Please read the description! Many points are presented with better clarity. This may help those who are still a little confused by the situation. And as always, if you have a question, please just ask! I'll be happy to respond and answer to the best of my ability. Cheers!
The replacement Lambfoot sent to me by the FSS as compensation for the first broken backspacing Lambsfoot also broke in the same manner in less than a week. Lots of other world knives to look at Spain, Portugal, Japan, Eastern Europe and of course France all have interesting historic contributions to pocket cutlery. French Friction folders have become one of my favourites to collect. No problems importing from Knives of France in TX. The world is your oyster - you know what to do. Cheers,
I've got nothing against Sheffield-far from it. I love English knives, but for now, I'll be trying something different. It's interesting how you mention Knives of France...friction folders, specifically. I just received an order from Stèphane, which included a lovely Montpellier! I'm very excited to make a video on it. 😁 Thanks again for watching and commenting. Cheers, as always!
wow that is the worst disaster which can possibly happen to a slipjoint, and the fact that it happen now to several ones and other have experienced similar. It is safe to say A Wright have a severe problem with the metal of the springs ... no matter how big or small a company is, they MUST act here, this is very clearly a general problem and not a single case, thanks for your video
This comment summarises everything I could really say. The fact is, these knives are no longer safe to use until we can be certain that this problem has been eliminated. Thanks for watching and commenting. Cheers, as always!
No it happens. I had a Medford backspring break on me. It was replaced free of charge. Keep on at Wrights this is not a way to treat a loyal supporter of your pocket knives!
Interesting. I didn't suspect Medford to be a likely culprit for such a flaw. Good to know they at least sorted it out for you! I hope more people who've had similar experiences with A. Wright reach out to them. With any luck, multiple complaints will prompt action! Cheers!
I have a cheap Chinese lamb foot that has served me well for the last three years so with the help of you and other TH-camrs I bought me 2 A wright knives. Both have a blade pull of 9 and I’m still disappointed how hard they are to open. Nice to look at but now stuck in a draw until I get something nicer to use.
If you like a good Lambfoot, I suggest getting a Michael May. While a bit more expensive, they typically sport better fit n' finish than an A. Wright and oftentimes, a slightly softer pull. (Still snappy, though!) Cheers!
Have owned 3 and all 3 back springs broke within one week of ownership. This is a very validating video to see. 1 - lambfoot barlow in ebony; 2 - small lambfoot swayback; 3 - lambfoot barlow in whiskey barrel oak. Third one broke on my yesterday.
Oh my goodness!! That's very sad to hear. You should certainly contact A. Wright about this. Considering there's strength in numbers, that could potentially prompt them to overdue action. Again, I'm very sorry this happened to you. Thanks for sharing your experience. Cheers!
That’s totally crazy. Have never seen this happen before. I was prepared to buy an Arthur Wright Barlow. Thanks for the info. I probably will still have to buy one anyway.
There are some fantastic examples out there of Sheffield made barlows you won't be disappointed, I have a drawer full of them so talking from experience 🍻👊
@@drewwhite5601 Indeed! The Premier Collection by Taylor's Eye Witness is excellent and I'd happily suggest them to those desiring a quality, Sheffield Barlow. Cheers!
At a rough count I have 48 Sheffield made slipjoints, 12 of which are Arthur Wrights and 5 Michael Mays, and have never had a problem with any, admittedly they don't get a lot of heavy use. You must have the worst luck of anybody in the hobby!
Impressive collection! My 'Wright knives don't get "heavy" use, exactly, but they are certainly carried more than most. And yes, I do seem to have terrible luck! 😅 Cheers, as always!
Yep, I've had an A.Wright Lambfoot break it's spring in exactly the same place. Bought Christmas 2022. It had had next to no use. It's the only knife I've owned that's done that.
I remember that all too clearly. It's such a shame, really. I believe we both got our (Ebony) Lambfoots from the same batch. Here's hoping that was the last? Wishful thinking, I'm sure. Cheers, as always!
Really sorry to see this. There's no question of bias as your previous videos have championed A. Wright knives so enthusiastically. Being a fan of traditionals and British, I own many Sheffield knives. I've found them to be, well, a bit shite. However, I still love them. Been buying them for forty-or-so years. I collect them and will continue to do so, but for everyday use, I go with a double detent with a decent finger choil. On a personal note, I have had numerous Böker knives die on me the same way. Entirely fair that it really puts you off a brand.
Well, I certainly love my Sheffield knives, despite their faults! Sadly, this error is one that I find very hard to look past, especially when it has happened so many times. I still hold out hope for Sheffield, as there are many examples of knives (mostly Taylor's Eye Witness) from the city that are exemplary. Shame, as they're the most expensive! Also, I've never heard of Bökers failing in such a way. Were they overtight at the spring? I'm shocked that such a thing could happen to a premium brand. Thanks for commenting and cheers!
This is unfortunate I have about 15 a wright knives and this has never happened to me and I've found Ashley to be excellent to deal with . Keep in contact with them I'd be very surprised if they don't sort this out. They may have had a technical issue or something and didn't get back to you for that reason
I had a Sheffield made knife, I want to say it was an A Wright, but it was about 20 years ago and I may be remembering wrong. 'Nail breaker' is an understatement - I literally could not open it with my bare hands. I had to use a screwdriver as a 'fingernail' to get it open. I tried leaving it half-open hoping that the backspring would loosen up a bit, but it never did. I soon gave up on it. No idea what happened to it in the end. It's easy to see how a design that placed so much strain on the backspring might eventually cause it to crack, especially if the heat treat wasn't quite right.
Must be heartbreaking for you to have to post this because I know how much you enjoy your Sheffield knives! You are correct to draw attention to this issue,hopefully this was just a bad batch but lessons need to be learned,I like a good strong back spring but I wouldnt want to be pulling one out my face!
Ouch! That, in my humble opinion, is totally unacceptable. I'm English, and from my personal experiences, i would personally hesitate buying anymore Sheffield Made knives. The last Michael May i purchased was a disaster, off centre, caught on the cover pin when closing and terrible edge grind, this is being returned. I'm wondering whether they are using cheap imported Chinese steel as the uk to the best of my knowledge, no longer produces any steel! All the best, David. Ps. Good luck with hearing back as my customer service experience has also been terrible!
