Disassemblable fixed blades - I don't get it

[james terrio]

...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.

Gosh, that sounds nice, doesn't it? How thoughtful of them.

When it comes to mass-produced knives, standard designs and molded/milled handles are by far the most efficient to produce. So are standard-size bolts/nuts and screws. (Ever notice how some very popular companies have the exact same handle on so many of their different knives? That's not a coincidence, I assure you.)

Adding a step to epoxy the whole assembly together only adds "unnecessary" costs to a company that's doing their best to provide decent steel and a low price-point to as many customers as possible. It's all about the margins.

That's not a "bad" thing... those companies do provide good knives at affordable prices. But for goodness sakes, don't drink the marketing Kool-Aid.

 

[Maniacal Pete]

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

Marketing is always looking for angles to sell their products,
even going so far as to promote a liability in such a way that
it appears to actually be an asset.

 

[Lonewolf01]

Gosh, that sounds nice, doesn't it? How thoughtful of them.

When it comes to mass-produced knives, standard designs and molded/milled handles are by far the most efficient to produce. So are standard-size bolts/nuts and screws. (Ever notice how some very popular companies have the exact same handle on so many of their different knives? That's not a coincidence, I assure you.)

Adding a step to epoxy the whole assembly together only adds "unnecessary" costs to a company that's doing their best to provide decent steel and a low price-point to as many customers as possible. It's all about the margins.

That's not a "bad" thing... those companies do provide good knives at affordable prices. But for goodness sakes, don't drink the marketing Kool-Aid.

I'm not, he asked a question I gave him an answer. It's obviously cheap to make them removable, if you don't want yours removable you can epoxy them on yourself. I'd rather be able to change them if I please.

 

[Adam Buttry]

I'm still trying to understand why all the discussion of exposed tang knives. The OP posted a pic of a HIDDEN TANG knife. As I mentioned before, the picture is an example of one of the various traditional methods for assembling a hidden tang knife. This method (along with others) has been used for generations and is still used today. Despite any advertisements or sales pitches.....it is what it is, an ASSEMBLY METHOD for hidden tang knives.

 

[james terrio]

Why in the world should a customer be expected to spend extra time and money to keep the handles on the knife they paid good money for? Puh-leeze, give up on this fantasy notion that removable handles are some sort of favor to the average knife consumer.

I'd rather be able to change them if I please.

OK, that's a fair point. I have two relevant questions...

Does company "XYZ" offer upgrades or alternatives to their standard scales? (yes, that does happen) If so, that's great for the customer and a second market for the company. Win-win!

Does company "XYZ" offer the same blade with no handles at all, at a discount? (yup, that happens, too) If so, that's great for the customer and a second market for the company and a chance for another craftsman to contribute to a great knife, or for the customer to build their own handles without throwing away money on handles they didn't want in the first place. Win-win-win!

Disclaimer: I've put a lot of groceries in my cupboard by making new permanent and remo handles for factory knives, so it's not like the concept hurts my feelings... tear-off's save my clients money in that case. I just think it's silly to pretend some factory CEO is doing his customers a favor by not building them right in the first place.

 

[TwinStick]

Handles are removable for SANITARY REASONS, as well as anti-rust maintenance. I LOVE the fact that my Beckers have removable handles. Gets pretty messy gutting & skinning & cutting up animals. It has to either be a handle that debris absolutely can NOT get into or removable handles for me.

 

[james terrio]

Handles are removable for SANITARY REASONS,

Nonsense. A properly sealed, permanently-affixed handle simply will not absorb any nasty stuff like blood and guts. Removable scales can and will trap all manner of gunk, and require more maintenance.

 

[Lonewolf01]

Why in the world should a customer be expected to spend extra time and money to keep the handles on the knife they paid good money for? Puh-leeze, give up on this fantasy notion that removable handles are some sort of favor to the average knife consumer.



OK, that's a fair point. I have two relevant questions...

Does company "XYZ" offer upgrades or alternatives to their standard scales? (yes, that does happen) If so, that's great for the customer and a second market for the company. Win-win!

