How Important is Disassembly?

[shinyedges]

AR shooters like to take them apart because they treat them like barbie dolls, dress them all up with unneeded gadgetry because it looks cool, run to the range so the boys can check it out, then come home take it apart clean it and move stuff around.

I clean mine because it's fowled up from the direct gas that gets blown into the bolt carrier group. Then again I spent ridiculous amounts of time cleaning my rifle in the army most of which is unnecessary. They can run surprisingly dirty as long as they are lubed.

 

[GermanyChris]

I clean mine because it's fowled up from the direct gas that gets blown into the bolt carrier group. Then again I spent ridiculous amounts of time cleaning my rifle in the army most of which is unnecessary. They can run surprisingly dirty as long as they are lubed.

Yes they can especially if you use a dry lube like graphite. The M16 had a bad reputation in Vietnam but by the time I got one you could could practically pour grit into it and it'd still reliably fire which is handy in the desert

 

[shinyedges]

Agreed, they do get a bad rap. I never used dry lube while active (got out in 2012) but even clp dropped in the bcg holes on the side would keep it firing for long periods of time. We'd shoot up all the ammo any time we went to the range which meant after everyone qualified we'd load every mag and have a huge ass stack of mags and shoot them all.. good times.

Yes they can especially if you use a dry lube like graphite. The M16 had a bad reputation in Vietnam but by the time I got one you could could practically pour grit into it and it'd still reliably fire which is handy in the desert

 

[palonej]

Most of us probably do have a Torx set.....but most of us do not have ridiculous tri wing wrenches or any of the other tools for similarly ridiculous proprietary hardware.
Just seems silly to send a knife in to the manufacturer to tighten up a pocket clip or adjust a pivot.
I’m another that rarely takes knives apart, but it’s nice to be able to.
Joe

10-4. I think most of us have a torx driver set to use if we need to as they aren't just used in knives.

 

[GermanyChris]

Agreed, they do get a bad rap. I never used dry lube while active (got out in 2012) but even clp dropped in the bcg holes on the side would keep it firing for long periods of time. We'd shoot up all the ammo any time we went to the range which meant after everyone qualified we'd load every mag and have a huge ass stack of mags and shoot them all.. good times.

When I was in Bagram for Anaconda the place was filled with fine powder sand that would gum any action up merely from walking around and kicking it up with your feet let alone the dust that rose from mine clearing so we all took to using powder graphite to lube.

 

[PoorUserName]

Some cheaper budget brands of folding knife(unnamed) use cheap soft steel on their bolts and screws and the heads can disintegrate when only tightening up the blade never mind trying to dismantle it.

 

[22-rimfire]

...Just seems silly to send a knife in to the manufacturer to tighten up a pocket clip or adjust a pivot.
I’m another that rarely takes knives apart, but it’s nice to be able to.

It would be silly to send a knife back to the manufacturer to tighten up a clip or pivot. A knife store that you do business with might be a better option for that. Rarely happens, but as you said, I can if I need to. Just not something I like to do.

 

[shinyedges]

When I was in Bagram for Anaconda the place was filled with fine powder sand that would gum any action up merely from walking around and kicking it up with your feet let alone the dust that rose from mine clearing so we all took to using powder graphite to lube.

interesting, I'll have to give it a try.

 

[palonej]

Hmmmm what is this knife store you speak of???

I’m in NJ, not many knife stores anywhere near me.
Every blade I have bought was on line.
Joe

It would be silly to send a knife back to the manufacturer to tighten up a clip or pivot. A knife store that you do business with might be a better option for that. Rarely happens, but as you said, I can if I need to. Just not something I like to do.

 

[PoorUserName]

Has anybody tried an ultrasonic tank for deep cleaning your knives, you can get ones for $50, I use to use an industrial one for cleaning the lacquer of pcb boards and it worked great.

 

[19-3ben]

For me, it matters, but not because I MUST disassemble my knives. It matters because I will more freely do dirty work with knives that can be disassembled. For instance, I dont do food prep with my slipjoints. the last thing I want is apple juice, or chicken fat, or some other stuff migrating up the blade and into a recess between the spring and the liners. Sure, you can hose out in the sink and HOPE that the water got everything, and then HOPE again that compressed air will dry it all out before the water in the tight recesses of the knife cause corrosion... But I'm just no that hopeful.

I much prefer a knife where I know that if food gets into the workings, I can wash it out, and then dry--lube--reassemble.