According to Wikipedia, there are still about 5 million tons of steel produced in the UK each year, but not sure if it's the right kind of steel for knives.
Well, that is certainly a horror show! 😱 I've had mixed experiences with Sheffield knives. Some good, some bad, others, horrifying. Even so, in a few cases, I have managed to find an absolute gem of a knife. It's because of these that I keep purchasing them. Sadly, if 'mediocre' becomes the norm, (much less, bad, for that matter!) I may no longer be able to keep justifying their purchase. A. Wright seems to be off the list, for now, but I hope the other firms continue to improve, as I have high hopes for Sheffield cutlery when it's done right! Thanks for watching and commenting. Cheers!
Very unfortunate for such an A Wright supporter. I have around 40 A Wright's in various designs. Also many TEWS and Egginton Group brands. And by way of comparison French, German, Italian, American and more. Victorinox etc etc. In other words I'm like most of you with this affliction and love of traditional knives. I always carry a Swiss Champion, it's an older one early 1970s. And usually an A Wright is my preferred second carry. I haven't experienced any problems with any of my Wright knives and while my TEWS are beautifully presented specimens I think the Wright's are very appealing heavy duty work ready pocket knives. My instinct is, without thinking, to grab an A Wright Barlow, why? Because they are not just a good knife they are a great knife. We can have problems with any manufactured products, that doesn't mean it's acceptable. Traditional knife making is probably a dying art in that training people in such a specialised trade and being able to pay them adequately is incredibly challenging. I believe we need to support our traditional knife makers and if they have quality problems, let's try and help them get better. Overall I have many Sheffield knives, they are not all perfect but compared to the many and various in the rest of my collection they are pretty good. By the way I have watched most of your videos and have greatly enjoyed your channel. Keep it up.
Thank you for the brilliant assessment! I'm of a similar mindset regarding A. Wright. I always reach for them when I want a sturdy, no-nonsense knife to carry. Usually, I'd go with a Lambfoot, but my bias tends to result in me carrying an Ettrick! I really want to keep supporting them, but I'd at least like a confirmation from the firm that they are willing to do something regarding this problem. If they would just do that, I'd likely be buying them again. Thanks again for the comment. Cheers!
Thank you for bringing this problem to the attention of all your viewers,. I certainly won't be buying an A. Wright knife in future, 😕,, and with your previous video about Ettrick's, my options are rapidly diminishing, lol,,.🤣 Many, many years ago I had a knife with a broken back spring, so long ago, I can't even remember what knife it was,, But to have so many from the same maker in such a short period of time is totally unforgivable.. A. Wright should send you a cheque for the value of all the knives,, (replacements not even an option 😱) I had to check my "basic" lambfoot just now, and thankfully it's a Taylors, and not an A. Wright,, 😅 Here's hoping you get some recompense from Wrights, 🤞🤞 All the best my friend,, ps, I'm not mentioning I live near Sheffield, in this case,, 😱😭😬
Well, I can absolutely understand your lack of desire to buy any more A. Wrights. At this rate, I may very well quit purchasing them, too. 😕 Thankfully, TEWs and Rodgers seem much better in terms of overtight springs. I'd say they're around an Otter's pull, or even a Case. Due to this, I still suggest these brands, but A. Wright is off the table until this gets remedied. Thanks for watching, as always. Cheers!
This has never happened to me with a slipjoint but I'll never open one with the spring pointed at my eye if I can help it! At a guess the issue is with the heat treatment on the springs. I believe they should be tempered softer than the blade: if they're snapping like that they're probably too brittle. [I now hear you making the same point]. Then again if the maker buys in his blades perhaps he also buys in his springs, and he got a bad batch in from the supplier. I gather that in his early days Tony Bose got into fixing pocket knives for friends. Please consider sending me one of your broken knives (the one you least esteem) and I will break it down into parts do my best to fix it up with a new spring. It might just work and worst case scenario you end up with a still non functioning knife.
I believe Wright’s stamps out their own springs, (and blades!) so this unfortunately isn’t just a bad batch from a supplier, but rather, a problem regarding their own heat-treatment methods. I hypothesise it to be a combination of three main elements. The first being the grade of steel, which is a rather hard, carbon steel. This, combined with a poor heat-treatment, will make an already hard blade very brittle, thus making it more prone to breaks. Lastly, add an overtight action, which will simply put all the more strain on a small piece of metal, destined to fail as it is. All in all, it’s a recipe for disaster, one that needs to be dealt with before someone gets seriously hurt! I am very gracious for your kind offer. I have decided, however, to keep these knives. Mainly, as a reference in case this happens again. Aside from that, I must confess I’ve developed an odd sense of sentimentality for them, to the point where I was almost sad sending one away for a refund. Yes, I’m sure collecting the corpses of deceased knives as a form of grim artefacts exposes the fact that I have serious problems! 🤣 Nothing new, there! Thank you again for your assessment and for the kind gesture. I really appreciate it. 🙂 Cheers, as always!
Well, this isn't what I wanted to see. I've really been enjoying the A wright knives. Hopefully it's just a heat treating issue with knives made during a certain timeframe. Their springs are almost too strong sometimes.
I've been enjoying your videos on them, too! Sadly, this seems to be something I'm particularly unlucky on. I've seen others with the same issue, but I don't think anyone else has experienced this FIVE TIMES!!! Regardless, I sincerely hope this has been fixed with their latest releases. Cheers!
I’m entirely with you on this. I think the cult of the strong spring is to blame for a lot of things. There are many who believe that they pull strength of 10 is better than a pool strength of six simply because it’s a high number. The idea that it’s a man’s pool is, really quite detrimental to the Sheffield knife industry. Although these knives appeal to certain collectors and indeed a number of TH-camrs, they do not appeal to the man on the street. If the Sheffield by industry is to recover any of its past glory, it requires a mass appreciation of their products. They will not achieve this with nail breaker knives. I told this to Lee at TEW and he listened and made his springs a little later. However, a number of TH-camrs didn’t appreciate this, and I think they just wrong. I think that, author Wright and sons are at the forefront of this problem. Partly as historic thing, but it is reinforced by listening to some of the TH-camrs. As you pointed, Michael May is also guilty of going down this route. Having said all of this, I have, probably at least 30 right and about eight maze and none of them have broken back sprints. I suspect that this is because with the overly tight springs I have only ever used a couple of the right knives and I think only one of the maze for anything other than just to open them up, look at them and put them away again. I hope that somebody will listen to what you’re saying and think about it. I have dictated this, so please excuse the inevitable mistypes!
