Hi everyone,
I just bought a 1st model (non-takedown) SMF gravity knife from the son of the vet who brought it back. All springs work, numbers on lever and spring head match and there's significant crossgrain left on the blade. No readily evident sharpening and the blade does not rattle when retracted or extended. The spike also displays the correct waffenampt as expected. An all around pretty decent example rating around Exc. + and would rate higher if it werent for the wear on the head from being carried and for a couple of dings to the wood on one grip plate. Now, the thing that's annoying is that the blade wont come out all the way unless I give it a good shake. I'd like to smooth up the mechanism by adding a little oil. Normally I would never do anything to a collectible, but I dont want to stress the spring by holding it open longer than i have to every time i want to see the blade. Does anyone see any real harm in oiling the mechanism so the blade drops out smoothly like it was meant to? I imagine, being actual field gear and not dress pieces, that these would have been oiled for use during the war, and I think mine's a bit dry or there might be some dust or something in there that is slightly gumming things up. Educated (i.e. you own one of these and you know what I'm talking about) opinions would be greatly appreciated. I don't want the blade to get frozen in there if I leave it w/o looking at it from time to time over the next few decades.
Best,
Josh
I just bought a 1st model (non-takedown) SMF gravity knife from the son of the vet who brought it back. All springs work, numbers on lever and spring head match and there's significant crossgrain left on the blade. No readily evident sharpening and the blade does not rattle when retracted or extended. The spike also displays the correct waffenampt as expected. An all around pretty decent example rating around Exc. + and would rate higher if it werent for the wear on the head from being carried and for a couple of dings to the wood on one grip plate. Now, the thing that's annoying is that the blade wont come out all the way unless I give it a good shake. I'd like to smooth up the mechanism by adding a little oil. Normally I would never do anything to a collectible, but I dont want to stress the spring by holding it open longer than i have to every time i want to see the blade. Does anyone see any real harm in oiling the mechanism so the blade drops out smoothly like it was meant to? I imagine, being actual field gear and not dress pieces, that these would have been oiled for use during the war, and I think mine's a bit dry or there might be some dust or something in there that is slightly gumming things up. Educated (i.e. you own one of these and you know what I'm talking about) opinions would be greatly appreciated. I don't want the blade to get frozen in there if I leave it w/o looking at it from time to time over the next few decades.
Best,
Josh
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