Alpha Folding Hunter question (warranty wise)

geothorn · Sep 11, 2005

On the rubber-scaled Alpha, the screws holding the scales in-place, as well as the pivot, appear to be adjustable with an Allen wrench. The question that I have is whether anyone knows if those screws or the pivot are held tight with LocTite, and if I would be voiding my warranty if I remove the handle scales to make the knife thinner and lighter?

Thanks for your replies,
GeoThorn

guy g · Sep 11, 2005

Geo Thorn, we have to quit meeting like this. I removed the scales on mine. Unscrew the screws on the rubber pieces and you will have 2 tapped in studs left. I wouldnt take the knife apart. You will have to drill the studs out. They are toolong to get out by pushing them in. there will be a tooling mark by each hole, so look it over for esthetics purposes.
As to warranty, the knife is so well made, I decided to just risk it.good luck, guy

guy g · Sep 11, 2005

let me try this.this isnt working.

Joe Houser · Sep 12, 2005

We do use Loc tite on those screws and sometimes, when you try to remove them, the stud just spins. Guy is correct in that you wont be able to remove the studs if you get the inlays off. You pretty much have to dismantle the entire knife. I have done it before, just sanded the studs down to the case and got them out. I also ended up hitting the case and then had some scratches to buff out.
A lot of work but I like the look of the knife without the scales.

guy g · Sep 12, 2005

I have a couple of pictures of it with out the handles, but cant get them posted. I'll email them to some one who has picture privliges and the know how.

geothorn · Sep 12, 2005

Thanks for your great replies!

I discovered the blue Loctite® after I got all gung-ho after guy's first reply. I didn't necessarily understand all of guy's first reply, but, I went ahead and popped the first screw. When I broke the Loctite® bond and took the screw out, that's when I saw the threads covered in blue. I've never dealt with Loctite before, so, I just replaced the screw...thinking that I'd get back on here and find-out where to buy blue Loctite®, so that I could repair what I'd taken apart.

I'm not a machinist, so I might've jumped-in over my head in this project.

I'd been hoping that whatever held the rubber slabs' screws were fit flush to the handle's steel, and there wouldn't be any drilling or sanding necessary. I was hoping that just removing the screws would be the end of the dismantling.

guy, I can host & post your photos for you. Just e-mail them to geothorn@yahoo.com. If you want, write up the post that you'd like to go along with the pictures and I can make a web page out of the pictures and your text. Or, I can give you the web addresses to the pictures, and you can make a post using the images.

I'm thinking that your photos will help me learn the depths necessary for this project...and if I'm going out of my league.

Thanks again,
GeoThorn

P.S. Is removing the rubber slabs going to void my warranty? That's the only question from my first post that hasn't been answered. The answers that I have received have just given me more questions, as sometimes happens....

P.P.S. My Alpha Folding Hunters have circular stains on their blades, on both sides, appearing approximately where the handle screws are, when the blade is closed. Is 420HC somehow "allergic" to blue Loctite®?

guy g · Sep 17, 2005

Lets try the pictures again.

geothorn · Sep 17, 2005

The Buck Alpha Folding Hunter looks really good without it's rubber scales. I wonder if Buck ever thought of releasing them without scales? Good job of posting pictures, guy g!

GeoThorn

guy g · Sep 17, 2005

And thanks for your help. We downloaded "Space" and the attachment program from MSN and will see how that works.

geothorn · Sep 17, 2005

Ok, here's a picture of the circular stains on the blade of one of my Alpha Folding Hunters:

The stains are fairly tough to spot unless you know what you're looking for. The easiest stain to see is the one about an inch directly beneath the A. There are two more circular stains, to the left, towards the tip. If you've found the stain beneath the A., simply look across, in a straight line, towards the tip. There's a larger circular stain above a smaller circular stain.

As I stated in my post, a few posts above this one, when I slowly close the knife, those stains seem to line up perfectly with the studs that hold the scale screws. Could blue Loctite stain a 420HC blade? That's the only thing that I can see that might've caused those stains.

If you saw a discolored patch or two on one of your knife blades, what steps would you take, trying to remove them, or to help them to blend in?

Thanks for your suggestions,
GeoThorn

Gary007 · Sep 17, 2005

have you tried something like MetalGLO?