@slick_slicers Many thanks for the thorough assessment regarding the situation. I believe this issue is a combination of the "strong-pull propaganda", (which I, myself, was once guilty of partaking in!) as well as a clear problem in terms of heat-treatment. Mix overtight springs with poor steel and a bad heat-treat and you have a recipe for disaster. Overall, I believe it can be remedied, but the first step is to loosen the actions. That and looking into a better heat-treatment method! Thanks again for the comment, as always. I'll be sure to keep everyone informed of any further developments. Cheers!
Well, Mr. Harrison said he'd get the springs tested to see if they were 'up to standard' in terms of heat-treatment. Apparently, they were. So I guess the issue is either their steel grade or their overtight actions. Unless, of course, they don’t even realise their heat-treatment is faulty! Who can know, Mr. Harrison hasn’t spoken to me any further. 😕 Regardless, I’d recommend holding off on A. Wrights unless you can test their actions in person. I’m convinced that they are simply unsafe at this point. Thanks for watching. Cheers!
This is a valid complaint. I worked in quality compliance and engineering for over 40 years with emphasis on metallurgy and materials testing and conformance. It appears there are at least 3 major possible issues at play. 1) improper heat treatment of the back spring. 2) poor material composition of the back spring. 3) poor design of the spring, specifically in the failure area. 4) incorrect tension between the back spring and blade causing stress fracture and failure. This is a severe product quality issue in my opinion and the root cause should be determined and corrected by the manufacturer. Until a root cause is determined they risk producing more failures and ultimately losing customers. Just my input. Thanks for your presentation.
Excellent breakdown of the issue. I believe your assessment is absolutely correct. Perhaps if the springs were designed to be more robust, while being properly treated and using a good steel, the tight pull could be excused. Even in that case, I'd still prefer they make them lighter. Sadly, most people can't open their knives without significant difficulty-something that shouldn't be happening on a tool intended for daily use. Thanks for sharing your hypothesis. Cheers!
Oh dear I don't know what to say but after saying you would receive a free replacement that should have been sent post haste, not good publicity and you were a repeat customer, I hope you get the knife quickly now, as to the back spring perhaps a different type of steel should be used but a person who specialises in metal properties can enlighten us on the subject. Very sad to see this video as you have been showcasing Sheffield knives and bringing them to the attention of a wider audience, for every ones sake a solution needs to be found.
I genuinely felt bad making this video. I really want to see Wright's (and every other Sheffield firm) reclaim the esteem they once held back in the day. But like the Ettrick video, I just couldn't keep this to myself. It's been an ongoing issue for almost three years now and a lack of any discernible change is deeply saddening. I hope Mr. Harrison puts forth an effort to get to the root of this problem. As long as there is change for the better, I can (and will) happily forgive the past failings. Thanks again for stopping by and commenting, Lewis. Cheers, as always!
Interesting. So far, the only broken spring I had was on a Spyderco UKPK. In general, I would argue that a properly designed and heat treated backspring is the most important element of a slipjoint apart from a well-ground blade. Strangely enouh, it seems they had this aspect down to a science back in the day,as I pwn a number of well-used slipjoints that are a couple decades old and still have more pull and snap than my AW&S barlow. You might want to look into vintage examples for comparison. Of course, these have some drawbacks, since condition, availability, price, performance can vary wildly. Strangely enough, precautions agaist exploding springs are rare, which may indicate they were considered a rarity. The only design I am aware of tgat explicitly adresses this is the Douk Douk with its folded handle. Broken blades are seen far more often than broken springs on historic examples (especially common in Joseph Rodgers, Barnett and some others), I think because makers back then really were trying to produce "pocket lasers" with thinly ground blades of high hardness, which of course can result in broken blades when there is lateral pressure and maybe some impurity in the steel.
Very thorough assessment! It's odd that such a thing occurred on a modern knife with factory-precise technology. 🤔 Vintage knives tend to have rather pleasant actions. Some are still very snappy, but far from uncomfortable. As you said, sadly, vintage knives can be a pain to find in good condition. Without spending a fortune, that is. My example of the Douk-Douk has a very strong spring, but I’m less afraid of it, since the worst that could happen is the spring merely breaking and just sitting in the handle! Thanks for watching and for the comment. Cheers!
@@TheKnifeRaven I honestly don't know what the exact reason for the repeated spring failure is. If I had to make an educated guess, I would say it might be the result of manufacturers trying to listen to customers. We have so much talk about the strength of the pull etc. - in fact, that's one of the main things AW&S has been praised for - and that may have resulted in them either hardening springs higher or putting the same springs as before under more tension. Either of these approaches could lead to spring failure. In order to create a higher pull safely, they would have to re-design the spring completely, like you said. Maybe we should question entirely what exactly we look for in a slipjoint? I am probably a total oddball in this regard, since I hardly care about fit & finish, gapping and the opening pull; however, I do care about cutting power, ergonomics and safety. As for safety, aside from the half stop, I have notices some of my older slipjoints have a fairly easy opening pull (as low as a 5 in some cases), but are noticeably harder to close, and I would argue that is the more relevant aspect. I would have to take them apart to see what's going on, but my guess would be it's about the angles and corners of the tang and the spring.
Wow! Once is a fluke, but five times is clearly a manufacturing error, and a dangerous one. You were such a fan of these knives too! Check out the traditional French knives from Perigord--I love them.
Well, on the bright side, I can finally break the addiction of compulsively buying Sheffield knives for a while! Funnily enough, I just placed an order for a few French knives. Hopefully they won't launch across the kitchen! 🤣 Cheers!
