Cast-in-place aluminum knife handles

[RX-79G]

Not really. Have you ever held an actual Gerber MKII? The design of both the handle and blade (plus the overall size of the knife) is such that it would never generate enough force in use to test the handle/epoxy/tang juncture to failure unless it was intentional destruction.

Plus, what that shows to me is how good the thermo epoxy is at holding the two different materials together; steel and aluminum. :thumbup:

If anything, the shear strength on the epoxy is what could be looked at as the most impressive aspect of the design and it may even act as a buffer for shock load.

If someone creates an injection molded aluminum handled knife I'd gladly use it as hard as my other knives. You might not like the result.

I agree that it would be nearly impossible to break anything but the blade, first. Chopping, batoning, throwing, stabbing. See Dave's post above.

Yes, I have held a MK II.

The epoxy prevents the blade from pulling out of the handle. I think it might be a stretch to suggest that the epoxy has anything to do with the structural connection between the blade and handle - they are directly and tightly touching with a tiny amount of resin filling the voids. It is nothing like drilling a big hole in a wood handle and filling it with epoxy for a stick tang.


"Someone" did create an injection molded aluminum handled knife. I listed a bunch, and Ishrub just listed more. They've been around since before WWII. You can buy them old or new. Have at it.

 

[stabman]

The epoxy prevents the blade from pulling out of the handle. I think it might be a stretch to suggest that the epoxy has anything to do with the structural connection between the blade and handle - they are directly and tightly touching with a tiny amount of resin filling the voids. It is nothing like drilling a big hole in a wood handle and filling it with epoxy for a stick tang.

Epoxy and wood is damn strong too.
There was an unfinished custom knife I got when a knifemaker was retiring; structurally it was done, but putting an edge (at all) on it and fitting a butt-cap to it were left to me.
I finished it up, then gave to a friend who didn't have a good knife.

D2 steel blade, beautiful file-work, and the best looking wood I have ever seen...truly stunning.

The dumbass decided to use it as a throwing knife, despite me telling him beforehand that it wasn't meant for such things.
It broke, but not in the handle; it broke just after the blade exits the handle.

So you see, the traditional means of construction are stong enough, damn strong, in fact.
You are arguing for a solution to a problem that doesn't exist.

Which is pointless...unless you just like arguing.
If that is your goal, then continue to argue on. :thumbup:

 

[RX-79G]

Epoxy and wood is damn strong too.
There was an unfinished custom knife I got when a knifemaker was retiring; structurally it was done, but putting an edge (at all) on it and fitting a butt-cap to it were left to me.
I finished it up, then gave to a friend who didn't have a good knife.

D2 steel blade, beautiful file-work, and the best looking wood I have ever seen...truly stunning.

The dumbass decided to use it as a throwing knife, despite me telling him beforehand that it wasn't meant for such things.
It broke, but not in the handle; it broke just after the blade exits the handle.

So you see, the traditional means of construction are stong enough, damn strong, in fact.
You are arguing for a solution to a problem that doesn't exist.

Which is pointless...unless you just like arguing.
If that is your goal, then continue to argue on. :thumbup:

I have made many knives exactly the same way. It is quite strong. As is full tang construction. Yet, (as I previously pointed out) tangs and handles do still break and there is a large market segment focused on survival type knives that are supposed to be as reliable as possible. When the tangs of these knives do fail, (because they are often much less strong than the base of the blade) there is usually much ado about the failure because we are generally given to believe full tang knives are so strong.

From an anecdotal and engineering standpoint, certain types of handle design are so strong that the blade or ricasso will ALWAYS fail before the handle/tang. Some, like the CRK Project One, are well known. Others, like the many aluminum handled knives that are currently out of fashion, are not so well known.


Most of the "arguing" that is going on is not about whether there is utility in such a design, but about frankly dumb stuff - like whether aluminum is actually strong or if a Gerber MkII has ever been treated roughly, or if it is possible to cast aluminum, or if any survival knives have holes in their tangs. And since I would just get accused of dodging if I didn't answer those questions, most of this thread has been given over to answering off topic questions and explaining the obvious.

All of which I find just as annoying as you do.


Stupidly, I expected a thread where people commented on their experiences with the Ruana, Gerber, etc and talked about the production problems or cost of manufacture. Or how to deal with hot and cold, or the customization options possible with an easily machined handle material. I was mistaken.

 

[stabman]

Back in the day I had a cheap, no-name dagger with a cast aluminum handle.
The steel was soft, and the blade got bent and straightened many times, as I was a young teenager who did stupid stuff with knives.

It never broke...but then again, the steel was soft enough it would have been hard to put enough lateral stress to break most handle designs.

It was very uncomfortable in the cold though.

I prefer full tang construction with no lightening holes, and G-10 or Micarta scales, like the ESEE Junglas, the RD-9, or the knives I have made.
If I were going to be in the frozen wastelands for extended periods of time, something like the moulded handle of the Buck Nighthawk works well. :thumbup:

 

[POCEH KOCEB]

Hi Poceh, I responded about the K Tragbar in a PM, but I can definitely see why you would be concerned about corrosion for the aluminium based on that handle. I haven't had any trouble with the pommel on mine, but I am a cold weather guy, and I like to live in cold climates.

Please use my email address that is listed in my profile's section, I cleaned my inbox but it'll probably get full again, thanks you and sorry for the hassle !