Break Down/Rebuild AR/GB Series

Dark Nemesis

Dark Nemesis

Joined
Mar 20, 1999
Messages
7,497
I'm curious about the topic that has come up several times lately about taking the AR/GB series apart. This is not meant to start any kind of battle, simply informational for all of us.

We all use folder and know that there are sometimes events happen that require a knife to be broken down and cleaned, its just not possible all the time to clean a knife from the outside with solvents. It's unfortunate, but just part of life. A while ago (i'm trying to find the thread), it was brough up from someone who was serving in the military wondering if the AR/GB series could be broken down in the field if required. In response it was mentioned that yes all Strider knives are fully servicable by troops in the field should that need arise.

Now I fully admit, I'm not in the military in any way, I'm just an average person who carries a folder for day to day tasks. Do I really need a folder as hardcore as the AR? no, not really, but I just like the design and quality very much. Since I've had received my AR back in July (I think), it has been broken down three times for serious cleaning. I'm not talking about lint or minor dirt, but completely saturated in thick liquids or stuff like that. Most recently while cutting down a christmas tree I was cutting some top stalks off of it and dropped my AR in the mud. No big deal it functioned fine until I got home. Each time I used the proper tools including a T9,T8 Hex 1/8, & adjestable spanner wrech w/ wide flat tips. Everything worked out great breaking it down, and rebuiding it. I also use both a pivot lubricant and blade protector to keep the steel in top condition.

During the NYC show I stopped by the Strider table and was chatting with one of their representatives who had dark hair and a blue shirt on, spent most of the day on the left side of the table. Almost sold me a knife too :) I started mentioning about taking the AR apart and how easy it was to clean and rebuild. He agreed that the AR was very field servicable and that I might want to consider using a little bit of the red Lock-Tite to keep the main pivot from coming back out over time.

I guess what this all comes down to is Mick's response in a recent thread about not taking the AR's apart. They are the manufacturer and always know best, I do agree with that completely. However Striders are used by some serious users who are going to have to break it down from time to time, is the AR/GB series so fragile they stand a chance of being damaged? Also, the gentleman at your table was giving out advice to make the process easier, if Strider's policy is to never take apart the folders, shouldn't that have been his response?

Please once again, I am not starting anything, just trying to clarify everyone's position, as I think many of us are used to taking apart our folders, and might not know where it would leave us as far as Strider is concerned. Thanks for everyone's time.
 
<B><EM>quote:
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Originally posted by Kampfjaeger
Also as an addendum to the question... Is the AR designed to be able to be easily disassembled/reassembled for maintenance?
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</B></EM>



I think if you have the proper tools it might be ok. I have had my AR for 1 week now and have yet to need to clean it. I have used it just about everyday.

The context of the question is important to remeber, every AR or GB can be taken apart. Should everyone do it? No, but you seem to have the correct tools, so the job is easier. How is your action? Smoother after taking it apart? Did you notice any play after dis-assembly/ re-assembly?
 
Originally posted by Mick Strider
It doesn't effect them.
If it does, we replace the bump stop and it goes away.
No, don't take the thing apart. Clean it w/ break cleaner. It works great.

Mick
Click to expand...

As an additon to this the AR or GB for that matter is not a "fragil" Knife in any way. My AR is only folder in the world that I would trust totally and for any use... that includes prying, punctur of car roofs or similar metals. The Strider AR Folder, that I own, is IMO and the opinon of others here on BF, the HumVee of folders.

J
 
After taking it apart and putting it back together the action was just as smooth, maybe just slighly smoother just because I was able to really get the lubricant on well while it was apart. No blade wobble at all, After balancing the tension on both the stop pin and main pivot, I secured them with Lock-tite. Works fine, just like the day it arrived.
 
I'm actually thinking of making a little tool kit for them.
It would be kept inside the SOE pouch we are having made for them.

I don't care if you take them apart. Just make sure you try REALLY hard to put it back together before you send it back to us. :)

Happy Holidays

Mick
 
Dark,
Where did you find the tools. Can you get them at any Lowes or Home Depot?
 