@@TheKnifeRaven Nice! Knives exploding = bad! Perigord is a nice, family-owned small company that doesn't get much foreign business, so prepare for a bit of confusion in the shipping and a couple rough edges. Their design and wood selection are absolutely superb and super original and designed for the human hand, a significant step up from the basic Nontron knives. The two knives I got from them (Virole style, like upgraded Opinels) are my favorites in my collection. They're a perfect middle spot between Opinel and Laguiole, in both price and quality.
@@alexbrendan7181 I searched them up today and they look lovely! Perhaps after my latest French knife order I'll have to seriously consider a Le Pèrigord! Cheers!
Small company, big company, mega-corp, hand made or machine made, that’s simply unacceptable and they need to correct the problem immediately. When this is approaching the norm rather than the exception, the argument for hand-made over “cheap Chinese machined junk” bears no weight whatsoever; at least in the case of AWS. Their springs are too hard and they eliminate at least half of their potential client base as a result of their impossibly stiff pulls. They are also extremely unsafe. This is tantamount to a failing lock on a modern folder. I’d argue that it’s worse since it becomes a projectile when it fails. I’d be on the phone with them if possible. I’d certainly email them daily, and I’d blast them and call them out on video repeatedly until they replace them all. Of course, we all want cutlers like AWS to be successful. But if they are not concerned about customer satisfaction and the quality of their products, then they might as well fade away. My Sheffield collection is something I’ve wanted to focus on. I will certainly keep on eye on this to see how they respond before I purchase or recommend any AWS knives. Although it seems after a year that they’re more concerned with their bottom line than satisfied customers. Sorry, brother. That sucks. As a knife enthusiast and collector, this makes me very annoyed.
I absolutely agree with you. I always took the “handmade artisan” side of things, but if this has become the acceptable norm, (at least in Wright’s case) then I may have to reevaluate that position. While I still fully intend to support brands like Taylor’s Eye Witness, Joseph Rodgers and Michael May, A. Wright will be off the list, at least for the near to far future. The prior issues I’d experienced with A. Wright were mostly gaps, uneven grinds and poor centering-issues that, while annoying, pale in comparison to this current epidemic. As you said, this is beyond unacceptable and the lack of communication is only making it worse. I have always hated confrontation, which is why I probably haven’t been hounding them with Emails! 😅 But this last break has just left me feeling somewhat sour. Not to mention holding a bleaker outlook on this firm. Shame, as I was just starting to get my hopes up! Thank you for the thorough assessment, I truly appreciate it, my friend. Cheers, as always!
You have every right to be pissed off and dejected. It is unacceptable. I hope the Harrisons see this vid, they need to do something about it. I think most of us who own AW Lambsfoots/Barlow's have all agreed that the pull is too strong on them and are half expecting a broken spring every time we use them. Weirdly the pull on the Senators seems to be about right ( what I would call a 7) and whatever they're doing with the Senator construction needs to be done to the Barlows. It's a real shame because this is putting me off getting any more AW's and having got fed up with Case's piss poor quality control I'm wondering what's going on with these long established brands? As you say perhaps too high a demand. I blame those damn TH-cam influencers.😂
I have a Senator from Wright's. It's actually got a really nice pull. Funnily enough, it was the very knife given to me as a replacement...for my first replacement! 😅 Thankfully, it has yet to break on me, despite having been owned for over 2 years. As for the brand as a whole, I think I'll no longer be purchasing their knives. Perhaps if Mr. Harrison is able to rectify this issue in both product and customer service, I'll be willing to give them another try. But in the meantime, I think I'll have to find another brand to obsessively collect! I agree with you regarding Case. I've had some decent Case knives, but never a 'perfect' one. The best I've had is 8/10 in terms of quality. The worst? 4/10. Certainly not the worst, but far from worth the current, inflated price! But hey, at least a Case won't take out your eye! 😁 Thanks again for the comment, as always. Cheers!
@TheKnifeRaven that's why they're breaking. A backspring has to be hardened and then tempered just like a knife blade. If you don't or do it improperly, the backspring will break. Have you reached out to A. Wright & Sons?
@@rasputinscastle I understand. Also, the addition of an action that causes unnecessary levels of stress certainly won't help! I reached out to Mr. Harrison about this issue in August...last year... 😕 Apparently, they were ‘looking into it’. Despite this, some recent models still border on being nail-breakers. (see stag Spearpoint) Plus, if the real issue is in the heat-treat, or lack thereof, I suspect their brief investigation has yielded little progress. Regardless, I'm still waiting on a replacement Barlow almost a year later, so there's that, too! Cheers!
@@rasputinscastlerubbish! They 100% harden their springs! How is it that a knife makers don’t hardened springs, a none hardened spring is just metal. Try filing the broken bit.
No it happens. I had a Medford backspring break on me. It was replaced free of charge. Keep on at Wrights this is not a way to treat a loyal supporter of your pocket knives!
Please read the description! Many points are presented with better clarity. This may help those who are still a little confused by the situation. And as always, if you have a question, please just ask! I'll be happy to respond and answer to the best of my ability.
Cheers!
The replacement Lambfoot sent to me by the FSS as compensation for the first broken backspacing Lambsfoot also broke in the same manner in less than a week.
Lots of other world knives to look at Spain, Portugal, Japan, Eastern Europe and of course France all have interesting historic contributions to pocket cutlery.
French Friction folders have become one of my favourites to collect. No problems importing from Knives of France in TX.
The world is your oyster - you know what to do. Cheers,
I've got nothing against Sheffield-far from it. I love English knives, but for now, I'll be trying something different.
It's interesting how you mention Knives of France...friction folders, specifically. I just received an order from Stèphane, which included a lovely Montpellier! I'm very excited to make a video on it. 😁
Thanks again for watching and commenting.
Cheers, as always!
I've never seen so many broken springs in one place. I hope they get this sorted out for you, buddy!
I hope so too, my friend. This really is quite sad.
Cheers, as always!
wow that is the worst disaster which can possibly happen to a slipjoint, and the fact that it happen now to several ones and other have experienced similar. It is safe to say A Wright have a severe problem with the metal of the springs ... no matter how big or small a company is, they MUST act here, this is very clearly a general problem and not a single case, thanks for your video
This comment summarises everything I could really say. The fact is, these knives are no longer safe to use until we can be certain that this problem has been eliminated.
Thanks for watching and commenting.
