Swiss army or multi tool knife servicing ?

[jsf55]

Dads old knife has been with me for ages ! he had it off one of the Volvo lorry drivers when he loaded him after hours so he could make the ferry to get home for Christmas.
Up until a few years ago it opened quite easily, but earlier this month i couldn't get a blade out. So what's the best method to get it freed off ?

 

[tom2207]

A wee squirt of ACF 50
works wonders.

 

[timgunn1962]

Be careful with the sprayable lubricants. I think the standard SAK scales are Celidor and it becomes a horrible sticky mess when in contact with many solvents. Do not ask me how I know this.
I tend to use Loctite Super lube PTFE oil, which seems to free things up nicely and comes in a precision oil pen, making it easy to get it where it is needed and nowhere else.

 

[Screwdriver]

Dads old knife has been with me for ages ! he had it off one of the Volvo lorry drivers when he loaded him after hours so he could make the ferry to get home for Christmas.
Up until a few years ago it opened quite easily, but earlier this month i couldn't get a blade out. So what's the best method to get it freed off ?

Depends entirely on why it's stuck. Could be just fluff. I have been known to run one through a dishwasher rather than mess about with solvents and compressed air which is another option.

I went through a period of carrying a Swiss Champ, the big fat one with pliers and scissors etc. Permanently resided in my pocket until I dropped a brand new FireBlade less than a mile from the showroom. Landed right on it it and left a Swiss Army knife shaped dent in my hip. That bent the entire chassis of the tool and it never really worked properly again.

As for the 'Blade, I was so cross at scratching up my new toy, I skipped the running in period and ragged it from day one. Did no harm whatsoever to the engine so far as I could tell...

 

[Lewis_RX8]

Depends entirely on why it's stuck. Could be just fluff. I have been known to run one through a dishwasher rather than mess about with solvents and compressed air which is another option.

I went through a period of carrying a Swiss Champ, the big fat one with pliers and scissors etc. Permanently resided in my pocket until I dropped a brand new FireBlade less than a mile from the showroom. Landed right on it it and left a Swiss Army knife shaped dent in my hip. That bent the entire chassis of the tool and it never really worked properly again.

As for the 'Blade, I was so cross at scratching up my new toy, I skipped the running in period and ragged it from day one. Did no harm whatsoever to the engine so far as I could tell...

Thats quite a chunk of knife for everyday carry !

 

[Chillitt]

Find someone that sells them and ask them to send it off for a tidy up. It used to be free and come back pretty much like new...

 

[jsf55]

Swiss Army Knives Care Tips | Victorinox United Kingdom

Discover essential care tips for Swiss Army Knives: regular cleaning and oiling ensure optimal functionality and longevity.

www.victorinox.com

A few tips here on how to clean it yourself, thanks for making me look here @Chillitt

 

[Screwdriver]

Swiss Army Knives Care Tips | Victorinox United Kingdom

Discover essential care tips for Swiss Army Knives: regular cleaning and oiling ensure optimal functionality and longevity.

www.victorinox.com

A few tips here on how to clean it yourself, thanks for making me look here @Chillitt

Step 1. Never clean your Swiss army tool in a dishwasher...

LOL.

 

[Guzrik]

I have sent mine 30+ yo, back and asked them not to replace the shells for sentimental reasons. So they did, but for the rest they renewed every part with even a small scratch on it. Also a broken bladetip. Only charge was sending cost, unbelieveable.
From the money saved, I bougth my son a new one.
Cannot think of any product with such warranty.

 

[Seadog]

Gerber are pretty good. The latch return spring on my Multi-tool failed, after ten years. I returned it and they sent me a completely new updated tool.

 

[James1979]

Gerber are pretty good. The latch return spring on my Multi-tool failed, after ten years. I returned it and they sent me a completely new updated tool.

Leatherman are like that. My Charge is the triggers broom of multi tools. Opened a diesel filter with the can opener and bust it - changed the whole tool.

