# Replacing scissors spring on Swiss Army Knife **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 5, 2013, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-scissors-spring-on-swiss-army-knife/657547 "2013-05-05T15:14:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2013, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-scissors-spring-on-swiss-army-knife/657547/1 "2013-05-05T15:14:18Z")
The scissors spring on my 20-year-old Swiss Army ‘Champion’ finally broke. I have replacements. Getting the broken spring out was fairly easy, using a small punch. It was definitely in there, though. Getting the new spring in is not working out for me. First, I tried to push it in with the punch. That didn’t work. Next, I put some tape on needle-nosed pliers and tried to squeeze it in. That also didn’t work. Finally, I put some tape on Vice Grips and tried that. I though that the more-vertical pressure would help. Nope. I only managed to destroy the loop at the end of the spring. The problem as I see it is that the spring has a bend in it, no doubt to keep pressure on the loop so that it doesn’t slide out. The notch through which the spring passes, is just the right width for the spring, so the bit near the loop has to be straight. Only I don’t have small enough fingers or tools or a jig to keep this bit straight. After I started typing this, I found this post on a message board: > [@](#): > > I’m cutting and pasting this from an SAK group. > > \*\*Getting the old broken spring out is pretty straight forward. Grab it with a > pair of small pliers, and “slide” it out sideways. Alternatively, use a small > pin punch, and “tap” it out. I prefer the plier method. > > Installing the new spring is not so easy. I use a small pair of smooth jaw > pliers, and “press” the spring into the hole. The trick is to put enough > finger pressure on the spring so that the long curved section adjacent to the > hole almost straightens out, so that the spring will fit into the tiny slot. > This takes a little practice.\*\* > > The person was still having trouble. Here is the answer to his next message. > > **You probably are on the right track, but the spring will not just “pop” in. > You must “flex” the shape of the spring so it will fit in the tiny slot, > while “pressing” in with the pliers. It can be challenging at first, but once > you get it, you will think it is easy.** That’s what I’m trying to do, but it’s not working for me (so far). Has anyone replaced a spring on a SAK? How do I do it? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2013, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-scissors-spring-on-swiss-army-knife/657547/2 "2013-05-05T15:23:28Z")
Well, I should have tried more before posting. Still, maybe someone will find this one day and it will be helpful. I put the ‘shank’ of the spring into the slot – just s little, but in there. Then I squeezed with the taped needle-nosed pliers. The spring went in with a loud snap. Unfortunately, I managed to close the scissors while a finger on my off hand was in the way. Off to find an adhesive strip… ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2013, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-scissors-spring-on-swiss-army-knife/657547/3 "2013-05-05T15:50:16Z")
Glad you got it fixed. Sorry about the wound. I normally send them in for repairs. The two authorized manufacturers of SAK have lifetime warranties. Which includes free return shipping. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2013, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-scissors-spring-on-swiss-army-knife/657547/4 "2013-05-05T16:30:25Z")
Where do you get the replacement springs? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2013, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-scissors-spring-on-swiss-army-knife/657547/5 "2013-05-05T16:37:17Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > Where do you get the replacement springs? [Victorinox 6 pc Large Swiss Army Knife Scissor Spring](http://www.amazon.com/Victorinox-Large-Swiss-Scissor-Spring/dp/B0035MX7BY/ref=pd_sim_sg_3) [Victorinox 6 pc Small Swiss Army Knife Scissor Spring](http://www.amazon.com/Victorinox-Small-Swiss-Scissor-Spring/dp/B0031PHOFK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1367771740) ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2013, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-scissors-spring-on-swiss-army-knife/657547/6 "2013-05-05T23:25:18Z")
I sometimes refer to blood as “Home Repair Fluid.” ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-scissors-spring-on-swiss-army-knife/657547/7 "2013-05-06T00:08:34Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > [Victorinox 6 pc Large Swiss Army Knife Scissor Spring](http://www.amazon.com/Victorinox-Large-Swiss-Scissor-Spring/dp/B0035MX7BY/ref=pd_sim_sg_3) > [Victorinox 6 pc Small Swiss Army Knife Scissor Spring](http://www.amazon.com/Victorinox-Small-Swiss-Scissor-Spring/dp/B0031PHOFK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1367771740) Thanks; I had no idea these were available. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-scissors-spring-on-swiss-army-knife/657547/8 "2013-05-06T00:23:47Z")
You can replace the parts yourself but Victorinox also has a lifetime warranty with a repair center in Connecticut. It costs just $5 for shipping and handling. They may fix it or just give you a brand new knife of the same model they the warranty. I just sent one off myself this week. I have to say that my three Victorinox Swiss Army knives are on my very short list of things I love about this world. They the single most useful thing you can have with you. They are the smart phones of the tool world and I keep a mid-range one on my at all times. I have used them to do everything from replacing a car battery, putting together furniture, to opening over 100 bottles of wine in a pinch when an Italian party didn’t have a wine opener to be found otherwise. The other multi-tools like Leathermans are useful too but can’t approach the real-world convenience of having a sleek and streamlined tool chest that you can just drop into any pocket without even thinking about it every day. I can give you the address to their repair department if you want but it is easily found on their website. I don’t want to post it here because this board gets indexed by Google and I don’t want to be at fault if their address ever changes. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-scissors-spring-on-swiss-army-knife/657547/9 "2013-05-06T00:29:46Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > Thanks; I had no idea these were available. You can also get replacement toothpicks, tweezers, the mini screwdrivers that screw into the corkscrew, and ballpoint pens. **Shagnasty** : I’d hate to have my Champion replaced! They no longer make this model; and it was my first SAK, which traveled through Europe with me and has been near-at-hand and used over 30 years. (I now carry a Swiss Champ on the internal lanyard of my backpack.) ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-scissors-spring-on-swiss-army-knife/657547/10 "2013-05-06T00:35:40Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > **Shagnasty** : I’d hate to have my Champion replaced! They no longer make this model; and it was my first SAK, which traveled through Europe with me and has been near-at-hand and used over 30 years. (I now carry a Swiss Champ on the internal lanyard of my backpack.) I understand. You have to provide a note and instructions on what to do with when you send it in. You can tell them to fix the spring but not replace the knife. They will follow it and call you if there are any issues. It is like the ER for Swiss Army knives. They stand by it and it only cost $5 plus your mailing fee. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-scissors-spring-on-swiss-army-knife/657547/11 "2013-05-06T00:44:00Z")
Victorinox also sells the tweezers, toothpicks, and I believe springs on their site as well. Those are the most common parts that get broken. The problem with mine was that part of the red plastic handle broke off spontaneously on the edge. It was still perfectly usable but not good enough for me because I loved it so much. They called and told me they will either fix the handle or give me a new one. It isn’t an issue because it is a newer model. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-scissors-spring-on-swiss-army-knife/657547/12 "2013-05-06T01:28:41Z")
Damn, that sounds great. I have my late father’s mega-SAK (everything but the corkscrew, pretty much), in the original leather case, and it has great sentimental value to me. But it’s at least 50 years old now and desperately needs cleaning and sharpening, besides replacement tweezers and probably the scissors spring as well. Will they do that for me, do you think? (fingers tightly crossed) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-scissors-spring-on-swiss-army-knife/657547/13 "2013-05-06T02:10:03Z")
Speaking of sharpening, how do you sharpen the scissors? (They get used most, of all the blades.) ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-scissors-spring-on-swiss-army-knife/657547/14 "2013-05-06T02:12:30Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > They the single most useful thing you can have with you. I’m sure mine is used an average of at least 5 times a day. I do not understand why anyone would try to get through life without one. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-scissors-spring-on-swiss-army-knife/657547/15 "2013-05-06T02:15:51Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > how do you sharpen the scissors? A small diamond sharpener, used with care, seems to do a fine job. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-scissors-spring-on-swiss-army-knife/657547/16 "2013-05-06T02:47:41Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > Damn, that sounds great. I have my late father’s mega-SAK (everything but the corkscrew, pretty much), in the original leather case, and it has great sentimental value to me. > > But it’s at least 50 years old now and desperately needs cleaning and sharpening, besides replacement tweezers and probably the scissors spring as well. Will they do that for me, do you think? (fingers tightly crossed) It has got a true lifetime warranty and you can send it in for minimal cost. I would enclose a letter telling them exactly what you want them to do and to just send it back if they can’t You would be surprised what some companies like that will do for goodwill and PR value. My uncle sent in a Daisy pellet rifle from the 1950’s in for service a few years ago because it had leaky valves and didn’t shoot as well as once did. It had a lifetime warranty though and he is famously cheap. They don’t make any air rifle like his now but they completely refurbished the whole thing for free including making custom parts for it. He got it back like-new condition. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-scissors-spring-on-swiss-army-knife/657547/17 "2013-05-06T02:58:24Z")
This is why I like my Wenger-- The scissors are of a different design, that’s much more robust. > [@](#): > > Quoth **Shagnasty** : > > The other multi-tools like Leathermans are useful too but can’t approach the real-world convenience of having a sleek and streamlined tool chest that you can just drop into any pocket without even thinking about it every day. See, my solution is to carry both a Swiss army knife _and_ a Leatherman. And a 13-function utility pen, and a little pack I keep in my side pocket with matches, birthday candles, band-aids, alcohol wipes, and Post-its. ---
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-scissors-spring-on-swiss-army-knife/657547/18 "2013-05-06T04:40:32Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > The other multi-tools like Leathermans are useful too but can’t approach the real-world convenience of having a sleek and streamlined tool chest that you can just drop into any pocket without even thinking about it every day. What do the SAKs do that Leathermans don’t? I can only think of reamer, corkscrew, toothpick and tweezers. Guess I would only miss the tweezers. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-scissors-spring-on-swiss-army-knife/657547/19 "2013-05-06T05:00:31Z")
> [@AaronX](#): > > What do the SAKs do that Leathermans don’t? I can only think of reamer, corkscrew, toothpick and tweezers. Guess I would only miss the tweezers. I get nervous using the Leatherman on my nose hair. ---
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-scissors-spring-on-swiss-army-knife/657547/20 "2013-05-06T06:17:47Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > I get nervous using the Leatherman on my nose hair. The instructions didn’t say not to do that. Can’t be more dangerous than putting a cotton bud in my ear. I too like to live dangerously. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-scissors-spring-on-swiss-army-knife/657547.md?page=2)