Of course, that's one of the main reasons I only do food prep with fixed blades anyway, and the reason that disassembly is not that big a deal for me.

PS- Which nerd can spot the reference?

 

[GermanyChris]

Short circuit

 

[willc]

Never once have I thought about disassembly when I wanted to buy a knife.

I’ve taken more than a few apart but most cleanings are done under hot running water or in my ultrasonic cleaner.

 

[Franciscomv]

I used to think it was super important, but to be honest I can't remember the last time I took a knife apart.

I feel an adjustable pivot is important in a modern folder, but ease of disassembly is far from a mandatory feature for me.

 

[Mo2]

Has anybody tried an ultrasonic tank for deep cleaning your knives, you can get ones for $50, I use to use an industrial one for cleaning the lacquer of pcb boards and it worked great.

Not all ultra sonic cleaners are equal. Some won't do jack. Is a $50 one gonna work well for some knives? Maybe. I guess it couldn't hurt but not sure the benefits. When you research all the difference features these cleaners have, the worth while features cost a lot more, unless you have one for other things it's not worth spending the money for the expensive cleaners just for knives. Also in order to verify any of this you'd have to have some expensive equipment to see if it was actually making a difference with either a $50 ultrasonic-cleaner vs a $1000 one vs cleaning by hand with acetone and or Zippo Lighter fluid (cause you need something that strong to remove old lube and other Nast stuff that accumulated. Some folks just take it down, wipe out the dust they see and screw it back together and it works for them. Is a ultrasonic-cleaner cleaner a waste? If u got one already for something else, use it but I don't think it's necessary at any price level... I'd you were anodizing stuff maybe it could be useful to make sure things are really clean assuming you get one that works well and use a good cleaning agent in the bath. Okay I'm rambling. Sorry.

 

[sabre cat]

Has anybody tried an ultrasonic tank for deep cleaning your knives, you can get ones for $50, I use to use an industrial one for cleaning the lacquer of pcb boards and it worked great.

I have use of one at work. It works great on slip joints and SAKs.

I prefer knives that I can take apart but I own a few SAKs and other slip joints that cannot be disassembled. Sometimes simple construction is the better way to go. It's fool proof.

 

[Herlock]

Hi! A thorough cleaning of my folders, including full/partial disassembly, is something I do maybe three times/year, let’s say as “planned maintenance”. Based on circumstances (e.g. working with some particularly “nasty” food prep), I can decide to go for “reactive maintenance” .

Normally I clean my folders under running warm/hot water, mild soap and a tooth brush or, when really needed, with interdental brushes. Then I blow them dry with compressed air (same I use for my laptop) or, sometimes, with my wife’s hair dryer . Before storing them away I put a drop of food contact grade oil on the edge and, if disassembled completely, I lube with the same oil (FYI, it’s a WÜRTH product, used in maintenance for food processing industries) the different parts/components.

Taking folders apart it’s fun for me and it’s something I occasionally like to do when I have time and I’m in the right mood. Thinking about doing this always and compulsorily every time I use one might soon become an annoyance . About hygiene and cleanliness, yes, it’s very important but, as usual, est modus in rebus .

 

[dkb45]

Taking apart a knife is a vital part of maintenance and ownership to me. I only have like 5 knives I can't take apart, and all but one are pinned (one is a Real Steel Griffin with a thoroughly frozen pivot, might need to get somebody to fix that). Any knife I have that can be opened one handed has been taken apart because factory lube always sucks, regardless of the brand. My lube is better, and when I take the knife apart I can adjust the lock bar as needed and clean factory gunk out.

A knife that cannot be disassembled is a deal breaker in most instances to me. Unless it is an automatic, I can greatly improve the action with basic maintenance.

 

[19-3ben]

Short circuit

Well done.

 

[22-rimfire]

Taking apart a knife is a vital part of maintenance and ownership to me. I only have like 5 knives I can't take apart, and all but one are pinned (one is a Real Steel Griffin with a thoroughly frozen pivot, might need to get somebody to fix that). Any knife I have that can be opened one handed has been taken apart because factory lube always sucks, regardless of the brand. My lube is better, and when I take the knife apart I can adjust the lock bar as needed and clean factory gunk out.

A knife that cannot be disassembled is a deal breaker in most instances to me. Unless it is an automatic, I can greatly improve the action with basic maintenance.

This is like 180 degrees off from my views on the subject that I had to laugh if only for myself. But more power to ya!!!