Cheers, as always!
No it happens. I had a Medford backspring break on me.
It was replaced free of charge.
Keep on at Wrights this is not a way to treat a loyal supporter of your pocket knives!
Interesting. I didn't suspect Medford to be a likely culprit for such a flaw. Good to know they at least sorted it out for you!
I hope more people who've had similar experiences with A. Wright reach out to them. With any luck, multiple complaints will prompt action!
Cheers!
I have a cheap Chinese lamb foot that has served me well for the last three years so with the help of you and other TH-camrs I bought me 2 A wright knives. Both have a blade pull of 9 and I’m still disappointed how hard they are to open.
Nice to look at but now stuck in a draw until I get something nicer to use.
If you like a good Lambfoot, I suggest getting a Michael May. While a bit more expensive, they typically sport better fit n' finish than an A. Wright and oftentimes, a slightly softer pull. (Still snappy, though!)
Cheers!
Have owned 3 and all 3 back springs broke within one week of ownership. This is a very validating video to see. 1 - lambfoot barlow in ebony; 2 - small lambfoot swayback; 3 - lambfoot barlow in whiskey barrel oak. Third one broke on my yesterday.
Oh my goodness!! That's very sad to hear. You should certainly contact A. Wright about this. Considering there's strength in numbers, that could potentially prompt them to overdue action.
Again, I'm very sorry this happened to you. Thanks for sharing your experience.
Cheers!
That’s totally crazy. Have never seen this happen before. I was prepared to buy an Arthur Wright Barlow. Thanks for the info. I probably will still have to buy one anyway.
Happy to help! As much as it saddens me, I feel it necessary to share this experience.
Cheers!
I really recommend you don't. I have had many many issues with all Sheffield made knives!
There are some fantastic examples out there of Sheffield made barlows you won't be disappointed, I have a drawer full of them so talking from experience 🍻👊
@@drewwhite5601 Indeed! The Premier Collection by Taylor's Eye Witness is excellent and I'd happily suggest them to those desiring a quality, Sheffield Barlow.
Cheers!
Thanks for the advice. Will definitely have to hold off for now. Hopefully they resolve the problem.
At a rough count I have 48 Sheffield made slipjoints, 12 of which are Arthur Wrights and 5 Michael Mays, and have never had a problem with any, admittedly they don't get a lot of heavy use.
You must have the worst luck of anybody in the hobby!
Impressive collection! My 'Wright knives don't get "heavy" use, exactly, but they are certainly carried more than most.
And yes, I do seem to have terrible luck! 😅
Cheers, as always!
Yep, I've had an A.Wright Lambfoot break it's spring in exactly the same place. Bought Christmas 2022. It had had next to no use. It's the only knife I've owned that's done that.
I remember that all too clearly. It's such a shame, really.
I believe we both got our (Ebony) Lambfoots from the same batch. Here's hoping that was the last? Wishful thinking, I'm sure.
Cheers, as always!
Really sorry to see this. There's no question of bias as your previous videos have championed A. Wright knives so enthusiastically.
Being a fan of traditionals and British, I own many Sheffield knives. I've found them to be, well, a bit shite. However, I still love them. Been buying them for forty-or-so years. I collect them and will continue to do so, but for everyday use, I go with a double detent with a decent finger choil.
On a personal note, I have had numerous Böker knives die on me the same way. Entirely fair that it really puts you off a brand.
Well, I certainly love my Sheffield knives, despite their faults! Sadly, this error is one that I find very hard to look past, especially when it has happened so many times.
I still hold out hope for Sheffield, as there are many examples of knives (mostly Taylor's Eye Witness) from the city that are exemplary. Shame, as they're the most expensive!
Also, I've never heard of Bökers failing in such a way. Were they overtight at the spring? I'm shocked that such a thing could happen to a premium brand.
Thanks for commenting and cheers!
This is unfortunate I have about 15 a wright knives and this has never happened to me and I've found Ashley to be excellent to deal with . Keep in contact with them I'd be very surprised if they don't sort this out. They may have had a technical issue or something and didn't get back to you for that reason
Oh man, that sucks! Sorry to see that. Thankfully no injuries. I'd be upset the first time.
No injuries...yet! But in all seriousness, I don't open these anywhere near my face, now. I'm too scared! 🤣
Cheers!
I had a Sheffield made knife, I want to say it was an A Wright, but it was about 20 years ago and I may be remembering wrong.
'Nail breaker' is an understatement - I literally could not open it with my bare hands. I had to use a screwdriver as a 'fingernail' to get it open.
I tried leaving it half-open hoping that the backspring would loosen up a bit, but it never did. I soon gave up on it. No idea what happened to it in the end.
It's easy to see how a design that placed so much strain on the backspring might eventually cause it to crack, especially if the heat treat wasn't quite right.
Thanks for sharing your story. That sounds a lot like a 'Wright!
Cheers!
Are they half stops if so maybe putting extra pressure on the back spring.
Nope, no A. Wright I've owned has ever featured a half-stop.
Cheers!
I have three Arthur wrights and one with a broken back spring
Wow! 1 of 3, that's a shame, indeed. Let's hope A. Wright does something about this...
Cheers!
Yikes!! I've a few - one can barely open so thanks - I'll modify how I open it.
Be careful! The tighter the action, the more velocity if it breaks! 😅
Good luck!
Cheers!
Must be heartbreaking for you to have to post this because I know how much you enjoy your Sheffield knives! You are correct to draw attention to this issue,hopefully this was just a bad batch but lessons need to be learned,I like a good strong back spring but I wouldnt want to be pulling one out my face!
It really is heartbreaking, indeed. I just hope the problem is eliminated quickly, so nobody gets hurt!
Cheers, as always!
Ouch! That, in my humble opinion, is totally unacceptable.
I'm English, and from my personal experiences, i would personally hesitate buying anymore Sheffield Made knives. The last Michael May i purchased was a disaster, off centre, caught on the cover pin when closing and terrible edge grind, this is being returned. I'm wondering whether they are using cheap imported Chinese steel as the uk to the best of my knowledge, no longer produces any steel!
All the best, David.
Ps. Good luck with hearing back as my customer service experience has also been terrible!
