Technical question for collecters,serious question..

Bruce Evans

Bruce Evans

Joined
Sep 26, 1999
Messages
4,486
To all you collecters out there.I am at odds about a issue that I have been pondering over.
Here is my question.
In a collecters eye and on the market does it matter if a knife has a solder joint between the blade and guard,is the use of J B Weld approved of or looked down on,is a press fit and no solder or J B Weld a plus or not.
I can see were these all have strong points for different styles of knives.But have been told that soldering is the only acceptable way that collecters will accept,is this the case or is it a old school thing with the newer techniques being accepted now?
Any and all comments would be apriceated.
Thanks,
Bruce
 
Bruce, I am not a real collector, but I do have a decent knife collection. For me, a soldered joint looks much better than a JB joint. I have no problem with a press fit gaurd, as long as it fits up perfectly. I think the press fit looks the best. I personally wouldn't care too much, but a good solder joint looks much better than a good JB joint. Like I said though this is just my opinion and I am not a serious collector. I have only spent more than 1000 dollars on a knife once.
Kyle Fuglesten
 
I've read comments from some MS in another forum deriding the use of JB Weld as being the solution of choice of people who can't get a clean weld. If this attitude is widespread, it's not surprising that collectors would frown on JB Weld...
 
I'm more impressed by a clean, precise fit up. I've seen good and bad soldering jobs like any good or bad epoxied guard jobs but either way, there is no getting past precision. No amount of solder or "matching colour material" will disguise a botched guard fit. For a collector, is it a worry that at some stage, any trapped flux might leach out and discolour the blade ? That might be not apparent at the time you buy a knife. Of course it has to do with skill of the soldering joint, but its not something you can just look and see the quality of the job.

I've never soldered a joint - don't know how to. I just didn't know there was a preference out there. Interested to hear what more peopl have to say about this. Jason.
 
Like Jason mentioned, a clean fit is the most important aspect. Having said that, I must say that my preference is for a soldered joint. As long as it is super cleanly done. Nothing worse than a sloppy soldered guard.
 
A press fit with JB Weld can look a little rough and the JB Weld tends to leave a little black colouring around the joint. This doesn't bother me, but I have noticed that it bothers others. I have a knife that is done this way and have had a few comments like, "For the money you spent that doesn't look as neat around the guard as it should". It is very difficult to make a press fit look perfect.
 
Looks like a tight press fit with a clean solder joint is the best way to go.
Thanks everybody,I have really been wondering about this for awhile now and have stayied with solder but wanted to ask.It would be allot easier to get he blade finish and guard finish cleaner with the press fit or JBWeld than with the solder,but I guess you get what you pay for after all.
Thanks again,
Bruce
 
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