Question about how Paul Panak builds stiilettos

This is a forum for discussion on automatic an switchblade knives.

Moderator: The Motley Crew

Forum rules
There are a few things you should know before posting in these forums. If you are a new user, please click here and read carefully. Thanks a lot!
tedmen
Posts: 75
Joined: Tue Jan 11, 2011 8:39 pm
Location: Eastern Canada

Question about how Paul Panak builds stiilettos

Post by tedmen »

I noticed that Mr. Panak, on his website, mentions that he actually hand forges his back spring lock tabs for his stilettos. I'm wondering why he might do that and why. Is he actually forging the back spring with all that the word forging implies? ie: hammering the back spring and tab on an anvil to shape that part while it is red hot. What might be the advantage to that versus simple stock removal followed by heating the spring and twisting the tab?
User avatar
john
Posts: 4524
Joined: Tue Dec 01, 2009 11:40 am
Location: New England, MA USA

Re: Question about how Paul Panak builds stiilettos

Post by john »

Can he be contacted through his website? If yes perhaps you should ask Paul. Why he forges his springs instead of the stock removal method.
I’d like to know why too.
Your friend on the web's most friendly community on knives and blades,
John

Massachusetts Where Everything is Illegal or Taxed
User avatar
Bill DeShivs
Yes.
Posts: 7342
Joined: Sat May 25, 2002 2:50 pm
Location: In de lan o' cotton
Contact:

Re: Question about how Paul Panak builds stiilettos

Post by Bill DeShivs »

I doubt he forges the entire backspring.
Most backsprings are cut out of sheet stock-and the spring is then heated at the end and the locktab twisted into the horizontal position.
Paul used to mill backsprings out of one piece of thick steel. This wasted a lot of metal to avoid the simple task of heating/twisting the tab. It's good to know that he learned to do it by twisting instead.
Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler
http://www.billdeshivs.com
Factory authorized repairs for:
Latama, Mauro Mario, LePre, Colonial, Kabar, Flylock, Schrade Cut Co., Presto, Press Button, Hubertus, Grafrath, Kuno Ritter knives, Puma, Burrell Cutlery.
tedmen
Posts: 75
Joined: Tue Jan 11, 2011 8:39 pm
Location: Eastern Canada

Re: Question about how Paul Panak builds stiilettos

Post by tedmen »

Thank you for that follow up Bill. I noted Paul's description information about how he makes stilettos has been unchanged for many years and just wondered about the odd mention of "forging" the lock tab. I love how well finished his stilettos are especially those early Sam Polk tribute squarebuttons.
sammy the blade
Posts: 4023
Joined: Sat Mar 26, 2016 7:18 pm
Location: Indiana

Re: Question about how Paul Panak builds stiilettos

Post by sammy the blade »

tedmen wrote: Fri Dec 20, 2019 5:32 pm I noticed that Mr. Panak, on his website, mentions that he actually hand forges his back spring lock tabs for his stilettos. I'm wondering why he might do that and why. Is he actually forging the back spring with all that the word forging implies? ie: hammering the back spring and tab on an anvil to shape that part while it is red hot. What might be the advantage to that versus simple stock removal followed by heating the spring and twisting the tab?
Can you post his web address?
2024 candidate for president
Fishtail Picklock
Posts: 2207
Joined: Sat May 03, 2003 11:10 pm
Location: Forest Grove, OR

Re: Question about how Paul Panak builds stiilettos

Post by Fishtail Picklock »

Fishtail Picklock
sammy the blade
Posts: 4023
Joined: Sat Mar 26, 2016 7:18 pm
Location: Indiana

Re: Question about how Paul Panak builds stiilettos

Post by sammy the blade »

Thanks!
2024 candidate for president
User avatar
JimBrown257
Posts: 2053
Joined: Tue Apr 17, 2012 10:50 am
Location: Michigan

Re: Question about how Paul Panak builds stiilettos

Post by JimBrown257 »

Bill DeShivs wrote: Fri Dec 20, 2019 7:14 pm Paul used to mill backsprings out of one piece of thick steel.
:shock:
tedmen
Posts: 75
Joined: Tue Jan 11, 2011 8:39 pm
Location: Eastern Canada

Re: Question about how Paul Panak builds stiilettos

Post by tedmen »

Would it be best to free hand the final twist of the tab or do guys use some kind of forming fixture?
User avatar
Bill DeShivs
Yes.
Posts: 7342
Joined: Sat May 25, 2002 2:50 pm
Location: In de lan o' cotton
Contact:

Re: Question about how Paul Panak builds stiilettos

Post by Bill DeShivs »

Most people just heat it and twist it freehand.
I'm sure the Italian manufacturers have a fixture to do it.
Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler
http://www.billdeshivs.com
Factory authorized repairs for:
Latama, Mauro Mario, LePre, Colonial, Kabar, Flylock, Schrade Cut Co., Presto, Press Button, Hubertus, Grafrath, Kuno Ritter knives, Puma, Burrell Cutlery.
Tom19176
Posts: 3619
Joined: Mon Apr 21, 2008 12:23 am

Re: Question about how Paul Panak builds stiilettos

Post by Tom19176 »

Watch the video at the 2 minute mark you can see how the Italian do it on the larger ones:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZvUlVJl9m8
User avatar
Bill DeShivs
Yes.
Posts: 7342
Joined: Sat May 25, 2002 2:50 pm
Location: In de lan o' cotton
Contact:

Re: Question about how Paul Panak builds stiilettos

Post by Bill DeShivs »

I think he's just adjusting it, rather than doing the complete bend.
Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler
http://www.billdeshivs.com
Factory authorized repairs for:
Latama, Mauro Mario, LePre, Colonial, Kabar, Flylock, Schrade Cut Co., Presto, Press Button, Hubertus, Grafrath, Kuno Ritter knives, Puma, Burrell Cutlery.
tedmen
Posts: 75
Joined: Tue Jan 11, 2011 8:39 pm
Location: Eastern Canada

Re: Question about how Paul Panak builds stiilettos

Post by tedmen »

Bill, After the red hot heating of the back spring to do the lock tab twist.....should the spring be oil quenched and then tempered after that? [Assuming you were using some of the easier home treated steel].
User avatar
Bill DeShivs
Yes.
Posts: 7342
Joined: Sat May 25, 2002 2:50 pm
Location: In de lan o' cotton
Contact:

Re: Question about how Paul Panak builds stiilettos

Post by Bill DeShivs »

Yes, it should be heat treated.
Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler
http://www.billdeshivs.com
Factory authorized repairs for:
Latama, Mauro Mario, LePre, Colonial, Kabar, Flylock, Schrade Cut Co., Presto, Press Button, Hubertus, Grafrath, Kuno Ritter knives, Puma, Burrell Cutlery.
tedmen
Posts: 75
Joined: Tue Jan 11, 2011 8:39 pm
Location: Eastern Canada

Re: Question about how Paul Panak builds stiilettos

Post by tedmen »

Tom19176 wrote: Sun Dec 22, 2019 10:57 am Watch the video at the 2 minute mark you can see how the Italian do it on the larger ones:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZvUlVJl9m8
Thanks. He's really torqueing it around there to make his 'adjustment' isn't he...it looks like it might be cold too although he's gripping it with the scales/liners. I'd love to see a video of someone actually making this piece. I've looked but haven't found anything.
Post Reply