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I have a Schrade "Extreme Survival" Taiwan blade automatic. I may have had it 15 years or so. I think the blade was 2 3/4" before I sharpened it a bazillion times. Calling it an "Extreme Survival" anything is a joke. But for everyday carry it was the perfect size for me. It was made before everybody got sued for using a blade lock method that I think BenchMade held the patent for. Mine has the lock.
Anyhow, the spring broke. I pulled the spring and measured the OD at .480". I couldn't find that size anywhere. I guess it's possible it started life at .5" but I don't know.
So I called Schrade to see if they had a spring for it. I was advised that they don't sell parts or repair knives. They just replace them. I told them that my knife wasn't a high doller knife and was fairly old. They then told me they had a lifetime warranty. That I didn't know.
They asked what I wanted that was comparable and to send pictures of mine. So I sent picture of my disassembeled knife showing the broken spring. As far as I can tell there is nothing comparable in their current lineup. I told them I'd prefer another automatic but an assisted opener would be OK if it had a blade lock. The blade lock is key as I don't like knives opening in my pocket. They said they would see what they could do.
Well a day or so later I got a robo type email saying they would replace the knife with a comparable model. I said yeah sure, and didn't expect much. A week later I got a knife in the mail. It was a better quality knife but an assisted opener without a lock to keep it closed. I was still fairly satisfied but didn't open the retail package and figured I'd gift it. For me no lock is a no go!
So I figured what the heck. I'll go back and try fixing my old one. I torched the broken end of the spring and made a new hook for it. I quenched the torched end in oil but I know the temper is toast. I don't think there is any way to temper just the bent end on such a small spring. I'm sure you have to do the whole spring. But I did what I did. It originally broke because, due to internal friction, a good third of coil just wore too thin until it just gave out.
I put my knife back together and it works. I don't know how long the spring will last. It seems to slam open a bit harder but it did lose at least half of a coil. We'll see how long it lasts. But for now it's back in business. It's lasted over a week so far.
Well yeterday, another package showed up. In it was a much higher quality Schrade automatic. Made in America. It doesn't have the glass breaker my other one has but it's a very nice knife, at least it is in my book.
This one I'm afraid to use because I'm a knife abuser. It seems a shame to treat such a well made knife to the life it will have with me because it will get used and abused. I don't abuse them on purpose, but I do. What to do... Well I do have my old one working for now so I can think about it for awhile. I suppose I should get a .5" spring to try when my repair fails.
I guess I should send one of the knives back as I'm sure they didn't mean to send me two. I guess the takeaway from this is that while Schrade doesn't repair knives, they do otherwise have very good customer service and they stand behind their products.
Sorry you read all of that aren't you.
Anyhow, the spring broke. I pulled the spring and measured the OD at .480". I couldn't find that size anywhere. I guess it's possible it started life at .5" but I don't know.
So I called Schrade to see if they had a spring for it. I was advised that they don't sell parts or repair knives. They just replace them. I told them that my knife wasn't a high doller knife and was fairly old. They then told me they had a lifetime warranty. That I didn't know.
They asked what I wanted that was comparable and to send pictures of mine. So I sent picture of my disassembeled knife showing the broken spring. As far as I can tell there is nothing comparable in their current lineup. I told them I'd prefer another automatic but an assisted opener would be OK if it had a blade lock. The blade lock is key as I don't like knives opening in my pocket. They said they would see what they could do.
Well a day or so later I got a robo type email saying they would replace the knife with a comparable model. I said yeah sure, and didn't expect much. A week later I got a knife in the mail. It was a better quality knife but an assisted opener without a lock to keep it closed. I was still fairly satisfied but didn't open the retail package and figured I'd gift it. For me no lock is a no go!
So I figured what the heck. I'll go back and try fixing my old one. I torched the broken end of the spring and made a new hook for it. I quenched the torched end in oil but I know the temper is toast. I don't think there is any way to temper just the bent end on such a small spring. I'm sure you have to do the whole spring. But I did what I did. It originally broke because, due to internal friction, a good third of coil just wore too thin until it just gave out.
I put my knife back together and it works. I don't know how long the spring will last. It seems to slam open a bit harder but it did lose at least half of a coil. We'll see how long it lasts. But for now it's back in business. It's lasted over a week so far.
Well yeterday, another package showed up. In it was a much higher quality Schrade automatic. Made in America. It doesn't have the glass breaker my other one has but it's a very nice knife, at least it is in my book.
This one I'm afraid to use because I'm a knife abuser. It seems a shame to treat such a well made knife to the life it will have with me because it will get used and abused. I don't abuse them on purpose, but I do. What to do... Well I do have my old one working for now so I can think about it for awhile. I suppose I should get a .5" spring to try when my repair fails.
I guess I should send one of the knives back as I'm sure they didn't mean to send me two. I guess the takeaway from this is that while Schrade doesn't repair knives, they do otherwise have very good customer service and they stand behind their products.
Sorry you read all of that aren't you.
