Fireman Owners, a Question

[JNieporte]

When my Fireman's (not one handed, linerlock) belt cutter is fully opened, the backspring sticks out. Is this normal? I also have a slide lock Fireman, and noticed that it doesn't do this. Perhaps when Victorinox switched the blade positions, they didn't move the backspring?

[Marius]

I have a OH Rescuer (OH Parachutist) that has this problem: when the belt cutter blade is opened the backspring sticks in the air. It's clear that the backspring is not the right one. I thought mine was a one of those 'random' factory mistakes (so many, Victorinox, so many...   ) but it looks your Fireman has the exact same defect.

[T.J. Hooker]

Sounds like a error Victorinox made when making the knife. You probably should contact them. They might fix it or just send out a similar model with out the problem out for you.

[Steinar]

No, actually it is normal. I have a Parachutist myself, and it's the same thing. I don't remember the details, but there is a logical explanation to it. I think North Man wrote something about it.

[marduk]

I checked the 111mm's w/the belt cutter: Parachutist (Rescue), JumpMaster, and Fireman. I found that they all had the back spring stick out. This includes both the liner lock ones as well as the slider lock ones. The WorkChamp XL's belt cutter sticks out and so too does the new Rescue Tool.

[MARIOS7319]

My WorkChamp XL has also the back spring stick out. 

Maybe someone who knows the reason for that, to enlighten us.

[Syph007]

Weird.  So the part itself isn't symmetrical for whatever reason.  Meaning the pivoting area is thicker from pivot point to edge in the open position vs closed position.  Maybe to provide more force to be held open?  It is harder to close then a typical tool?  I cant think of a design reason for it otherwise.

[enki_ck]

I have something similar on an old 91mm Vic Ranger. The bottle opener closed and opened. The bottle opener is much harder to close than on any of my other SAKs.

[JNieporte]

...Maybe to provide more force to be held open?  It is harder to close then a typical tool?...

I have three Fireman models, and all are like this. The belt cutter isn't any harder to open, or close, than the other tools.

[Marius]

I had to check my Rescue Tool to see if it has the same sticking up backspring for the belt cutter blade and yes, it does.

Also, I see the same thing with mine: these blades do not open or close harder at all compared with other tools.

I wonder what's the intended purpose for this backspring anomaly? 

[JNieporte]

I originally thought my slide lock Fireman didn't have the belt cutter anomaly, but it does. I was thinking, since the linerlock Fireman switches some parts around with the slide lock Fireman (see below) that Victorinox simply used the same backspring set-up. I guess that's not the case, since both Fireman's belt cutters have a protruding backspring.

Slide lock Fireman:
Slide locking main blade.
Belt Cutter (nail nick, as with all the other tools, faces the shield side).
Wood Saw.
Double layer: non-locking bottle opener and can opener.

Linerlock Fireman:
Wood Saw.
Belt Cutter (nail nick faces the obverse side).
Linerlocking main blade.
Double layer: can opener and linerlocking bottle opener.

[Splat]

Interesting. My Fireman doesn't do this.