According to Wikipedia, there are still about 5 million tons of steel produced in the UK each year, but not sure if it's the right kind of steel for knives.
Produced or recycled?
Owned by Chinese company, so I'm not sure where raw ore comes from ✌️
Well, that is certainly a horror show! 😱 I've had mixed experiences with Sheffield knives. Some good, some bad, others, horrifying. Even so, in a few cases, I have managed to find an absolute gem of a knife. It's because of these that I keep purchasing them. Sadly, if 'mediocre' becomes the norm, (much less, bad, for that matter!) I may no longer be able to keep justifying their purchase. A. Wright seems to be off the list, for now, but I hope the other firms continue to improve, as I have high hopes for Sheffield cutlery when it's done right!
Thanks for watching and commenting.
Cheers!
Very unfortunate for such an A Wright supporter. I have around 40 A Wright's in various designs. Also many TEWS and Egginton Group brands. And by way of comparison French, German, Italian, American and more. Victorinox etc etc. In other words I'm like most of you with this affliction and love of traditional knives. I always carry a Swiss Champion, it's an older one early 1970s. And usually an A Wright is my preferred second carry. I haven't experienced any problems with any of my Wright knives and while my TEWS are beautifully presented specimens I think the Wright's are very appealing heavy duty work ready pocket knives. My instinct is, without thinking, to grab an A Wright Barlow, why? Because they are not just a good knife they are a great knife. We can have problems with any manufactured products, that doesn't mean it's acceptable. Traditional knife making is probably a dying art in that training people in such a specialised trade and being able to pay them adequately is incredibly challenging. I believe we need to support our traditional knife makers and if they have quality problems, let's try and help them get better. Overall I have many Sheffield knives, they are not all perfect but compared to the many and various in the rest of my collection they are pretty good. By the way I have watched most of your videos and have greatly enjoyed your channel. Keep it up.
Thank you for the brilliant assessment!
I'm of a similar mindset regarding A. Wright. I always reach for them when I want a sturdy, no-nonsense knife to carry. Usually, I'd go with a Lambfoot, but my bias tends to result in me carrying an Ettrick!
I really want to keep supporting them, but I'd at least like a confirmation from the firm that they are willing to do something regarding this problem. If they would just do that, I'd likely be buying them again.
Thanks again for the comment.
Cheers!
Thank you for bringing this problem to the attention of all your viewers,. I certainly won't be buying an A. Wright knife in future, 😕,, and with your previous video about Ettrick's, my options are rapidly diminishing, lol,,.🤣
Many, many years ago I had a knife with a broken back spring, so long ago, I can't even remember what knife it was,,
But to have so many from the same maker in such a short period of time is totally unforgivable..
A. Wright should send you a cheque for the value of all the knives,, (replacements not even an option 😱)
I had to check my "basic" lambfoot just now, and thankfully it's a Taylors, and not an A. Wright,, 😅
Here's hoping you get some recompense from Wrights, 🤞🤞
All the best my friend,,
ps, I'm not mentioning I live near Sheffield, in this case,, 😱😭😬
Well, I can absolutely understand your lack of desire to buy any more A. Wrights. At this rate, I may very well quit purchasing them, too. 😕
Thankfully, TEWs and Rodgers seem much better in terms of overtight springs. I'd say they're around an Otter's pull, or even a Case. Due to this, I still suggest these brands, but A. Wright is off the table until this gets remedied.
Thanks for watching, as always.
Cheers!
This has never happened to me with a slipjoint but I'll never open one with the spring pointed at my eye if I can help it!
At a guess the issue is with the heat treatment on the springs. I believe they should be tempered softer than the blade: if they're snapping like that they're probably too brittle. [I now hear you making the same point].
Then again if the maker buys in his blades perhaps he also buys in his springs, and he got a bad batch in from the supplier.
I gather that in his early days Tony Bose got into fixing pocket knives for friends. Please consider sending me one of your broken knives (the one you least esteem) and I will break it down into parts do my best to fix it up with a new spring. It might just work and worst case scenario you end up with a still non functioning knife.
I believe Wright’s stamps out their own springs, (and blades!) so this unfortunately isn’t just a bad batch from a supplier, but rather, a problem regarding their own heat-treatment methods. I hypothesise it to be a combination of three main elements. The first being the grade of steel, which is a rather hard, carbon steel. This, combined with a poor heat-treatment, will make an already hard blade very brittle, thus making it more prone to breaks. Lastly, add an overtight action, which will simply put all the more strain on a small piece of metal, destined to fail as it is. All in all, it’s a recipe for disaster, one that needs to be dealt with before someone gets seriously hurt!
I am very gracious for your kind offer. I have decided, however, to keep these knives. Mainly, as a reference in case this happens again. Aside from that, I must confess I’ve developed an odd sense of sentimentality for them, to the point where I was almost sad sending one away for a refund. Yes, I’m sure collecting the corpses of deceased knives as a form of grim artefacts exposes the fact that I have serious problems! 🤣 Nothing new, there!
Thank you again for your assessment and for the kind gesture. I really appreciate it. 🙂
Cheers, as always!
@@TheKnifeRaven ¡Bravo!
Well, this isn't what I wanted to see. I've really been enjoying the A wright knives. Hopefully it's just a heat treating issue with knives made during a certain timeframe. Their springs are almost too strong sometimes.
I've been enjoying your videos on them, too! Sadly, this seems to be something I'm particularly unlucky on. I've seen others with the same issue, but I don't think anyone else has experienced this FIVE TIMES!!! Regardless, I sincerely hope this has been fixed with their latest releases.
Cheers!
I have an Arthur Wright and son Barlow and it is very difficult to get open and closed😊
Well...be careful! 😅
Cheers!
You should e-mail them a link to this exact video!
Trust me, I'm seriously considering it! 😂
Cheers!
I’m entirely with you on this.
