Issue with 119 Brahma (Resolved)

Badhammer

Badhammer

Joined
Jun 8, 2009
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Took delivery of a new 119 Brahma today and while I love the knife overall it has a fairly significant issue. The guard is so loose it literally rattles around side to side and back and forth. The pommel, while fairly tight can easily be turned CW and CCW several degrees. The end piece on the pommel has a hole through it that I assume is for a lanyard. Was wondering if it was possible to just run something through the hole as a lever and just tighten things up? All the leather and micarta rings/washers are tight and except for the loose parts I love it. Really fits my hand well.

Box has a born on date of 4/27/15 so it's been made for awhile. I can return to the retailer for exchange or refund or send it off to Buck. I'm thinking Buck is the better course as I know it will either get replaced or repaired properly. Anyone else gotten a loose one?
 
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My opinion would be to send it in, if you'd rather not exchange it with the dealer.
 
If it were me, I would start with the dealer. They're more likely to pay for the return shipping in my experience. Besides, I'd rather start with a "new" knife than one that I had to send it right out of the box.
 
Come on BH,

Show us photo's of these issues! I do remember a thread not long ago with a loose handle after it was being used....do a search. If I were you I'd send it back to Buck so they can see if they have a MFG line issue. Mine has a tight handle, but has a small pit in the blade see photo.


jb4570
 
MT_Pokt said:
If it were me, I would start with the dealer. They're more likely to pay for the return shipping in my experience. Besides, I'd rather start with a "new" knife than one that I had to send it right out of the box.
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I'm considering that however, their return policy states that the customer pays shipping on returns and shipping charges are not refundable. Unless they hand inspect the replacement I think I'm better off letting Buck deal with it.
 
jb4570 said:
Come on BH,

Show us photo's of these issues! I do remember a thread not long ago with a loose handle after it was being used....do a search. If I were you I'd send it back to Buck so they can see if they have a MFG line issue. Mine has a tight handle, but has a small pit in the blade see photo.


jb4570
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Not sure how to show a loose guard in a photo. A video would work but I don't know how to do that. I would really prefer it if I could just tighten it up but I don't want to screw it up and or void the warranty by torqueing on something that isn't supposed to be torqued on. I presume that if I send it back to the dealer Buck will eventually get it back but I also think it would be to Buck's benefit to see it first hand in case there is a process they need to look at. I'm betting my issue isn't very common or we'd have seen folks posting about it.
 
jb that looks like the early version with the thicker handle, perhaps it was an issue when they changed the handle? BH is yours the newer thinner lighter one, or the older thicker darker one?
 
G III said:
jb that looks like the early version with the thicker handle, perhaps it was an issue when they changed the handle? BH is yours the newer thinner lighter one, or the older thicker darker one?
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Mine has the light tan washers. Like I posted it's dated 4/27/15 if that helps with others comparing it to theirs with regards to time of manufacture.
 
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The end piece on the pommel has a hole through it that I assume is for a lanyard. Was wondering if it was possible to just run something through the hole as a lever and just tighten things up?
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If you don't want to hassle with returning the knife, that is exactly what you need to do.
I would use a screwdriver or Allen wrench to tighten with. If the knife went through any weather changes during shipping the handle could have contracted slightly causing the guard and pommel to be loose.
 
Thank you hengem. I thought about the weather as I had just retrieved it from my mailbox at the street but after spending the afternoon on my desk back at work it hadn't changed. I'll give the tightening a try. I should add that I also received a Selkirk in the same package and it's spot on. Figured I'd like it but once I had it in my hand, wow! I really like it!
 
hengem said:
If you don't want to hassle with returning the knife, that is exactly what you need to do.
I would use a screwdriver or Allen wrench to tighten with. If the knife went through any weather changes during shipping the handle could have contracted slightly causing the guard and pommel to be loose.
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hengem,

Should the pommel nut be backed out and locktight added to keep it from becoming loose again?

JB
 
hengem,

Should the pommel nut be backed out and locktight added to keep it from becoming loose again?

JB
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JB,

There is already loctite on the pommel nut. Should be able to just tighten her down and leave it.
 
hengem said:
JB, There is already loctite on the pommel nut. Should be able to just tighten her down and leave it.
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If there is and you break the bond, it would need to be reloctited.

I suspect the handle construction is more complex than just tightening a nut, IMO, this knife should just be returned to Buck and put an end to the worry and speculation.....
 
Insert a small metal rod, pin,allen key, anything that fits thru the pommel bolt hole and tighten till all parts are snug...I'd done that twice before I removed pommel completely and added neats foot oil down washer hole to expand the dried out leather, worked great. also add, lightly, oil to outside of grip. Still tight!
 
This can happen when the leather dries out, no?

I treat my leather handled fixed blades with SnowSeal, a leather treatment with bees wax in it.

Ideally, I do this in the summer and leave the knife on a rag the dash of my car in hot weather. The leather just sucks in the Snow Seal. I do this till it won't take any more in. Leaves the leather very water resistant and very grippy.
 
pinnah said:
This can happen when the leather dries out, no?

I treat my leather handled fixed blades with SnowSeal, a leather treatment with bees wax in it.

Ideally, I do this in the summer and leave the knife on a rag the dash of my car in hot weather. The leather just sucks in the Snow Seal. I do this till it won't take any more in. Leaves the leather very water resistant and very grippy.
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Same here,

I leave the knife and the Snow Seal or Obenauf's in a sunny window to warm the leather and the wax. Rub it on, let it soak in. Repeat as necessary.

Not sure that a new knife should suffer from this malady. Read a thread elsewhere about a $100.00 axe that arrived at its new owners home with a loose head and the wedge falling out.

I guess it is a part of the fast way of life we all lead today. Quality control goes from "That's not right" down to "That's good enough"

Leather handles are like wood gunwales on canoes. They look beautiful. But the rates that the different materials expand and contract require different maintenance procedures. Buck's more traditional handles (Phenolic) are maintenance free. Leather washers are not. This is not Buck's fault, just a fact of life.

In my mind, the pluses can outweight the minuses. Warmer on cold days, good grip, and certainly good looking, especially as they age.
 
BOTH of the above comments treat the handle from the outside ONLY...My solution works from the Inside Out, Much more complete!
 
Have to be careful with neatsfoot oil, I believe it can soften leather. I've also heard it in regards to mineral oil, that oil breaks down leather, not sure if it applies to all. Beeswax makes it last forever, and is a very usable, hand-friendly finish.
 
Slid an allen wrench through the hole in the pommel and took about two turns with it. Everything is nice and tight. The pommel had some resistance to it but not a great deal. Enough though that I don't see it backing off on it's own. Given that the knife was made about 9 months ago I'm inclined to chalk this up to some shrinkage of the leather over that time as well as perhaps not being tightened quite enough at the factory. Regardless the issue has been resolved and I'm happy as a clam with my new Brahma. I plan to give the leather a treatment in the near future with beeswax or some other appropriate product.
 
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