Crack in GEC Esquire acrylic scale. Risk of spreading?

Macchina

Macchina

Joined
Apr 7, 2006
Messages
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My wife bought me a blue corduroy acrylic Esquire for our 10-year anniversary. I am thrilled to get a knife as a gift, and such a great knife at that! I love the knife, it's just perfect... except for I just found a crack in the pile side scale going from the center pin to the top of the scale. What a bummer!

Here's the question: is there any risk of the crack spreading? I already sharpened the knife but I haven't even had it for a day yet and I'm already thinking about exchanging it, something I don't want to do if possible. I wish I could just accept it but for all the knives to ever have a crack: it has to be the first new one I ever get with sentimental value...

I wish so bad this was any other knife EVER than the one my wife got me.

 
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There is always a risk of spreading, but I don't think it is very high with that crack:) I have a couple of scales with similar cracks that have stayed put for a long time. I am not sure if GEC epoxies their scales in addition to pinning, but if they do then you risk of spread drops even more.
You are very fortunate, nice gift from your better half!
 
I can well understand your vexation, especially it being a special present etc. I suspect that plastics are less likely to be susceptible to having bits flake off due to more cracking like bone does. Yes you could try expoxy glue but on a light colour with polish it could look messy....

I'd suggest asking GEC if they could fix it up for you at your cost, they might be able to help although they don't appear to keep a stock of handle materials, if my experience is anything to go by. Because you are obviously upfront about this and in a special position due to the sentment, the dealer or GEC will probably be most willing to help you.

Regards, Will
 
Will Power said:
I'd suggest asking GEC if they could fix it up for you at your cost
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Based on my own recent experience, I really wouldn't recommend returning it for repair. Sorry to hear about this Macchina, it's a shame, particularly as the knife means so much to you.
 
Could you elaborate a bit? The dealer she bought it from is out of stock , so it looks like a trip back to GEC would be the only fix...
 
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Isn't this the way it goes? The one knife that is a very special gift from a loved one....

I doubt that the crack will go anywhere or cause future problems other than the obvious aesthetic.

Additionally, that little crack will always be the unique thing on the knife that your lovely bride gave to you, which makes that knife even more special.

Your repair options are to send it back to GEC or alternatively send it to someone like Glenn and see what he could do to make the knife even more special.

best

mqqn
 
If the crack goes from the edge and terminates into the pin, you've got very little chance of it spreading. Most likely the material was under a bit too much stress from peening the pin and cracked, but the crack has opened up and relieved the stress. Cracks won't propagate past an edge or hole unless the cause of the stress is tension in the material, which is very unlikely in this case.
 
There is no fix that the factory will perform on a pin crack. It would require dis-assembly and new slabs, and I expect they would just support a refund by the original seller. It will not get any worse and seems more likely caused by large swings in temperature this time of year, than too much pressure at assembly. But anything is possible.
 
I'd get some Zap-a-gap and just fill that crack. That should stabilize it, if it was in jeopardy of spreading. Schrade delrins, as well as some Imperials, were notorious for those pin cracks, but they were otherwise solid knives.
 
I don't think the crack will propagate. It terminates at the edge on one side and the pin hole on the other. Drilling holes to stop fractures from propagating is a tried and true temporary repair that has been used on ocean going ships, road bridges, etc., for decades and decades.

fig34-20.jpg
 
As glennbad and Snipe 1 said, I doubt it will ever go to the other side of the pin because the pressure is now gone. I have quite a few Imperial Frontiers with Delrin scales that are cracked in the same place.
 
And the Liberty Bell!


Snipe 1 said:
I don't think the crack will propagate. It terminates at the edge on one side and the pin hole on the other. Drilling holes to stop fractures from propagating is a tried and true temporary repair that has been used on ocean going ships, road bridges, etc., for decades and decades.

fig34-20.jpg
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You are worried about that? I'd feel relieved and enjoy the heck out of it. Hate to see you in a parking lot with a new car
 
RickT57 said:
You are worried about that? I'd feel relieved and enjoy the heck out of it. Hate to see you in a parking lot with a new car
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The point of this thread was to tap into the expertise here to see if this would be a problem (the crack would spread or the scale chip away) in the future. It appears the consensus is that it won't be a problem and I'm greatly relieved because I love the knife and the woman who gave it to me! I'd MUCH rather keep it with the Wabi it came with instead of trade it out for a knife that wasn't the one my wife picked out for me.

But to answer your question: yes, if I had a new car that had a crack along 18% of the height of the car that penetrated 27% of the width of the car: I'd have a big problem. That's a 10 inch by 2 foot crack in my brand new car! This is going to seriously affect resale value of the car, not to mention the water that is going to get in there and get my stuff all wet. I bet a crack that size would cause some serious noise on the highway...
 
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