I think the cult of the strong spring is to blame for a lot of things. There are many who believe that they pull strength of 10 is better than a pool strength of six simply because it’s a high number. The idea that it’s a man’s pool is, really quite detrimental to the Sheffield knife industry. Although these knives appeal to certain collectors and indeed a number of TH-camrs, they do not appeal to the man on the street. If the Sheffield by industry is to recover any of its past glory, it requires a mass appreciation of their products. They will not achieve this with nail breaker knives. I told this to Lee at TEW and he listened and made his springs a little later. However, a number of TH-camrs didn’t appreciate this, and I think they just wrong. I think that, author Wright and sons are at the forefront of this problem. Partly as historic thing, but it is reinforced by listening to some of the TH-camrs. As you pointed, Michael May is also guilty of going down this route. Having said all of this, I have, probably at least 30 right and about eight maze and none of them have broken back sprints. I suspect that this is because with the overly tight springs I have only ever used a couple of the right knives and I think only one of the maze for anything other than just to open them up, look at them and put them away again. I hope that somebody will listen to what you’re saying and think about it.
I have dictated this, so please excuse the inevitable mistypes!
@slick_slicers Many thanks for the thorough assessment regarding the situation. I believe this issue is a combination of the "strong-pull propaganda", (which I, myself, was once guilty of partaking in!) as well as a clear problem in terms of heat-treatment. Mix overtight springs with poor steel and a bad heat-treat and you have a recipe for disaster. Overall, I believe it can be remedied, but the first step is to loosen the actions. That and looking into a better heat-treatment method!
Thanks again for the comment, as always. I'll be sure to keep everyone informed of any further developments.
Cheers!
Thanks for sharing thats good to know.
As long as I can spread the word, my work has been successful!
Cheers!
Never seen anything like this. What Did A. Wright and Son say? Crazy
Well, Mr. Harrison said he'd get the springs tested to see if they were 'up to standard' in terms of heat-treatment. Apparently, they were. So I guess the issue is either their steel grade or their overtight actions. Unless, of course, they don’t even realise their heat-treatment is faulty! Who can know, Mr. Harrison hasn’t spoken to me any further. 😕
Regardless, I’d recommend holding off on A. Wrights unless you can test their actions in person. I’m convinced that they are simply unsafe at this point.
Thanks for watching.
Cheers!
This is a valid complaint. I worked in quality compliance and engineering for over 40 years with emphasis on metallurgy and materials testing and conformance. It appears there are at least 3 major possible issues at play. 1) improper heat treatment of the back spring. 2) poor material composition of the back spring. 3) poor design of the spring, specifically in the failure area. 4) incorrect tension between the back spring and blade causing stress fracture and failure.
This is a severe product quality issue in my opinion and the root cause should be determined and corrected by the manufacturer. Until a root cause is determined they risk producing more failures and ultimately losing customers. Just my input. Thanks for your presentation.
Excellent breakdown of the issue. I believe your assessment is absolutely correct. Perhaps if the springs were designed to be more robust, while being properly treated and using a good steel, the tight pull could be excused. Even in that case, I'd still prefer they make them lighter. Sadly, most people can't open their knives without significant difficulty-something that shouldn't be happening on a tool intended for daily use.
Thanks for sharing your hypothesis.
Cheers!
i have over 6 and this has never happened to me
Yet 😉
Well, best of luck, then. Just don't hold them too close to your eyes! 😁
Cheers!
Oh dear I don't know what to say but after saying you would receive a free replacement that should have been sent post haste, not good publicity and you were a repeat customer, I hope you get the knife quickly now, as to the back spring perhaps a different type of steel should be used but a person who specialises in metal properties can enlighten us on the subject. Very sad to see this video as you have been showcasing Sheffield knives and bringing them to the attention of a wider audience, for every ones sake a solution needs to be found.
I genuinely felt bad making this video. I really want to see Wright's (and every other Sheffield firm) reclaim the esteem they once held back in the day. But like the Ettrick video, I just couldn't keep this to myself. It's been an ongoing issue for almost three years now and a lack of any discernible change is deeply saddening. I hope Mr. Harrison puts forth an effort to get to the root of this problem. As long as there is change for the better, I can (and will) happily forgive the past failings.
Thanks again for stopping by and commenting, Lewis.
Cheers, as always!
Interesting. So far, the only broken spring I had was on a Spyderco UKPK. In general, I would argue that a properly designed and heat treated backspring is the most important element of a slipjoint apart from a well-ground blade. Strangely enouh, it seems they had this aspect down to a science back in the day,as I pwn a number of well-used slipjoints that are a couple decades old and still have more pull and snap than my AW&S barlow. You might want to look into vintage examples for comparison. Of course, these have some drawbacks, since condition, availability, price, performance can vary wildly.
Strangely enough, precautions agaist exploding springs are rare, which may indicate they were considered a rarity. The only design I am aware of tgat explicitly adresses this is the Douk Douk with its folded handle. Broken blades are seen far more often than broken springs on historic examples (especially common in Joseph Rodgers, Barnett and some others), I think because makers back then really were trying to produce "pocket lasers" with thinly ground blades of high hardness, which of course can result in broken blades when there is lateral pressure and maybe some impurity in the steel.
Very thorough assessment! It's odd that such a thing occurred on a modern knife with factory-precise technology. 🤔
Vintage knives tend to have rather pleasant actions. Some are still very snappy, but far from uncomfortable. As you said, sadly, vintage knives can be a pain to find in good condition. Without spending a fortune, that is.
My example of the Douk-Douk has a very strong spring, but I’m less afraid of it, since the worst that could happen is the spring merely breaking and just sitting in the handle!
Thanks for watching and for the comment.
Cheers!
@@TheKnifeRaven I honestly don't know what the exact reason for the repeated spring failure is. If I had to make an educated guess, I would say it might be the result of manufacturers trying to listen to customers. We have so much talk about the strength of the pull etc. - in fact, that's one of the main things AW&S has been praised for - and that may have resulted in them either hardening springs higher or putting the same springs as before under more tension. Either of these approaches could lead to spring failure. In order to create a higher pull safely, they would have to re-design the spring completely, like you said.
Maybe we should question entirely what exactly we look for in a slipjoint? I am probably a total oddball in this regard, since I hardly care about fit & finish, gapping and the opening pull; however, I do care about cutting power, ergonomics and safety. As for safety, aside from the half stop, I have notices some of my older slipjoints have a fairly easy opening pull (as low as a 5 in some cases), but are noticeably harder to close, and I would argue that is the more relevant aspect. I would have to take them apart to see what's going on, but my guess would be it's about the angles and corners of the tang and the spring.
