appear looking through a loupe that there is still some fine lint trapped under it, but it doesn't appear to be much.
I also just got an Explorer off ebay, so maybe I will send this off for repairs. What did the repairs cost you cody6268?

I think I pre-approved $5 each on the SwissTool and Pioneer, and $10 on the Artisan.

Photopaul65 · **Reply #6 on:** December 15, 2018, 03:12:24 PM

Quote from: Dutch_Tooler on December 15, 2018, 01:20:28 PM

By the way, welcome to

Thanks! Been a long time since I've been an active forum user, but I'm trending back to them because of the smurfshow most Facebook groups are.

Photopaul65 · **Reply #7 on:** December 15, 2018, 03:14:56 PM

I think I pre-approved $5 each on the SwissTool and Pioneer, and $10 on the Artisan.
[/quote]

Wow, that's way cheaper than I expected, thanks Cody! How long did it take to get them back?

cody6268 · **Reply #8 on:** December 15, 2018, 03:32:58 PM

Quote from: Photopaul65 on December 15, 2018, 03:14:56 PM

I think I pre-approved $5 each on the SwissTool and Pioneer, and $10 on the Artisan.

Wow, that's way cheaper than I expected, thanks Cody! How long did it take to get them back?
[/quote]

I think about 3 weeks from the time I dropped them off at UPS to the time they were delivered to me by Fedex.

Photopaul65 · **Reply #9 on:** December 15, 2018, 03:37:26 PM

I think about 3 weeks from the time I dropped them off at UPS to the time they were delivered to me by Fedex.
[/quote]

Myron · **Reply #10 on:** December 18, 2018, 02:41:10 AM

In my experience, weak snap at the corkscrew can indicate a hairline crack in the liner. Examine it carefully using a magnifying glass and see if you can see any cracks in it. If you do, sending it Victorinox is really the only fix.

Here's a Baby Climber I took apart because it had no snap at the corkscrew. When I got the scale off, I could just see the hairline crack in the liner that passed through the rivet hole. The very second I put the drill bit on it to drill it out, it cracked all the way through.

Good luck.