Mr. Strider,
I would love a tool kit made by you guys for taking apart the AR and GB. That way i would know I had the right tools. I think the main reason we all wanna take these things apart is because we spent a lot of money on this knife and most guys when they buy expensive toys (Car, Boat, House, Strider AR) we want to take care of every inch. Now if my transmission falls out I take my car to a mechanic. By that same logic if my knife breaks I'm calling Strider. But I change my own oil. And it's important to me to take car of my knives as well. I just don't want there to be a ring of rust on my blade a year from now that I can't reach. And I'm sure I'm gonna love this knife SOOOOO much that I won't be able to handle being parted from it for a week or two while it goes back to you guys for work on damage or wear that maybe i could have prevented with regular cleaning and care for my AR.

If you make a tool kit I wanna be first on the list to buy one.
 
I have similar feeling to Ryu on my beloved AR. I would like to be second in line for the AR pouch and a tool kit(if made). Any ideas as to when the SOE pouches will be done? I've been trying to get ahold of y'all to get a kydex rig for my AR, but can't seem to make phone contact...
 
Ryu:

The T6, T8, T9, & 1/8 Hex can all be found at Sears made in the Craftsman brand. I'm not positive Home Depot will sell them since they are so smaller function specific, but it's worth a try. I know Craftsman because I require every engineer on any of my teams to use only craftsman tools. That way when I send them somewhere in the country I'm assured they can walk into any Sears and get a replacement free of charge immediately. All of these tools can be purchased for a total under $10.00

The Spanner wrench is a whole ball game in itself. Chances are you won't find it in any local auto or standard tool store. Snap-On Tools used to carry them, but I don't know if that’s still true. When I first started working for the government a few years ago, they had a lot of fricking third party vendor junk. Many of the server cabinets were secured with spanner nuts, first time I had ever heard of the term, let alone seen one.

The wrench I got was high-end adjustable and cost $90.00. Once someone has the wrench you can buy end bits that screw onto the wrench ends, they only cost a few dollars per set. I'd imagine that there are companies that make much more affordable spanner wrenches. If you want I can find the dealer I used, and see what else they offer as well.

Here is a breakdown of tools-parts required

T6 - Torx screws securing clip to G-10 slab.
T8 - Torx screws the three fastener points.
T9 - Torx screw securing the thumbstud module.
1/8 SAE Hex - Main pivot hex bolt.
Spanner Wrench w/ Wide Flat Tips - To control the spanner nut that holds the main bolt
 
I've taken my GB apart to polish the screw heads. To get the pivot nut off, I improvised a tool by filing a 7/16" wood bit into a spanner wrench with flats for the recesses. I know it looks Rube Goldberg, but it works. Anyway, disassembly is a piece of cake, and the lock-up is just like new. :)
 
Dark,
Ok here is what i have found. here is a picture of a all in one tool set I can get pretty cheap. It has spanner bits at the top. Does this look like it would work. I mean they don't have to be the best I can't imagine what's holding in my blade would require that much force to move. Tell me if I'm close.

This one looks like it would be good. It's got just about all you need and it all comes in one kit. It can be found here... http://www.chuckstools.com/index.htm
 

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Ryu:

That all-in-one kit is fricking awesome! I've never seen a kit come with any kind of spanner bits. Where can I get them, would like to get several for all my engineers.

The second picture you have is very very similar to my adjustable spanner wrench. When I have a moment I will take a picture of it for you. I find them to be excellent, the construction & dimensions of the one you have pictured is just about the same on all adj. spanner wrenches, just a matter of material and a specific design.

With the adj. type, one thing to becareful is to make sure that is it not "head specific", by that I mean make sure that the tips are not part of the wrench. You want one that allows you to take the heads off and put ones on that fit your task, such as working on the AR.

Back to your first pic, if one of those spanner bits will fit the AR nut, I would say go with that kit, it's almost certainly going to be cheaper than getting an adj. spanner wrench. You are right on the money, it doesn't have to be the best in the world, for the hand full of times you'll be breaking down the AR :)
 
Hell, for all intents and purposes that second picture you have IS my spanner wrench, mines just made of stainless stell, and I have thumb lugs to secure the bits like the ones at the top to lock in the width.
 
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