Cold Steel overmolds and heat?

T

Trailer_Ape

Joined
Jun 22, 2017
Messages
271
Ok, I know very few people will be able to answer this, from experience, but I'm hoping there are one or two in this motley crew of ours...

I freakin love Cold Steel's rubber over molded handles. I know the dude from 411 Outdoors (great channel) has made them come loose by throwing them (hold it by the handle and rattle the blade) BUT... the one thing I never do with a knife, that isn't made for throwing, is throw it (I probably would an ESEE but nothing else). What I am wondering is - Heat? I have been looking at the Recon scout as a "car bowie" but my car is often parked for hours, out in the sun, while the outside temp is 106*F (God only knows what it is IN the car). Hot enough where I won't leave my RMR in the car (Trijicon says up to 120*, I believe, and it is probably 120* in the car). Would this loosen the adhesive Cold Steel uses? Is a car parked in summer sun hot enough to worry about? Anyone do this, leave a Trailmaster, Recon Scout, Master Tanto, etc in a hot car all day? Encounter any issues?

Thanks
 
I bought a Carbon V SRK when they came out around 1990, so long ago my dad drove me to get it because I was 14 or 15.
It has been left in the car many times, even in California when it was 110* outside and much hotter in the car.

However I did not ever leave it in direct sight/sunlight in the vehicle. It was usually in a bag or under the seat. The handle is still tight.
 
Not a Cold Steel, but a rubber handle nonetheless… I have kept an Ontario SP5 in the back of my work vehicle for probably at least 10 years now with no issue whatsoever (and I live in Florida). I have a CS SRK, and I will say the rubber grip is slightly more pliable, but I don’t generally keep it in my car or know if car level heat would affect it, or how long it would take to do so.
 
Cold Steel grips are molded from Kraton, the same stuff I believe is used in Pachmayr's pistol grips and recoil pads, which have been around for 70 or so years. Very resistant to chemicals and heat. None of mine have showed any deterioration after decades in all conditions. I believe they are slipped onto the tang of Cold Steel knives and secured with a hollow rivet that also works as a lanyard hole.
 
Kraton G has a very high heat rating, more than you'd ever get naturally. The big thing with the handles was to keep them away from certain types of chemicals and solvents. As mentioned, I remember DEET and OFF bug spray being a big one that softened handles. That being said, they might've solved that problem a bit, as I haven't read about it happening with the newer production.
 
Well that is good to hear and y'all about have me talked into one. I only ask because the handle material is very similar on my Gerber Australian Bowie and it did some wonky stuff. Never loosed up BUT the rubber did deteriorate and tiny pieces seemed to "booger" off, in some areas AND it looks like some adhesive melted and oozed out a little. That knive was used pretty good, 30ish years ago but has spent the last decade (at least) sitting in a drawer. I'd guess the handles are attached in a similar way so I had some concerns.

I thought about going with a similar size and shape but with a full and exposed tang (with riveted handle scales). I was looking at the Boker Arbolito Esculta but have seen some disappointing reviews.
 
Didn't those Dutch guys have a handle come loose? Don't drive your CS knife into a log with another log, was the gist of that I believe.
 
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