Wow! Once is a fluke, but five times is clearly a manufacturing error, and a dangerous one. You were such a fan of these knives too! Check out the traditional French knives from Perigord--I love them.
My friend lives a couple of miles from perigord. I'll check them out next time I'm in France.
Well, on the bright side, I can finally break the addiction of compulsively buying Sheffield knives for a while!
Funnily enough, I just placed an order for a few French knives. Hopefully they won't launch across the kitchen! 🤣
Cheers!
@@Mid-Knife-Crisis69 I'd love to visit the French countryside, some day. The commune of Nontron interests me in particular! 😁
Cheers!
@@TheKnifeRaven Nice! Knives exploding = bad!
Perigord is a nice, family-owned small company that doesn't get much foreign business, so prepare for a bit of confusion in the shipping and a couple rough edges. Their design and wood selection are absolutely superb and super original and designed for the human hand, a significant step up from the basic Nontron knives. The two knives I got from them (Virole style, like upgraded Opinels) are my favorites in my collection. They're a perfect middle spot between Opinel and Laguiole, in both price and quality.
@@alexbrendan7181 I searched them up today and they look lovely! Perhaps after my latest French knife order I'll have to seriously consider a Le Pèrigord!
Cheers!
That's a major problem. I hope you get some satisfaction soon
My thoughts, exactly!
Cheers!
Small company, big company, mega-corp, hand made or machine made, that’s simply unacceptable and they need to correct the problem immediately.
When this is approaching the norm rather than the exception, the argument for hand-made over “cheap Chinese machined junk” bears no weight whatsoever; at least in the case of AWS.
Their springs are too hard and they eliminate at least half of their potential client base as a result of their impossibly stiff pulls.
They are also extremely unsafe.
This is tantamount to a failing lock on a modern folder.
I’d argue that it’s worse since it becomes a projectile when it fails.
I’d be on the phone with them if possible.
I’d certainly email them daily, and I’d blast them and call them out on video repeatedly until they replace them all.
Of course, we all want cutlers like AWS to be successful.
But if they are not concerned about customer satisfaction and the quality of their products, then they might as well fade away.
My Sheffield collection is something I’ve wanted to focus on.
I will certainly keep on eye on this to see how they respond before I purchase or recommend any AWS knives.
Although it seems after a year that they’re more concerned with their bottom line than satisfied customers.
Sorry, brother.
That sucks.
As a knife enthusiast and collector, this makes me very annoyed.
I absolutely agree with you. I always took the “handmade artisan” side of things, but if this has become the acceptable norm, (at least in Wright’s case) then I may have to reevaluate that position. While I still fully intend to support brands like Taylor’s Eye Witness, Joseph Rodgers and Michael May, A. Wright will be off the list, at least for the near to far future.
The prior issues I’d experienced with A. Wright were mostly gaps, uneven grinds and poor centering-issues that, while annoying, pale in comparison to this current epidemic. As you said, this is beyond unacceptable and the lack of communication is only making it worse.
I have always hated confrontation, which is why I probably haven’t been hounding them with Emails! 😅 But this last break has just left me feeling somewhat sour. Not to mention holding a bleaker outlook on this firm. Shame, as I was just starting to get my hopes up!
Thank you for the thorough assessment, I truly appreciate it, my friend.
Cheers, as always!
You have every right to be pissed off and dejected. It is unacceptable. I hope the Harrisons see this vid, they need to do something about it. I think most of us who own AW Lambsfoots/Barlow's have all agreed that the pull is too strong on them and are half expecting a broken spring every time we use them. Weirdly the pull on the Senators seems to be about right ( what I would call a 7) and whatever they're doing with the Senator construction needs to be done to the Barlows.
It's a real shame because this is putting me off getting any more AW's and having got fed up with Case's piss poor quality control I'm wondering what's going on with these long established brands? As you say perhaps too high a demand. I blame those damn TH-cam influencers.😂
I have a Senator from Wright's. It's actually got a really nice pull. Funnily enough, it was the very knife given to me as a replacement...for my first replacement! 😅 Thankfully, it has yet to break on me, despite having been owned for over 2 years.
As for the brand as a whole, I think I'll no longer be purchasing their knives. Perhaps if Mr. Harrison is able to rectify this issue in both product and customer service, I'll be willing to give them another try. But in the meantime, I think I'll have to find another brand to obsessively collect!
I agree with you regarding Case. I've had some decent Case knives, but never a 'perfect' one. The best I've had is 8/10 in terms of quality. The worst? 4/10. Certainly not the worst, but far from worth the current, inflated price! But hey, at least a Case won't take out your eye! 😁
Thanks again for the comment, as always.
Cheers!
Just one question...did they all break whilst closing them?
Indeed. (If memory serves me correctly)
Hope you're doing well, friend!
Cheers, as always!
Crazy!
It certainly is!
Cheers!
He's not heat treating the springs 😊
Wait, really?! Might I inquire as to where you heard this?
Cheers!
@TheKnifeRaven that's why they're breaking. A backspring has to be hardened and then tempered just like a knife blade. If you don't or do it improperly, the backspring will break. Have you reached out to A. Wright & Sons?
@@rasputinscastle I understand. Also, the addition of an action that causes unnecessary levels of stress certainly won't help!
I reached out to Mr. Harrison about this issue in August...last year... 😕 Apparently, they were ‘looking into it’. Despite this, some recent models still border on being nail-breakers. (see stag Spearpoint) Plus, if the real issue is in the heat-treat, or lack thereof, I suspect their brief investigation has yielded little progress. Regardless, I'm still waiting on a replacement Barlow almost a year later, so there's that, too!
Cheers!
@@rasputinscastlerubbish! They 100% harden their springs!
How is it that a knife makers don’t hardened springs, a none hardened spring is just metal.
Try filing the broken bit.
*buys a rough ryder instead
piece of crap knifes tend to do that
Well, if that's the case, it doesn't bode well for Wright's! 😅
Cheers!
No it happens. I had a Medford backspring break on me.
It was replaced free of charge.
Keep on at Wrights this is not a way to treat a loyal supporter of your pocket knives!