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This would be dependent on build quality. The closer the tolerances, the less the actual hardware is keeping the knife together. On my ZT's for example, the standoffs are holding the knife together, not the hardware. The hardware hold the standoffs in place, if that makes sense. You could always loctite to be sure.
 
kniferbro said:
This would be dependent on build quality. The closer the tolerances, the less the actual hardware is keeping the knife together. On my ZT's for example, the standoffs are holding the knife together, not the hardware. The hardware hold the standoffs in place, if that makes sense. You could always loctite to be sure.
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On the knife in question the hardware is the only thing keeping the scales together - it's backspacer construction without thread inserts. Do you think they would come loose on their own due to carry & normal use?
 
asdf12345 said:
On the knife in question the hardware is the only thing keeping the scales together - it's backspacer construction without thread inserts. Do you think they would come loose on their own due to carry & normal use?
Click to expand...

On a linerlock, I would say eventually as everytime that liner jams the knife locked-open it's pushing on those screws. But who knows? They just may never come loose. Definetly one of those situations where you take my advice with a grain of salt.
 
Yes, they absolutely can loosen over time. Many companies use loctite so it isn't usually an issue. You can do the same (blue or purple loctite) if you ever do disassemble it. What is the knife in question?
 
Aw man, that title lead me on. Thanks a lot.
 
Or for the body screws and/or the pivot screws (which always work loose), a drop of nail polish will usually prevent it. If you want to be 100% sure, use a tiny drop of super glue applied with a toothpick.
Rich
 
The knife in question is a Benchmade 970. Unfortunately loctite is not an option as the liners are not threaded, only the thin G10 scales. I have heard there are major screw/thread stripping issues with this particular knife's hardware. Benchmade Inc. says they do not have any spare hardware for this model left. Any suggestions on what to do or experiences with the Benchmade 970 model?
 
I would leave it alone. There is very little chance of anything coming loose. removing the screws will remove a tiny bit of material from inside the holes, and that might be enough to keep them from tightening down properly again. I would try to avoid extremes of temp (above 60C or below -60C) and that should limit any changes due to thermal expansion. But that's a bit extreme. In general small threaded holes get stripped due to over-tightening.
 
When you open and close the knife or if there is vibration, any screw would be subjected to forces that would tend to loosen it over time. Whether it does actually move depends on the initial screw installation with regards to torque and any installation treatment (teflon tape, loctite, heat, etc.).
 
I handled a 970 last year that was in use EDC for a guy since the day he got it (he's a rancher). Tanto had become a rounded belly over the years of sharpenings. Knife had never been disassembled, and still had all original fasteners. I always enjoy seeing tools that have been used as designed (field use), and seeing how they hold up when used a designed & intended by the original design & manufacture.

If you have no reason to disassemble; I would follow what gadgetgeek stated (the first time a screw is torqued is the only time it will hold the same way).

Just use it like you stole it. If a fastener comes loose, deal with it then ;-)
 
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