How Important is Disassembly?

[Ratman79]

I like being able to take apart my knives b/c you cannot clean them thoroughly without doing so. All tools eventually need to be cleaned. My Channel Locks are probably one of my most used tools at work (plumbing)-if I could not clean them, it would be a health hazard for sure! With the knives, I'm always cutting something with my xm18; PEX tubing, filthy cardboard, grimy faucet packing in the older ones and all manner of noxious nastiness. One may not think so, but you would be shocked to see what gets into a folding knife! You do not see until the components are on a paper towel in front of you.

Taking it down completely and cleaning/sanitizing is necessary for a reliable tool that I want to last. Also for my health.

 

[BK14]

I like being able to take apart my knives b/c you cannot clean them thoroughly without doing so. All tools eventually need to be cleaned. My Channel Locks are probably one of my most used tools at work (plumbing)-if I could not clean them, it would be a health hazard for sure! With the knives, I'm always cutting something with my xm18; PEX tubing, filthy cardboard, grimy faucet packing in the older ones and all manner of noxious nastiness. One may not think so, but you would be shocked to see what gets into a folding knife! You do not see until the components are on a paper towel in front of you.

Taking it down completely and cleaning/sanitizing is necessary for a reliable tool that I want to last. Also for my health.

This is a good point. While not a concern for most, if you use a knife on/around potentially toxic materials, I feel as though full disassembly is a must. I’ve been in similar situations where I’ve had to cut used bandages and dressings off infected wounds on horses. If any of that stuff ever got down in my pivot or scales I would not feel as confident without the ability to fully break it down.

 

[DocJD]

To each his own , but there are plenty of great fixed blades that are very easy to clean because they are made for that !

 

[shinyedges]

Some people can't have a fixed blade everywhere. But a folder can be carried in more places and on your person more. Which means in many instances a folder may be your only knife in some circumstances.

The "fixed blade" option some people bring up is under ideal circumstances which isn't always viable.

 

[DocJD]

Some people can't have a fixed blade everywhere. But a folder can be carried in more places and on your person more. Which means in many instances a folder may be your only knife in some circumstances.

The "fixed blade" option some people bring up is under ideal circumstances which isn't always viable.

Understood and agreed . But if you commonly have to get a knife really filthy and then use for very clean jobs (e.g. food prep) It just makes sense to me to have a knife designed to be easily washed without the hassle of disassembly . YMMV !

 

[BK14]

Understood and agreed . But if you commonly have to get a knife really filthy and then use for very clean jobs (e.g. food prep) It just makes sense to me to have a knife designed to be easily washed without the hassle of disassembly . YMMV !

I agree with you here, whenever possible. Get a CRKT Homefront as a compromise!

 

[shinyedges]

Understood and agreed . But if you commonly have to get a knife really filthy and then use for very clean jobs (e.g. food prep) It just makes sense to me to have a knife designed to be easily washed without the hassle of disassembly . YMMV !

No argument from me, before I carried a small fixed blade I did have to do some dirty jobs with my folder.

Since I've been on an edc fixed blade, life is good. Though I do realize not every environment is edc fixed blade friendly. Fortunately for me I can carry my cpk edc.

 

[DocJD]

I agree with you here, whenever possible. Get a CRKT Homefront as a compromise!

I give high marks to CRKT on innovation and creativity but the execution on their actual products is often lacking , which is really a shame because I really do like the ideas behind many of their designs including this tool-less takedown knife .

 

[BK14]

I give high marks to CRKT on innovation and creativity but the execution on their actual products is often lacking , which is really a shame because I really do like the ideas behind many of their designs including this tool-less takedown knife .

Couldn’t agree more. Love that idea and would love to see it implemented on a wider scale.

 

[T. Erdelyi]

Not really important at all. I've been a fabricator/machinist/mechanic for 40 years. Everything that's put together can be taken apart it's just a matter of difficulty. Considering my skill set it just determines the frequency of disassembly.

Although there's something to be said about the simplicity of the simple Sebenza 21.

 

[gadgetgeek]

Not really important at all. I've been a fabricator/machinist/mechanic for 40 years. Everything that's put together can be taken apart it's just a matter of difficulty. Considering my skill set it just determines the frequency of disassembly.

Although there's something to be said about the simplicity of the simple Sebenza 21.

I think that might just hit the nail on the head.
Using some comparisons to two other things already brought up. Guns, and Watches.
Historically speaking guns have always needed maintenance for function, and since often the leader of technologies in this realm has been military needs, these have lead to guns that over time have become very easy to take apart and service. Look at the difference between the first gen of Luger, and pistols that would replace it, or even changes made to the 1910 as it became the service 1911 and later down the line.

Watches on the other-hand have been designed further and further to get more precision out of less space. So do to that, the added complexity is an accepted sacrifice. So you wouldn't just pop the back on most mechanical watches and have a fiddle, just for kicks.

Knives I think fall in a middle ground. We have a wide range of manufacturing techniques and tolerance levels, so each maker has to set what they think is appropriate, however each user also has their own ideas in mind. So if a maker thinks that some screws will not survive a large number of removals and re-torques, then they would be likely to advise against that. Anyone who's done mechanical work has likely seen what happens when the same bolt is removed and replaced a lot of times, and the torque is over done. (lots of cars out there with the oil-plug threads walked almost all right out the hole) A maker who feels that their design can handle that sort of work, or that the will be able to repair any damage (re-tapping threads or whatever was needed) then they may feel that the risk is worth while to gain a market with those who do wish to disassemble the knives.

