Case Trapper spring "pride"

SteelRaven · **on:** October 29, 2016, 12:10:05 PM

So guys...I've got this old CV brown bone handled trapper with a clip blade that doesn't exactly sit straight when fully open like dey supposed to did!

I've thought of sending her to Case/Zippo, but from what I understand others have done this and either gotten a new version of their knife back or something much worse.

This was a gift from the lady of de maison, momRaven, so I don't want to loose it or mess it up, no! It was made in the early 80s I think.

Everything else with the knife is fine. It carries the old style brass barbell pins that evidently must be cut/destroyed to be removed. Of course, that was expected. Prying on these grand old knives is not a good thing to do, any more than prying WITH them. There is also the idea if skrewing up the scales, which I do not want to do

You can get new barbells, pins, and I'd necessary, use a spare back spring from a parts referb bucket etc for the repair, or just refit and properly install the parts and dis should fix her, right??

dks · **Reply #1 on:** October 29, 2016, 01:06:29 PM

I assume? you mean that it does not stay "locked", or that the blade is not in line with backspirng?

maybe adjusting the kick may help?

Anything can be fixed/repaired/replaced, and a good cleaning may solve most issues.

If you replace most of its part, is it still the same knife?

SteelRaven · **Reply #2 on:** October 29, 2016, 01:14:54 PM

I have cleaned the knife with Gunscrubber to remove excess oils, gunk etc and also used pipe cleaners to remove as much offending material from it and of course, relubricated and applied a rust preventative to the carbon blade.

I have no plans to replace the blades. As I said, the only thing I would seek to replace is the spring operating the clip blade. They do not lock of course.

The spring appears to be longer than its mate in the knife, when you view from the back. I will attempt pics later today.

Thanks for your replies all!.

SteelRaven · **Reply #3 on:** October 29, 2016, 01:18:31 PM

Quote from: SteelRaven on October 29, 2016, 01:14:54 PM

I have cleaned the knife with Gunscrubber to remove excess oils, gunk etc and also used pipe cleaners to remove as much offending material from it and of course, relubricated and applied a rust preventative to the carbon blades.

I have no plans to replace the blades. As I said, the only thing I would seek to replace is the spring operating the clip blade, and any pins that might be destroyed or damaged by necessity or warped. brass liners could also be damaged as it currently is, but i highly doubt that. The blades do not lock of course.

The spring appears to be longer than its mate in the knife, when you view from the back. I will attempt pics later today.

Thanks for your replies all!.

yud · **Reply #4 on:** October 29, 2016, 02:52:28 PM

Could you take some pictures it might be helpful

SteelRaven · **Reply #5 on:** October 29, 2016, 03:16:36 PM

Yessir I can, and I'm gonna did dat just as soon as momma wakes up. Gotta let her rest. She cares for me day and night, and fully supports my knife collecting!

You're SILLY if you rock dat boat! Right??

SteelRaven · **Reply #6 on:** October 30, 2016, 12:39:45 AM

As you can see she needs surgery, but I'm not quite sure I'm qualified to handle a procedure of this magnitude!

nmpops · **Reply #7 on:** October 30, 2016, 01:41:27 AM

Is that spring flush with the liners when closed? if so, the tang on the clip blade just a little filing not the spring. I say send it to Case, tell them it's a sentimental knife and ask them to fix it and not replace it.

sLaughterMed · **Reply #8 on:** October 30, 2016, 01:48:01 AM

Quote from: nmpops on October 30, 2016, 01:41:27 AM

Is that spring flush with the liners when closed? if so, the tang on the clip blade just a little filing not the spring. I say send it to Case, tell them it's a sentimental knife and ask them to fix it and not replace it.

+1

AimlessWanderer · **Reply #9 on:** October 30, 2016, 02:03:57 AM

Looks like it just needs a bit of a tickle with a small diamond file. Very little will need removing. If I wanted such a small adjustment on a sentimental knife, I would rather have the risk of screwing it up myself, than risking being sent something else in return.

SteelRaven · **Reply #10 on:** October 30, 2016, 02:09:28 AM

If I can find a small enough diamond file I may attempt a micro adjustment on the ends of the springs to even them out.

I just checked again...it's both sides...I was mistaken. It's perfect when closed, and a bit stiff to open. Blade and handle finish, bolsters, edge bevels etc are all normal CASE excellent quality.

I agree with you all in the fact that its probably a very minor fitting task. So in any event, the amount of material I would remove with a fine diamond would be minuscule anyway. If that adjustment won't fix it, it's going back to Case, Good grief I hate the thought of loosing this one!

I would ponder the question of how an obvious flaw like that got past the eye of a thorough inspector, but alas who knows.

The new fangled stuff, you back out the screws, adjust, lube, reassemble..,good to go. That I can handle. Just not a bunch of experience with the older stuff. All I ever did to one was clean, lube, sharpen if I had to, hone...done.

SteelRaven · **Reply #11 on:** November 07, 2016, 03:00:29 AM

Well a few days later...

Thanks to a few needle files, a really sore thumb nail or two,and some encouragement from my buddies here at MTO I think I saved myself about 50 bux and a lot of wait and worry cause...

SteelRaven · **Reply #12 on:** November 07, 2016, 03:08:55 AM

Is it perfect. No. But a heck of a sight closer to it than it was.

I'm still working, oiling, filing, polishing...all by hand. No Dremel. Getting the top ends of the springs dead flat, as well as the top of the blade near the tang flat and flush is a bit of a challenge when you can't just pop one apart.

Otherwise, a few stones and some wet or dry auto body paper and I'd have been done in a few hours. The only surface I can't adjust at all is the bottom of the springs that are hidden under the tangs of course.

So thanks guys!

Fortytwo · **Reply #13 on:** November 07, 2016, 12:19:31 PM

Quote from: SteelRaven on November 07, 2016, 03:08:55 AM

Is it perfect. No. But a heck of a sight closer to it than it was.

I'm still working, oiling, filing, polishing...all by hand. No Dremel. Getting the top ends of the springs dead flat, as well as the top of the blade near the tang flat and flush is a bit of a challenge when you can't just pop one apart.

Otherwise, a few stones and some wet or dry auto body paper and I'd have been done in a few hours. The only surface I can't adjust at all is the bottom of the springs that are hidden under the tangs of course.

So thanks guys!

If it makes it any better I'll tell you that it would probably not have been much easier with a Dremel. The rotary nature means flat areas are difficult at best. It could probably have saved you some time in the coarse work before the final touch but little more than that.

SteelRaven · **Reply #14 on:** November 07, 2016, 02:18:42 PM

Quote from: Fortytwo on November 07, 2016, 12:19:31 PM

Quote from: SteelRaven on November 07, 2016, 03:08:55 AM
Is it perfect. No. But a heck of a sight closer to it than it was.

I'm still working, oiling, filing, polishing...all by hand. No Dremel. Getting the top ends of the springs dead flat, as well as the top of the blade near the tang flat and flush is a bit of a challenge when you can't just pop one apart.

Otherwise, a few stones and some wet or dry auto body paper and I'd have been done in a few hours. The only surface I can't adjust at all is the bottom of the springs that are hidden under the tangs of course.

So thanks guys!

If it makes it any better I'll tell you that it would probably not have been much easier with a Dremel. The rotary nature means flat areas are difficult at best. It could probably have saved you some time in the coarse work before the final touch but little more than that.

The way it is with most power tools when it comes to fine finishing, except for polishing I guess. There used to be a saying..."Another fool with a Dremel tool" amongst gunsmiths in our area. They most certainly have their place. Somewhere between Hand tuning and a Foredom tool but I don't use them as much as I used to.