Linerless micarta models, what happened?

Harry Callahan

Harry Callahan

Fresh outta warranty
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Mar 17, 2002
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What actually happened in the real world that was the deciding factor to put the brakes on linerless micarta models? Since the announcement was made, there's been a sprint run of the white Micarta Goddard, and a sprint of the baby micarta Goddard. But other than those, Spyderco has stuck to their new policy of no new linerless micarta models. What actually happened? Lock failure? Scales cracking? I've never had a problem. And it's high time for a Jess Horn sprint run in orange micarta! So let's drop the policy! :D
 
I think part of it was that the clips may have pulled out of the micarta with not metal for the clip screws to secure to. I had not had any problems myself.
 
At a guess, I'd say clip screws stripping out played a part. It is also entirely possible that people complained of handle flex and blade play developing in use. I love all mine, but I don't expect to see any more.
 
yablanowitz said:
...I love all mine, but I don't expect to see any more.
Click to expand...
That's why I was pleasantly surprised to see the white micarta Goddard and the baby Goddard sprints. Come to think of it, AG used to have a couple of linerless micarta models in his catalog. They seemed to have disappeared from the landscape long about the same time Sal jerked the rug out from under his linerless micarta models. Could be my imagination though. Wonder what actually happened. Inside poop anyone?

What this planet needs right now is a bannana or orange colored micarta Jess Horn with flat ground ZDP or VG-10 blade steel and a black clip with a gold Spyderbug. :o
 
Hi Harry,

There were a number of issues that I wasn't satisfied with. As mentioned, clip screws were just not as secure. Yes, sensitive customers had no problems, but some customers did and a liner did provide for a stronger clip fastening. It was also not possible to repair such damage.

We also learned that micarta moves al lot in different environments. I first learned of this possible problem from a custom maker. It moved enough that knives made in Seki where there is a humid and shipped to Colorado which is dry would not work on linerlocks. The liner side would remain true due to the steel liner, but the linerless side would shrink enough to prevent the liner from engaging.

Linerless Micarta would probably work on a "Slipit" with a wire clip. We can use it without liners where the clip is using a barrel bolt like the salts or UK's.

But in general we found limitations.

sal
 
Couldn't the screw stripping problem be easily solved by adding a small patch of metal positioned just under the clip screws, with holes for the screws to go into?

It would be so small that it wouldn't add any significant weight, but still provide a secure foundation for the clip screws.
 
Benchmade puts nuts inside the handles of their 940/943 Carbon fiber and Titanium models to hold pocket clips. The latter doesn't compute. Ti should be able to hold a machine screw. Travers offers helicoil kits in the 2-56 size. I have used these to repair pull outs and to add clips to plastic handles that were clipless.
 
Thanks for clearing that up Sal. Being the middle of winter here in Virginia with dryness in the air, I've noticed that my Jess Horn scales have in fact, shrunk some. My digital camera won't macro down far enough to show it, but the scales have shrunk down to where you can feel the backspacer sticking out just a little. Hmmm....
 
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