Curious to what others think about disassembling your knives

Topcatpt

Topcatpt

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Dec 15, 2012
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So, not exactly the title but I am curious if other people think this is stupid and not the thread lol. But does it make sense to anyone that some manufactures say disassembling your knife is not recommended and it voids your warranty. Im not trying to bash any certain manufacturer just making a point. Ive been in the military for about ten years 4 active 6 reserves. And I have gotten my knives dirty not from abuse but sometimes just the nature of the environment I was in. Dirt or grit will eventually make it into the area between the blade and the washers or bearings. So I dont understand. What everytime this happens I am supposed to send it in to the manufacturer. I think not 5 min to take apart and clean it is much easier. And obviously it doesnt take military use to get a knife dirty but why is disassembling a knife such a big deal. To me its general maint and something that is necessary from time to time. Just saying sorry for the rant.
 
I know some people can damage their knives by taking it apart.
However, I still don't know why taking apart and cleaning your knife(properly with no damage) voids warranty.
I take my knives apart all the time.

However, if you took the knife apart and destroyed it or messed up something, I could see them not fixing it because after all, it was your fault, not theirs.

But if I take my knife apart and clean it, and then a problem comes up that is a manufacturing issue or something of the like, I see no reason why my taking the knife apart should void getting an issue fixed.
 
I guess its like buying a car, yeah you need to do regular maintenance but the manufacturer wants to be the one to do the service
 
My guess is that manufacturers got tired of repairing stripped screws or damage from improper reassembly.
 
Most knives are really simple mechanisms, but I guess it's possible to improperly assemble anything.

I think the manufacturers who void a warranty on disassembly are simply trying to dissuade people who already shouldn't be considering disassembly. I mean, if a warranty paper stops you from disassembling a knife, perhaps you didn't really need to take it apart. ;)

I like to disassemble partly for curiosity and partly to confirm it was assembled correctly at the factory. A quality knife should be able to handle at least a few disassemblies. I will gladly pay if I mess something up.
 
Yeah I do it too obviously but for higher end it especially make me irritated. Crk is an example of what I expect from a higher end company. But I also have a 600 dollar knife that the manufacturer says they don't condone taking it apart. I understand if it is something really complicated like a otf auto or something(I personally don't know if they are hard to disassemble or not) but a frame lock come on.
 
Unless they are really slick, how could a manufacturer be absolutely sure it was assembled by someone other than their employee?

I can't remember ever hearing of a manufacturer refusing to service a faulty knife when it was reassembled correctly.
 
I agree 100%. I like to clean my knives from time to time but if I do, it will void the warranty (with some brands). I mean, I can disassemble and reassemble a knife where you can't even tell it was taken apart. But that still voids the warranty. I just hope if I ever have to deal with a warranty they will let it slide because it was done properly.
 
Warranty conditions not withstanding, I try not to disassemble knives or guns more often than I absolutely need to. And when I do, I only take out the minimum amount of parts needed to reach whatever area I've got to clean.
 
I don't think there are quality companies that will ACTUALLY void your warranty from defects if you have taken it apart and not damaged anything in the process.

A lot of people cite Spyderco's warranty here, and I think they more do that to A)dissuade people who aren't mechanically inclined from doing it and B) people obviously damaging their knife in the process and then trying to get it warrantied. Lots of people have spoken on disassembling knives before they needed to go back for warranty, and they had no issue whatsoever. The warranty was honored.

But it's uncanny how often people will strip out tiny screws.

Franciscomv said:
Warranty conditions not withstanding, I try not to disassemble knives or guns more often than I absolutely need to. And when I do, I only take out the minimum amount of parts needed to reach whatever area I've got to clean.
Click to expand...

