Help with a very old, switchblade?

[chibiker]

Hoping you guys can help me out with a few questions I have about an old knife. When my Grandfather passed away I was given, among other things, an old tool box of his. There were a few old pocket knives in there, most heavily used the one I am inquiring about being no different.
I never really paid that much attention to it and for one didn't at the time really know what I was looking at. Over the years as my knife collection started growing and I became more familar with their various features and operations this old knife came to mind and I dug it out. What I am looking at appears to be a very old lever lock automatic. The only markings I can find on it is the word ELEX on the blade. I was able to find a picture online that was very similar to this knife but no information was given.
It appears at one time that it had swing guards fitted to the blade... the shape of the knife is such that when the blade is closed the swing guards nestle into place.
I also believe there was a lanyard ring at the end that is now missing. The lever lock will snap into place when the blade is fully deployed but when folded you have to push it down into place to lock. I am almost postive this was a switchblade due to the locking mechanism as well and when looking down between the liners I can see the broken end of the leaf spring that was once there.

So questions... am I right? Old switchblade? Any idea about the manufacturer as well as a time period? My Mother seems to remember him carrying this knife for many many years...she knows nothing about whether or not it was an auto, she did say, knowing your Grandfather I am sure it was.

The scales on it are jigged bone, just have that classic vintage look that scales like that of today don't seem to exhibit. Any ideas what it's worth? More importantly anyone know approximate dollar amount to have it restored? Would need to have swing guards made and installed, new leaf spring made/installed and everything polished out and tightened up. Anyone recommend somebody to do that kind of work? Somebody I might be able to afford.. maybe even barter with? I guess ideally I would need to find somebody in Illinois. I do believe Federal Law prohibits shipping switchblades interstate. Wouldn't be one going but would be one coming back.

Thanks in advance for any info anybody can give. If my description was not clear enough or somebody wants to take a look for an estimate of repairs let me know and I can get some pictures up of it.

 

[rondog]

I'm not a knife guy, but photos would help the knife guys help you. And you can buy new autos on the internet for cheap, lots of 'em out there.

 

[chibiker]

Hey Ron,
My interest in this knife was not to be able to have an auto, I own several, it was more out of curosity and preservation. Mom remembers Grandpa carrying this knife when she was a little girl. That puts it back to the '40s at least age-wise. As she said, knowing Grandpa I am sure it was a functioning automatic. My guess is whenever it broke is when it became tool box knife.
I think it would be kind of cool to have it brought back to working condition and cleaned up....not sure I would ever carry, legalities aside, it's big, bulky and weighs a ton. Pics..................

 

[ArfinGreebly]

Pitting

From the pitting I should guess the blade is carbon steel, not stainless.

Interesting piece.

 

[hso]

Getting it restored to working order wouldn't be that difficult. If you can see the nub of the spring you're looking at the remainder of the arm with the rest having a little angled/curve "tail" that is fit under a pin at the aft end of your knife or into a slot if it isn't hooked at the tail. You should be able to reach in with a dental pick or knitting needle and pull it up enough to grab it with some fine needle nose pliers or a narrow hemostat. When you get it out you'll be able to see that it is a curved piece of spring steel that broke at the point near where it contacted the frame of the knife or just ahead of that. This is the point that it flexed and work hardened to the point of becoming brittle. You'll need to measure the length of the channel and estimate the length of the spring and then contact knifekits.com or PVK.com and ask them if they have a spring that might fit.

Replacing it is a matter of using the spring to reach in and snag the tail under the pin ( or into the slot) and then just pushing the spring down into the space for it. You should be able to do it yourself with a little fitting. Back to looking snappy!

 

[chibiker]

Yes sir, I know exactly of what you speak. I have a couple of modern day autos that are leaf spring fired, one of them I have indeed replaced the spring in. The work on this knife that I would like to have done is way beyond the scope of my abilities and knowledge I feel. The lever lock will snap into place when the blade is fully opened... not the case when you close it. The hole in the blade is either boogered up, the pin is or what else the case be I do not know. There is also a ton of slop in the pivot under lock up, back and forth, side to side.
If this knife was assembled like my modern counterparts I would have at it... it needs to be taken apart and everything is pinned. (not sure that is correct terminology)
Then there is the issue of missing swing guards... maybe there is some current production ones available that could work or be modified to do so? Would like to have the blade ground with proper bevels.... wouldn't really know what to do or not do concerning that.

 

[rondog]

Hey Ron,
My interest in this knife was not to be able to have an auto, I own several, it was more out of curosity and preservation. Mom remembers Grandpa carrying this knife when she was a little girl. That puts it back to the '40s at least age-wise. As she said, knowing Grandpa I am sure it was a functioning automatic. My guess is whenever it broke is when it became tool box knife.
I think it would be kind of cool to have it brought back to working condition and cleaned up....not sure I would ever carry, legalities aside, it's big, bulky and weighs a ton.

Ah, I gotcha. Like I said, I'm not a knife guy, but I'd be surprised if there wasn't someone out there that works on restoring old knives. I wouldn't have a clue where to look other than Google, but I wish you luck!

 

[Beelzy]

Hey!

An old Gunstock Hubie......aka Hubertus, German made.

Not really a knife that would be practical to restore. IMO