At present it’s waiting to go back again but they will let me know when it moves up the queue due to rona. Brilliant service.

 

[Cobbler]

I miss carrying my Leatherman, always used to carry it when working, but with the locking blade & over the legal length I can’t justify it. Daft really as it is the last thing you would use to stab someone, by the time you have got it out & opened it they would be long gone

 

[Screwdriver]

Gerber are pretty good. The latch return spring on my Multi-tool failed, after ten years. I returned it and they sent me a completely new updated tool.

I would like to report a similar story (I am a diehard Gerber user) because I am so enthusiastic about well made, well designed products. I snapped the blade off on mine, I was doing something stupid though I cannot remember what. They are easily dismantled and a fair few spares are available just on eBay but not the blade at least not during the time period I was looking (Note to self: look again).

So I got in touch with Gerber (?) via Heinnie Haynes who tried to be helpful but couldn't help with the old version of the Gerber Sport. I bought a G. Diesel (my new EDC) and had a long but fruitless chat via email with one of ther technicians. A direct contact to Gerber would be handy if you have it. I was resolved to Tig weld it and at least have a semi functional tool but my Kemppi blew up some time ago and I still can't reach it (long story).

What makes the Gerber so handy is the one handed, flick open pliers. Use it all the time just for picking stuff up, especially hot stuff!

 

[James1979]

I miss carrying my Leatherman, always used to carry it when working, but with the locking blade & over the legal length I can’t justify it. Daft really as it is the last thing you would use to stab someone, by the time you have got it out & opened it they would be long gone

I have a 's0d it' attitude to this. I just exercise common sense and hope 'they' will do the same. I can usually use the tools of my trade defence anyway.

A story:

I did a bit for 'the feds' a few years back. nothing important really but I got to see the various mail shot notices and "learning opportunities". Anyhow, in this force area nearly every officer carried a leatherman type tool. They are useful. A new ACC (Assistant Chief Constable) who was risk averse started. Some element of pond life who got nicked for something trivial noticed the attending officers had multitools. He sought the advice of YouTube lawyers and found that they are a prohibited article re locking blade. He made a complaint and surprise, surprise the ACC upheld it and decreed that no officers were to carry them.

Fast forward a few years. Car goes in ditch. Upside down into water. At night. This was a rural force and this happened a lot. The ditches in this area are about a car wide. Which sucks if you get a car longwise in the ditch - you cant open the doors. Attending officers actually got on scene nearly straight away, and went in to the ditch in the dark to get the occupants out. They got into the vehicle through the smashed screen but couldn't get the occupants out. Seatbelt pretensions had gone off and they couldn't undo them. By the time the guys had got out of the ditch, ran back to the car for the escape tool and gone back to the vehicle in the ditch every one had drowned.

Inquest actually stated that the lack of multitools had contributed to the deaths as the officers had raised this in their statements. Spineless ACC then decreed that although he wasn't officially sanctioning their carry, officers should use this case as a learning experience and make their own judgment. Most of them now carry them again. That a**ehole has moved on to bigger and better things. I will try and find what I can that's in the public domain. The above is largely not I suspect hence the vagueness of the post.

 

[Seadog]

What makes the Gerber so handy is the one handed, flick open pliers. Use it all the time just for picking stuff up, especially hot stuff!

That was what appealed to me. Great for the boat when you're hanging on the bow, one-handed, and need to open it. I think that mine might have been returned via Heinnie Haynes, but it was over ten years ago.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Cannot think of any product with such warranty.

Papermate used to have a lifetime warranty on their products. I had a biro and propelling pencil set in a gold colour. The plating on the biro wore off where my fingers rested in use so I sent it back and they replaced it...rinse & repeat (many times over the years).

I stopped when I packed in banking.

 

[Migmac]

I have a 's0d it' attitude to this. I just exercise common sense and hope 'they' will do the same. I can usually use the tools of my trade defence anyway.