Does company "XYZ" offer the same blade with no handles at all, at a discount? (yup, that happens, too) If so, that's great for the customer and a second market for the company and a chance for another craftsman to contribute to a great knife, or for the customer to build their own handles without throwing away money on handles they didn't want in the first place. Win-win-win!

Disclaimer: I've put a lot of groceries in my cupboard by making new permanent and remo handles for factory knives, so it's not like the concept hurts my feelings... tear-off's save my clients money in that case. I just think it's silly to pretend some factory CEO is doing his customers a favor by not building them right in the first place.

I think you're misunderstanding what I'm saying. Removable scales are not a selling point for me I honestly don't care, but if I'm buying a knife that has less than amazing handle material or ergos, I like to be able to customize that knife to my liking. For instance, I would have never bought a Becker if I couldn't replace the handles because I dislike the grivory they use on them.

What I would hope the CEO is doing is keeping his cost down while still providing an option for you to upgrade your more budget oriented knife at some point, with either their scales or a custom set that you made/bought.

And the whole "if you don't want yours removable you can epoxy them on yourself" was just me saying I don't want to get stuck with crappy handle material on a more budget knife.

 

[Jack Black]

Found it useful for cleaning and maintenance of F-S knives, particularly where the blade goes right up to the guard. I've just cleaned up an old Frosts knife, where the blade also goes right up to the guard, and it would have made it a lot easier to restore if I'd been able to take the handle, guard, and pommel off. It would have made even more difference if I hadn't been doing it by hand.

 

[Wet Noodle]

I've bedded things that I don't want to come apart or things that I want to totally encapsulate in 5200 (a marine grade bedding compound) at times.
Granted, if you ever want to take it apart you'll destroy the handle/scales (very real possibility), but I've never had to do it.
It makes it a single piece with 5200 instead of parts that can get wiggly over time.

me - my two cents

 

[killgar]

Would you be willing to pay extra for a "sealed", epoxied handle? I'm not sure how much more it would cost, but people tend to prefer to pay less for things rather than more, especially if what they are paying extra for isn't really necessary. If I had a choice between paying more for an epoxied handle, or having to take the handle off for cleaning, I'd rather do the latter. I'm cheap and don't mind taking the time to remove a couple of handle screws. I don't find it to be a difficult or time-consuming task.

I would imagine that knife companies with good blade-replacement warranties would prefer not to glue the handles on. If someone sends in a knife with a broken or damaged blade, instead of sending them an entirely new knife they can transfer the old handles onto a new blade. Depending on how many blades they replace every year, I would imagine this saves them some money. And what knife company doesn't want to save money.

 

[TwinStick]

Nonsense. A properly sealed, permanently-affixed handle simply will not absorb any nasty stuff like blood and guts. Removable scales can and will trap all manner of gunk, and require more maintenance.

Nonsense indeed. You have too many variables there for me to be comfortable. Properly sealed & permanently affixed handle comes to mind. I have some of those & after a while, the "permanently affixed" handle starts to wiggle & a small space begins to develop. That is where the problem lies. To each their own i guess, but when it comes to my health & the health of my family, if i can take it apart, I KNOW it will be clean & sanitary. Carry on.

Not everything that starts out permanent stays that way.

 

[Vicarious Reality]

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.

Exactly. I was thinking about crap inside the handle and that must be the best solution

I will never need to take the handles off my slabhandle knives. Or my plastic molded ones. Pretty sure i had some problem with kabar becker screws not being long enough and stripping loose.
Surely a small tube or pin is the cheapest, sturdiest slabhandle fastening there is, and butt-end screw fastening or peening is just completely outdated in my opinion, however you can still stack leather or wood or whatever as a handle without doing that. Though i my precious tactical sensibilities would be less offended by someone using the tang itself as a threaded screw to put a bolt on and maybe put some kinda rubber plug in the side holes.
I wonder sometimes how much the fancy looking screws on my esee 3 cost