So I think its fair for a company to say "don't take it apart" and I'm free to buy or not buy based on that. If market forces start telling makers that they should expect some disassembly, then we would see some drastic changes in construction, and potentially materials. But as long as 90% of blades get washed in the dishwasher, there is no real reason to change. We are also in a weird place in time where some companies would much prefer to have the monopoly on repair, to the point of using legal means, and that colors the whole DIY/self reliance equation, as right to repair laws might be a new part of consumer protection, or the opposite might become the case, another ball-o-wax entirely.

 

[T. Erdelyi]

If you're good you can disassemble and reassemble with no noticeable trace. One of the first knives meant to disassemble was the Buck Titanium 186 made back in the mid 80s. Buck's 186 had a lot of firsts, first USA production titanium knife made, first US made knife with a belt/pocket clip and it was removable. Also quite possibly one of the shortest runs of production knives by a major company.

In the mid 80s in conjunction with Probis Buck had some projects going, one of them was a knife meant to be taken apart in the field to clean. What better knife than the iconic 110 except to make it easier and less part they made it from titanium. They advertised in all the outdoor magazines, they hit all the big sport and the burgeoning knife show circuit. They sold so fast it took me almost a month to find one and have it shipped from the west coast back east.

That was in '84 I believe, by '86 they were all gone and only the riveted Buck 560 was available, the reason for the demise of what I thought was a great knife by Buck. The answer I got from Buck himself? Because service was getting too many knives sent back by the consumers who took them apart and couldn't put them back together or when they did the back spring was too weak. A great idea but because of it's complexity it was thrown over for a version that offered no option to take it apart. Buck decided that the average idiot with a screwdriver has no business taking apart a knife. Thank goodness he didn't decide to put an IKBS bearing in it.

 

[T. Erdelyi]

The Buck 186 also the first US production knife using bushings for the pivot and rocker arm.

 

[22-rimfire]

It seems that some take apart their knives sort of for the fun of it or another aspect of knife ownership. It is much like those that routinely take apart their firearms. Some people simply don't want to take apart their knives regardless, unless circumstance forces them to. People use food preparation or hunting chores/skinning as a significant reason to take apart their knives to the point of "have to" (germs and bacteria). I'm been around awhile and have used knives for many purposes. Some of my use circumstances looking back are in the "wish I hadn't done that" category, but life marches on.

There have always been people very concerned about germs and bacteria exposure. I hazard a guess that barring unusual circumstances, cleaning a knife under hot water, placing in soapy water, or the dishwasher are all that is ever needed. Do you think the little germs and bacteria just race out of the pivot area at first opportunity like fleas to a dog? They don't, but that doesn't mean a person should be careless either about cleanliness with anything that comes in contact with your mouth especially. But I remind you that you mouth has more germs than any other part of your body (I understand), so it's all about introducing unusual germs and bacteria into your body.

 

[Ironbut]

Not really important at all. I've been a fabricator/machinist/mechanic for 40 years. Everything that's put together can be taken apart it's just a matter of difficulty. Considering my skill set it just determines the frequency of disassembly.

Although there's something to be said about the simplicity of the simple Sebenza 21.

Thread winner. I've been drawn to the Chris Reeve & Hinderer knives the last few years because of the simplicity. The fewer small internal bits, pieces & springs, the better.

 

[whp]

I m one of those idiots with a screw driver who has only rarely taken a folder apart in the past to remove a spring assist or correct a loose lock up.
As for cleaning , I agree that soaking a folder in hot soapy water, possibly after applying wd40, should clean a folder well enough. Even for food prep. People worried about germs after a particular use with their folder can flush it with alcohol prior to soaking it in hot soapy water.
As far as worrying about germ intake, I think about something I once heard from a doctor friend. He said what doesn t kill you makes you stronger!!?!

 

[T. Erdelyi]

Some people aren't mechanically inclined and others overcome it with knowledge, practice and YouTube but there are a select few, ones who should never own a set of tools. You don't strike me as the latter. but the former, a person who through knowledge learns how.

 

[BK14]

If you're good you can disassemble and reassemble with no noticeable trace. One of the first knives meant to disassemble was the Buck Titanium 186 made back in the mid 80s. Buck's 186 had a lot of firsts, first USA production titanium knife made, first US made knife with a belt/pocket clip and it was removable. Also quite possibly one of the shortest runs of production knives by a major company.

In the mid 80s in conjunction with Probis Buck had some projects going, one of them was a knife meant to be taken apart in the field to clean. What better knife than the iconic 110 except to make it easier and less part they made it from titanium. They advertised in all the outdoor magazines, they hit all the big sport and the burgeoning knife show circuit. They sold so fast it took me almost a month to find one and have it shipped from the west coast back east.

That was in '84 I believe, by '86 they were all gone and only the riveted Buck 560 was available, the reason for the demise of what I thought was a great knife by Buck. The answer I got from Buck himself? Because service was getting too many knives sent back by the consumers who took them apart and couldn't put them back together or when they did the back spring was too weak. A great idea but because of it's complexity it was thrown over for a version that offered no option to take it apart. Buck decided that the average idiot with a screwdriver has no business taking apart a knife. Thank goodness he didn't decide to put an IKBS bearing in it.

VERY cool little piece of history, thank you for sharing!

 

[BK14]

I m one of those idiots with a screw driver who has only rarely taken a folder apart in the past to remove a spring assist or correct a loose lock up.
As for cleaning , I agree that soaking a folder in hot soapy water, possibly after applying wd40, should clean a folder well enough. Even for food prep. People worried about germs after a particular use with their folder can flush it with alcohol prior to soaking it in hot soapy water.
As far as worrying about germ intake, I think about something I once heard from a doctor friend. He said what doesn t kill you makes you stronger!!?!

I agree with this. I guess I fall into the category that enjoys taking apart knives and fiddling, even when I know it’s not truly necessary. Just another part of the hobby for me personally.

 

[Seesteel]