Prophet River Firearms

Nickel silver is the name of an alloy containing copper, nickel and zinc that has a silver-like look. In the knife industry, it is mainly used for fittings, especially for the so-called bolsters.

Nickel silver is an alloy of copper (45-70%), nickel (5-30%) and zinc (8-45%). In some cases, it can also contain lead, iron, manganese or pewter. Due to its nickel content, nickel silver is harder and more resistant to formation than pure copper, which makes it particularly suitable for knife fittings. Nickel silver can be work hardened (by forging and milling) at temperatures below 500°C. Nickel silver has several other names, some of which points to the history of the alloy, including argentan and packfong. The material is also known as German silver. The alloy originated in China, where it was known as packfong. In Europe, a copper/nickel/zinc alloy similar to packfong was developed in the late 18th century in Thuringia.

The material was improved simultaneously in Saxony and Berlin in the early 19th century. While the Saxon alloy was sold as argentan, the product from Berlin was named nickel silver. Both alloys had similar properties. Apart from these historic terms, the material is also known as alpacca. Its silvery white surface makes this alloy look like silver, but it is much less expensive than the precious metal. Right after the production process was developed, nickel silver was used to make silverware.

Today, nickel silver is still used in the industrial production of silverware, sometimes as a carrier material for silver-plated utensils. In the knife industry, nickel silver is used to make fittings. The crossguard of cutting and stabbing weapons is often made from this alloy.

Slipjoint

The slipjoint is a locking mechanism for folding knives. Slipjoint knives do not possess a mechanical locking mechanism. Instead, the open blade is locked only by means of a spring attached to the end of the spine. Slipjoints are one of the most common locking mechanisms for folding knives.

A slipjoint has a small spring at the back end of the spine that keeps the open blade in place. The knife is closed by putting pressure on the spine of the blade to overcome the resistance of the spring holding the blade in place. Once the spring no longer holds the blade, it can be closed very easily. Unlike other locking mechanisms, a slipjoint is not actually locking the blade, which means there is a heightened risk that the blade might close as it comes in contact with a hard object. For knives with this locking mechanism it is of vital importance that all parts are firmly and securely fitted together.

The slipjoint is regarded as the classic locking mechanism for folding knives. Before the other locking mechanisms were invented, e.g. the backlock or the linerlock, just about all folding knives were equipped with a slipjoint. This is the main reason why slipjoint knives remind many knife collectors of "grandpa's pocketknife". A pocketknife carried by people of our grandfathers' generation would have had a simple slipjoint mechanism.

Folding knives with multiple blades are one of the main applications of slipjoints, because this locking mechanism allows for a parallel arrangement of several folding blades. Another major reason for the widespread use of slipjoints is the fact that many countries have strict rules and regulations for carrying one-handed knives with a locking blade. Here, knives with a slipjoint mechanism are a better – and legal – alternative.