The past tense of go about like a half-shut knife is went about like a half-shut knife.

The third-person singular simple present indicative form of go about like a half-shut knife is goes about like a half-shut knife.

The present participle of go about like a half-shut knife is going about like a half-shut knife.

The past participle of go about like a half-shut knife is gone about like a half-shut knife.