Disassemblable fixed blades - I don't get it

[A.L.]

I was browsing through some knives, namely European (especially Extrema Ratio) and I see lot's of fixed blades that can be disassembled for whatever reason such as maintenance. Why on earth would one need to maintain the inside of fixed blade?

One instance is the ER's MK21 that has this kind of thing:

Why?
I don't know but looks like weakest link for me, that screw.

 

[Mossyhorn]

If a knife sees a lot of use and gets wet, after awhile it can rust even under the handle.

 

[co556guy]

Not everyone lives in a disposable world.

oil inside of handle so it doesn't rust.

Any time you have the meeting of 2 materials, you have the possibility to trap water, and therefore rust.

Lots of fixed blades are disassemblable btw..all my esee, my gravelle, my gerber (i picked up a big rock for $15 one day), etc.

In fact, I only have 1 knife that I can't take the handle apart and that's more due to my incompetence than the handle being permanently attached.

 

[smokey0118]

Some are to give the user the ability to change the knives around for a specific use. For instance, bayonets are fun...but the loop makes using them as a knife uncomfortable. The ability to take the bayonet loop off and put a regular guard on is pretty nifty on some knives. Others use it as a "feature" because certain parts may show wear before the blade. If you've got a rubberized handle, or are hammering on the pommel a lot, the ability to "rebuild" the knife from time to time is nice. if the handle starts to wear, toss a new one on. As others said, it gives you better access under the handle to keep anything that would rust oiled.

 

[Dan57]

On full tang blades like ESEEs, I don't get it either. Just bolt the handles on, and use epoxy to seal them so moisture can't get in. The only real advantage to screw on handles is that you can change 'em out for a different color or style if you want to, and most people don't do that anyway. Bolts combined with epoxy are stronger, simpler, and don't require loctite. But a lot of people prefer screws because they only think of the fact that a knife with screw construction can be cleaned under the handles. It never occurs to them that a knife with bolt and epoxy construction will never need to be cleaned under the handles. And screws are cheaper and easier for the manufacturer to use, anyway.
On hidden tang knives like the ER blade above, cost can't be the reason, because I'm pretty sure it's cheaper to just pin the pommel on. It's probably a marketing gimmick, ER's known for them. I've never heard of a Ka-Bar rusting or needing cleaning under the handle.

 

[marcinek]

Well, for Extrema Ratios you're gonna get a lot of terrorist, sentry, and/or "tango" bodily fluids on your knife. You gotta clean that stuff up.

No....I don't see the point either. Marketing gimmick. No added functionality.

 

[Adam Buttry]

The picture shown above is an example, in knifemaker terminology, of a take-down. It has nothing to do with maintenance. It's just one of the very traditional methods of assembling a hidden tang knife. An assembly method which is still used today by many custom and production knifemakers.

 

[Dan57]

The picture shown above is an example, in knifemaker terminology, of a take-down. It has nothing to do with maintenance. It's just one of the very traditional methods of assembling a hidden tang knife. An assembly method which is still used today by many custom and production knifemakers.

But they advertise on their website that you have the ability to "... disassemble the knife in the field without the need of tools."

 

[Ankerson]

To clean them if they are exposed to salt water, blood or other corrosive materials.

 

[Bob W]

Cleaning, oiling, replacing/upgrading scales...

I have one fixed blade that has knife sharpening stones on the inside of the scales.

 

[Dan57]

To clean them if they are exposed to salt water, blood or other corrosive materials.

Good luck getting anything like that under the scales of an epoxy sealed tang.

I have one fixed blade that has knife sharpening stones on the inside of the scales.

Wouldn't it be a lot easier to just carry it in a sheath pocket or something? Having to remove and then replace handle scales every time you need to hone your knife seems pretty annoying. Not to mention that you'd have to carry a torx or allen wrench everywhere.

 

[Ankerson]

Good luck getting anything like that under the scales of an epoxy sealed tang.



Wouldn't it be a lot easier to just carry it in a sheath pocket or something? Having to remove and then replace handle scales every time you need to hone your knife seems pretty annoying. Not to mention that you'd have to carry a torx or allen wrench everywhere.

They were talking about removeable scales.

 

[Dan57]

Yeah, I understood that.

 

[TheOTBalisong]

Epoxy easily prevents the problem of rust or trapped moisture underneath the handle scales.

So, in a sense, removable scales are kind of useless.

 

[Bob W]

Wouldn't it be a lot easier to just carry it in a sheath pocket or something? Having to remove and then replace handle scales every time you need to hone your knife seems pretty annoying. Not to mention that you'd have to carry a torx or allen wrench everywhere.

You would think. These knives didn't sell very well, as far as I know. Don't remember the model name, but it was a Benchmark knife from a few years ago. Without going upstairs to check, I think the screws were phillips.

 

[killgar]

Here's a better question- why does it matter?

Is it really a bad thing for the handle of a fixed-blade to be removable? Is this a problem for anyone? Has anyone had their fixed-blade accidentally come apart on them?

If removable handles on fixed-blades bothers you, then don't buy a fixed-blade with a removable handle. If you bought a fixed-blade with a removeable handle and it bothers you, sell it or glue the handle on. There, I've single-handedly solved the dilema of removable handles on fixed-blades.

Just goes to show that ANYTHING can be controversial on Bladeforums, even removable handles on fixed-blades.

 

[Dan57]

Sheesh. Did an epoxy sealed tang kill your father or something? This is a knife forum. Dedicated to the discussion and betterment of knives. This is the kind of thing we discuss here. No, the world's troubles will not come to an end if more manufacturers use pinned handles. But it would definitely be a benefit to knife users.

 

[Hadji Flip Me Over]

On full tang blades like ESEEs, I don't get it either. Just bolt the handles on, and use epoxy to seal them so moisture can't get in. The only real advantage to screw on handles is that you can change 'em out for a different color or style if you want to, and most people don't do that anyway. Bolts combined with epoxy are stronger, simpler, and don't require loctite. But a lot of people prefer screws because they only think of the fact that a knife with screw construction can be cleaned under the handles. It never occurs to them that a knife with bolt and epoxy construction will never need to be cleaned under the handles. And screws are cheaper and easier for the manufacturer to use, anyway.
On hidden tang knives like the ER blade above, cost can't be the reason, because I'm pretty sure it's cheaper to just pin the pommel on. It's probably a marketing gimmick, ER's known for them. I've never heard of a Ka-Bar rusting or needing cleaning under the handle.

QFT. Why more makers don't just use Res-C like Scrapyard does is beyond me.

 

[Lonewolf01]

On full tang blades like ESEEs, I don't get it either. Just bolt the handles on, and use epoxy to seal them so moisture can't get in. The only real advantage to screw on handles is that you can change 'em out for a different color or style if you want to, and most people don't do that anyway. Bolts combined with epoxy are stronger, simpler, and don't require loctite. But a lot of people prefer screws because they only think of the fact that a knife with screw construction can be cleaned under the handles. It never occurs to them that a knife with bolt and epoxy construction will never need to be cleaned under the handles. And screws are cheaper and easier for the manufacturer to use, anyway.
On hidden tang knives like the ER blade above, cost can't be the reason, because I'm pretty sure it's cheaper to just pin the pommel on. It's probably a marketing gimmick, ER's known for them. I've never heard of a Ka-Bar rusting or needing cleaning under the handle.

It's already been stated by ESEE that they make their handle scales removable for people that want to make custom scales or change the material. In a way it allows you to personalize your knife a little more.

 

[frontline29]

If given the choice I would rather have removable handle scales. If the knife is exposed to something really nasty I'd like to have the option of being able break it down and clean it.