Right, don't be playing with it. Also I greased where it counts.
I'm a greaser as well.
Well, then, you're showing more self-discipline than I was ever able to muster! I've owned some beautiful '
made in Italy' Italian stilettos — one with a 6 1/2 inch blade, pretty buffalo-horn scales, and all. None of them lasted more than 4 or 5 years; and, in the end, I understood '
Why' Ernie Emerson has never made one.
Switchblades are not knives for either the long haul or heavy duty use. Nevertheless, as a young Sicilian male I too found myself, somewhat naturally, drawn to the design. If you don't snap it open a lot then your switchblade may last a lot longer than any of mine ever did. (You can also get one of today's numerous custom knifemakers to tighten up — not the blade-stop, but — the knife's pivot pin for ya; I've done that, too.)
While switchblades will never be strong knives (An Emerson '
Big Bulldog', a Becker '
Companion', or a Randall-Made '
Model 14' are strong knives that, even with hard use, are capable of outliving the original purchaser; but, hey, switchblades ARE FUN to fiddle around with; and I hope you enjoy yours!