A story:

I did a bit for 'the feds' a few years back. nothing important really but I got to see the various mail shot notices and "learning opportunities". Anyhow, in this force area nearly every officer carried a leatherman type tool. They are useful. A new ACC (Assistant Chief Constable) who was risk averse started. Some element of pond life who got nicked for something trivial noticed the attending officers had multitools. He sought the advice of YouTube lawyers and found that they are a prohibited article re locking blade. He made a complaint and surprise, surprise the ACC upheld it and decreed that no officers were to carry them.

Fast forward a few years. Car goes in ditch. Upside down into water. At night. This was a rural force and this happened a lot. The ditches in this area are about a car wide. Which sucks if you get a car longwise in the ditch - you cant open the doors. Attending officers actually got on scene nearly straight away, and went in to the ditch in the dark to get the occupants out. They got into the vehicle through the smashed screen but couldn't get the occupants out. Seatbelt pretensions had gone off and they couldn't undo them. By the time the guys had got out of the ditch, ran back to the car for the escape tool and gone back to the vehicle in the ditch every one had drowned.

Inquest actually stated that the lack of multitools had contributed to the deaths as the officers had raised this in their statements. Spineless ACC then decreed that although he wasn't officially sanctioning their carry, officers should use this case as a learning experience and make their own judgment. Most of them now carry them again. That a**ehole has moved on to bigger and better things. I will try and find what I can that's in the public domain. The above is largely not I suspect hence the vagueness of the post.

As you can guess, I carry and use a knife daily. I have a knife for out on the hill and a knife for using in the larder. So I have a minimum of two in my truck. Normally more as I carry a spare for the hill. This is normal for my work colleagues as well. One of our guys spent a night in the cells due to having a knife in his truck! He was heading from the forest to his house, so not just driving about without any reason.

 

[James1979]

As you can guess, I carry and use a knife daily. I have a knife for out on the hill and a knife for using in the larder. So I have a minimum of two in my truck. Normally more as I carry a spare for the hill. This is normal for my work colleagues as well. One of our guys spent a night in the cells due to having a knife in his truck! He was heading from the forest to his house, so not just driving about without any reason.

That is absolute nonsense! There is no way he should have been nicked for that You would think that especially in a rural area an officer would be mindful of that. I'm assuming it was a works truck for the same agency as you work for so liveried up too??

In my truck where I'm sat now in reach of me are:
Rope knife in glove box
Standard sheath knife on dog guard (where it lives so the blade doesnt get free - been got by a loose one under the seat before now)
Claw hammer under seat x2
Fencing pliers under seat
maglite on dog guard
I have also just re-found a small knife wedged in the sun visor which is where I stuck it one day when I found it out and about so I wouldn't get cut and have forgotten it was there.
Behind the seat is a whole other host of 'stuff' which could be construed as a weapon if anyone was of the mind. Let alone what's in the tool box and the tool racking where the back seats were (its a crew cab)

Oh, and I'm wearing my leatherman! That is just what's in a work / farm truck and it annoys me that half of it is illegal if some plod were to be a ****.

Old boy I know went to prison in his 60's for a week I think. First and only ever offence. He went to court in the public gallery to see a case he was interested in and pinged the metal detector with a penknife in his pocket. Here in Scotland attempting to take a knife into court is a specific offence with a custodial sentence. They gave him the minimum but it was very poor.

 

[Screwdriver]

my everyday carry is the Gerber Diesel black: https://heinnie.com/gerber-diesel-black

I know it's not legal carry but I don't care. The only time I won't wear it is if I am with someone who may object (to my being arrested!) or if I know I am going somewhere I consider it to be inappropriate, like a restaurant but that is rare and even then....

 

[Seadog]

That's the newer version of mine. My one is matt chrome and the serrated blade is a tungsten carbide grit blade.