I agree, especially with knives, that many users take apart their knives waaaaay more than they have to. It's akin to the guy who changes his oil every 1,000 miles on a new car, even though with new oil technology it has at least another 6,000 miles before it even begins to degrade. You may not be hurting anything, but you are increasing your chance of losing screws/washers every time. Guns are slightly more finicky, and dirt/corrosion can really hinder their use much more than a knife. But modern ammo runs pretty clean and you probably don't need to do a full tear down every time you go to the range on most guns.

I have never taken one of my knives apart. And I've had them fully submerged in muddy water and equally dirty/intrusive conditions. Never had a problem.
 
Here is how I see it.

What the manufacturers probably mean is, don't take it apart and screw it up and ask us to fix it...that is not "warranty"
 
BladeChick777 said:
I know some people can damage their knives by taking it apart.
However, I still don't know why taking apart and cleaning your knife(properly with no damage) voids warranty.
I take my knives apart all the time.

However, if you took the knife apart and destroyed it or messed up something, I could see them not fixing it because after all, it was your fault, not theirs.

But if I take my knife apart and clean it, and then a problem comes up that is a manufacturing issue or something of the like, I see no reason why my taking the knife apart should void getting an issue fixed.
Click to expand...

As an example, I'll use this post.

Some people have a mechanical inclination and others don't. Production and mid tech knives are assembled by technicians with years of experience working with small parts, precision equipment, and a high level of skill. This can be said for techs from Kershaw to Chris Reeve, to Benchmade, to Spyderco, whatever.

Sal once stated (more or less) that a knife maker puts your knife together. When you, the end user, a "non-knife maker" disassembles it and reassembles it; you are in essence disturbing the craftsmanship aspect of the knife itself. I'm paraphrasing, as I don't have the urge to search for his post on the matter, but in so many words that is what was said.

As a "non-knife maker/technician" what makes you think that your knife requires complete disassembly to clean? Yes, it is technically "your" knife and property, but relying on someone else to fix it, for free no less can be absurd in my view. In my line of work, I've seen what people try and do to their networks and servers by claiming to do "basic maintenance". They expect us to walk in and restore data, reconfigure devices with complex configurations to begin with for free, because the devices have a warranty. The warranty doesn't curiosity induced disaster. A simple mistake can create hours of work.

The more time a knife maker has to spend fixing someone's mistake, then that is less time they are spending producing new pieces for the company. It's like a hole in your pocket with cash hemmoraging out. Knifemakers cannot make a broad assumption that everyone that stumbles upon their products has the tools and cognitive ability to tear down and reassemble the knife and have it be as it was from the factory. I've also seen people disassemble $900-$1500 semi custom and custom handguns, only to not be able to reassemble them again. Very dangerous in that case for what I hope are obvious reasons.
 
RevDevil said:
The warranty doesn't [cover] curiosity induced disaster.
Click to expand...

I have taken a few knives apart. Some to clean, some to satisfy my curiosity and I have made more than one atrocity trying to make some of them "better". I like to tinker and and modify things and I always do so with the knowledge that I am affecting the warranty and that it may cost me in the long run. I have some knives that used to be worth $X and are now worth ($X minus A LOT) because of this. I take responsibility for this and don't expect the manufacturer to cover the failure of a knife that I have taken apart and put back together incorrectly.
 
you would probably be amazed at how many hacks destroy stuff and send it back for "repair" or refund on any product not just knives. Its a huge drain on profit and resources.

if they can dissuade even 20% with a statement they will try . cant really hold it against them can you?
 
I do see this point but if you want to retain your customers you have to deal with it. Yes not everybody is mechanically inclined but taking a knife apart isn't rocket science. And as far as taking away from production I'd rather wait for a good knife from a company with a good warranty than get something right away from one without. And as for those little screws I guarantee even the pros strip them out. T6 torx it's bound to happen. But if you say you can fully clean a knife out without taking it apart I don't believe it. And I do only take it apart if it really needs it which is not every other day usually months apart. But if I drop 600 dollars on a hard use knife I don't think I should hear don't take it apart.
 
It's something I ignore completely, if there's a knife I can't take down and then reassemble I don't want it.
 
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