Well, I guess for me I wouldn't really worry about it, these knives are meant to be used. If it bugged me I would probably just treat myself to a new one, and put that one away,... or send it in for a reblade? Or maybe it can be buffed out?

here's a shot of mine:

geothorn said:
Ok, here's a picture of the circular stains on the blade of one of my Alpha Folding Hunters:

If you saw a discolored patch or two on one of your knife blades, what steps would you take, trying to remove them, or to help them to blend in?

Thanks for your suggestions,
GeoThorn

geothorn · Sep 20, 2005

Gary007 said:
have you tried something like MetalGLO?

No, I haven't, yet. I was hoping that others might have some ideas, too. I'll put MetalGlo on the top of my list.

Gary007 said:
Well, I guess for me I wouldn't really worry about it, these knives are meant to be used. If it bugged me I would probably just treat myself to a new one, and put that one away,... or send it in for a reblade? Or maybe it can be buffed out?

All are good suggestions, except I already have three Alphas, and two have the same staining. I was hoping that maybe Mr. Houser or Mr. Hubbard could respond, as they might've heard of problems between 420HC and blue Loctite.

GeoThorn

P.S. I wonder how Mr. Rummerfield is doing? Is he over in Iraq? What tactical knife does he carry when he's on active duty? Thanks.

J Hubbard · Sep 21, 2005

Interesting on where the spots line up. It's not something we are seeing before we ship. Might be a time based reaction to some out-gassing on the Nylock patch. We don't use blue locktite, but rather a similiar product applied to the screws. I'll do some checking and see if we can figure something out.

Jeff

sidecarr · Sep 21, 2005

nice pics , was impressed enough to order one from smkw should be here in a couple days

geothorn · Sep 22, 2005

Thanks for looking into the staining on my Folding Alpha Hunters, Mr. Hubbard.

I've ruled-out any staining problem from the rubber scales. If there was something in the rubber that could stain 420HC, then stains would've appeared on the blade across from the four handle-lightening holes (shown in Guy G's pictures, above), where the blade is most exposed to the rubber scales.

I was able to purchase my Alphas at bargain-basement prices, and maybe the staining was the reason why...?

Thanks again,
GeoThorn

dunc5 · Jan 20, 2006

Sorry to bring this thread back from the dead but there isnt many Alpha threads on here ( if there are can someone post a link please ) .Removing the scales shouldnt void the warranty as Buck sells replacement scales on its website http://www.buckknives.com/catalog/detail/479/223
Also what about the pivot screw i wouldnt have thought this would void it either as you can tighten it to take up any sideways movement that may appear in the life of the knife , and for blade removal for cleaning . Any comments would be appreciated.

Thanks

Dunc

mfinden · Jan 20, 2006

I have loosened the pivot screw on my 279 and tightened it back...really didn't make too much diff in the play. So I figured tighter was better so as to not risk the blade falling off when I needed it because of a missing component that I loosened.
BUT, I am now thinking of taking the walnut scales off after looking at the skeleton. That is hot. Plus, the only thing that really keeps me from using the 279 as a EDS is that it thicker than the 110 or three dot 111 now use for EDC.
Thanks for the sharp pics!!!!

dunc5 · Jan 20, 2006

mfinden said:
So I figured tighter was better so as to not risk the blade falling off when I needed it because of a missing component that I loosened.

If i tighten mine up the blade is too stiff to move easily so you have to back it off till its nice and smooth on opening with no blade play .

Dunc

LFH · Jan 20, 2006

dunc5 said:
Sorry to bring this thread back from the dead but there isnt many Alpha threads on here ( if there are can someone post a link please ) .Removing the scales shouldnt void the warranty as Buck sells replacement scales on its website http://www.buckknives.com/catalog/detail/479/223
Also what about the pivot screw i wouldnt have thought this would void it either as you can tighten it to take up any sideways movement that may appear in the life of the knife , and for blade removal for cleaning . Any comments would be appreciated.

Thanks

Dunc

Thanks for bringing this back to light. I was looking for those replacment handles just a few days ago and couldn't find it on their web site.

Now I gotta go drag in the Alphas out of the truck and look for spots on the blades.

EDIT: My 279 has the spot under the A. Ever so slight. Have to work hard to find it. Not there on the 277.

LFH · Jan 20, 2006

I just took some brasso to the stains. A little light polishing and all gone.