Bring Back the Backspacers!

Lapedog

Lapedog

Joined
Dec 7, 2016
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I am kind of upset that backspacers are becoming increasingly rare on knife designs. It seems the hourglass shaped standoffs are just taking over the market.

Even on my beloved Emersons backspacers have disappeared and made way to the dreaded standoffs. Now the reason I like backspacers is because it let you use the butt of the knife as a hammer. It was great for crushing things. My Cqc7 with backspacer is one of the best folding knives I have ever used for whacking things with the butt. (Please hammer with the blade closed for all our safety.)

Does anyone else feel the way or am I all alone on this? I know standoffs are the trendy thing and are supposed to make the knife easier to clean out. However the opposite is true as well, as the back of the knife is more open things are more likely to get in. Honestly I don't find the standoffs make a knife THAT much easier to clean out. Particularly if a backspacer that doesn't run the length of the whole knife is used like used to be on Emersons.

Bring back our backspacers!
 
You liked a feature on a knife because it made it easier to use the knife in a way that folding knives were never meant to be used?
 
Lapedog said:
I am kind of upset that backspacers are becoming increasingly rare on knife designs. It seems the hourglass shaped standoffs are just taking over the market.

Even on my beloved Emersons backspacers have disappeared and made way to the dreaded standoffs. Now the reason I like backspacers is because it let you use the butt of the knife as a hammer. It was great for crushing things. My Cqc7 with backspacer is one of the best folding knives I have ever used for whacking things with the butt. (Please hammer with the blade closed for all our safety.)

Does anyone else feel the way or am I all alone on this? I know standoffs are the trendy thing and are supposed to make the knife easier to clean out. However the opposite is true as well, as the back of the knife is more open things are more likely to get in. Honestly I don't find the standoffs make a knife THAT much easier to clean out. Particularly if a backspacer that doesn't run the length of the whole knife is used like used to be on Emersons.

Bring back our backspacers!
Click to expand...

I think you might be in a small minority.:p
 
I like full backspacers on some knives. Especially solid nicely finished backspacers.
 
Depends on the knife for me. For some knives the way they balance in-hand feels better with a backspacer, some with stand-offs. In the case of the EKI CQC-7, it feels better with the backspacer to me.
 
I too wish there were more knives with backspacers. I would put up with pocket lint any day of the week compared to a less comfortable flow through handle that tends to dig in the palm of my hand. Still have to get a custom backspacer for my 20cv 940 & M390 710.
 
I know knives are not meant to be used as hammers. That doesn't mean some designs work quite well as a hammer. For example the butt of my CQC7 was absolutely perfect for crushing garlic.
 
I like the backspacer on my eki horseman, my roadhouse has standoffs. Im not sure whats better
 
KingMC said:
You liked a feature on a knife because it made it easier to use the knife in a way that folding knives were never meant to be used?
Click to expand...

Nobody ever said that knives were NOT to be multi-functional... Why not? They are quite commonly used to open beer bottles, for instance.

I really do wish that there were more models of folders offered...that have a "mini-punch" at the base of the grip, to act as a window glass-breaker in an emergency car accident situation. My Zaan has one...but few other knives do, AFAIK.
:thumbup:
 
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I saw backspacers on a couple of the new ZT's that I am interested in, such as the 0460 and 0456bw, I like how they look but I don't hammer with the back end.
 
A badly cut out and finished piece of G10 does not a good backspacer make. Personally unless it is titanium or some sort of tool steel I want nothing to do with a backspacer just allot of unnecessary complication to the knife IMHO.

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See the UN-evennes there that is just shoddy workmanship, that and it does not make much sense to thread in the frame screws into a piece of G10 at all. And yes this is an actual custom not a Po' Boy

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This is what a backspacer should be, a nice solid chunk of perfectly fitted CPM 3-V also this makes a much better "attitude adjuster" or hammer than flat G10
 
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Thise "mini-punches" are known as glass breakers. The best ones have the tip of the glass breaker made out of something like tungsten. The worse ones are just made out of whatever metal. Is the one on the Zaan tungsten carbide or is it just titanium like the rest of the knife.

My Microtech Socom Elite has a great little glass breaker.
 
Ah nah I can relate, I prefer backspacers if I want to use the knife in a harder way than one with standoffs.

Actually I hope the same machinist that will make me alu or Ti scales will be able to make me some too of matching color, adding a glass breaker spike or angle in the process.

Lot of people must be thinking like Lapedog and me, as the market for PM2 backspacers is quite blooming.
 
I guess the maker could provide an option/sidegrade or let the aftermarket go for it? Or add a glass breaker pommel upgrade?

Frankly, if I'm whacking something with a pocket knife, it must mean I can't find a rock or something, and that um... probably means I'm kinda in trouble. Just IMO.
 
Lapedog said:
The best ones have the tip of the glass breaker made out of something like tungsten. The worse ones are just made out of whatever metal. Is the one on the Zaan tungsten carbide or is it just titanium like the rest of the knife.
Click to expand...

The Umnumzaan's glass breaker is the exposed tang of the blade.
 
If you're in a situation that you can't break glass with the zaan, then you're in trouble and should think about using a glass breaking hammer or something more kinetic.

[video]https://youtu.be/gD8HJQN1QM0[/video]
 
I like the look of backspacers and I like them on some of my knives (see my sig), but I normally prefer stand-offs because it makes the knife easier to clean.

I don't use my knives as hammers.
 
I like back spacers and glass breakers for the exact same reasons the OP does, the but of a pocket knife makes a great small hammer.
 
I DO like backspacers on my knives.....But I much prefer standoffs on my hammers ; D
 
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