How Important is Disassembly?

[BK14]

Only recently, I have started to appreciate the benefits of an easily disassembled knife. I know that slipjoints and the Buck 110’s of the world do just fine never being broken down for cleaning, but for modern knives, I enjoy the option of full disassembly for cleaning and lube, and also tinkering. Today I took apart my Spyderco PM2. Definitely doable, but it wasn’t fun. Ease of break down has become a very big factor in my purchases. Where does everyone else stand on this?

 

[Petunia D. Feeble]

Ceteris paribus, I'll take the knife that's easy to disassemble, but easy disassembly isn't high on my priority list. There are generally other variables that make my decisions long before the assembly type is even considered.

 

[shinyedges]

I don't think taking apart a knife is a daily event, and washing a knife in the sink and a little compressed air go a long way. That said, when a knife is used to do certain tasks the simple wash in the sink isn't sanitary enough for me. I have done the in the sink wash with running water and compressed air and then took the knife apart only to find all the things missed by a sink cleaning. To me it is important for sanitary reasons to occasionally take a knife apart and get all the things trapped in the nooks and crannies out.

To that end, companies that void warranties for simply opening the knife and reassembling it without damaging are a NOGO in my book.

 

[shinyedges]

So for me it isn't ease of disassembly that is a deal breaker, it's whether or not the manufacturer is using a thorough cleaning as a cop out to the warranty.

 

[Lapedog]

Some knives are more condusive to being diassembled. Many people say you can clean knives very well without disassembly by just using naphta (lighter fluid) and letting evapore after wiping it off.

That said there are little tight spaces in the pivot of (example) my Kizer Feist. It is also a royal POTA to reassemble so I try to avoid using it to cut into materials that will "gum up the works"

I wish the same companies that bring us m390 blades would find it suitable to use better steel for their hardware.

 

[BK14]

So for me it isn't ease of disassembly that is a deal breaker, it's whether or not the manufacturer is using a thorough cleaning as a cop out to the warranty.

Deal breaker for me as well.

 

[OzarkJoe]

I voted somewhat. It’s nice but not really a deal breaker.

 

[sharp_edge]

It is important for me, but a major lesson I have learned is NOT to take knives apart unless absolutely necessary.

 

[Alberta Ed]

I never disassemble them. Except for my Sebbie after it lost a screw. Then I put it all back together with LocTite and haven't fussed with it since.

 

[Cow51]

I frequently disassembly and lubricate my knives, especially my Mini Grip. Ease of disassembly isn't important, but the ability to do so is. That isn't to say I would not get a knife I can't disassembly(like a slip joint).

 

[Hackenslash]

I consider the ability to disassemble as very important, although not for the justification given in the poll choice. Disassembly is important from the standpoint of repeated reassembly. It's one of the reasons I love CRKs.

Maybe edit the poll to not force your justifications on those who choose to vote and let people provide their own reasons?

 

[22-rimfire]

The only time I would disassemble a knife is if it broke and I may just toss it into the knife pile (or trash if it was inexpensive <$50) to never see light again instead of tinkering with it. I clean them just fine without taking them apart. Never had one break and if one broke I would look to the manufacturer if it was worth the effort.

 

[BK14]

I consider the ability to disassemble as very important, although not for the justification given in the poll choice. Disassembly is important from the standpoint of repeated reassembly. It's one of the reasons I love CRKs.

Maybe edit the poll to not force your justifications on those who choose to vote and let people provide their own reasons?

Very good points here, I’ll add another option for “somewhat important, for reasons not stated/other” and hopefully we’ll continue to see good discussion.

 

[JJ_Colt45]

I guess I dont used folders for things such as food prep or cleaning game so it's not a sanitary issue for me. But I do occasionally need to disasemble a folder to clean out saw dust or lint and dirt and apply fresh lube ... and its strictly fixed blades for food uses of any kind and if those have removable scales they get taken off and cleaned under ... if the scales are not removable it's not really an issue as nothing gets under them anyway.

so I don't base my purchases on the ease of disasembly and it doesn't disqualify a knife from being purchased if it voids the warrenty ... althought I can't think of any knife I own that disasembly voids any warrenty coverage.

That kind of leaves me out of the vote ... because I purhase knives for specific uses ... instead of worrying about disasembling them.

 

[Wowbagger]

I know that slipjoints and the Buck 110’s of the world do just fine never being broken down for cleaning,

That's pretty much where I'm at. Intellectually I enjoy being able to remove the blade from the knife if I want to put in an upgrade but I don't do it. I don't take my knives apart. Just rinse out the pivot, lube and go. And hardly ever. The one exception was my Grail where I rehandled it and was glad to have the removable screws to be able to attach the new "scales" to.

Some one here said I take stuff apart and put it back together all day, everyday at work I don't need to do it to my pocket knives. That's about were I am.
Grail = BZ Urban Trapper with titanium frame and KreyEx scales

 

[GB940Rookie]

I rarely disassemble a knife but I like having the option

 

[3fifty7]

Disassembling a knife has little to no interest to me, I guess I don't cut enough cardboard or something.

 

[jc57]

Most of my knives are pinned construction and aren't intended to be taken apart. The few that I have that can be taken apart, I don't take apart.

 

[Ajack60]

If I was concerned about taking a knife apart, I wouldn't own a slip joint or some of the models of Spyderco.I never took a knife apart until I bought my first CRK. CRK included the tool to take it apart. Now that I know how to doesn't necessarily mean I should. It's interesting to take a knife apart but doesn't influence whether I'll buy a knife solely on the ability to take it apart.
I can remember my dad using his pocket knife(a Old Timer slip joint) for cleaning squirrels, rabbits, birds and then washing it off with soap and water. He also used the same knife to cut his food up from time to time.

 

[mt666tm]

I like taking apart my knives, polishing pivots, changing washers/bushings, clean/lube/grease as needed. Changing scales, swapping blades on similar models, customising in general.

There are exceptions: some Buck's, Swiss Army, etc...

So not saying I would not ever buy a knife that I can't disassemble, but it would definitely make me think twice.