Thumb studs and brutal measures

Frankki

Frankki

Joined
Oct 26, 2007
Messages
1,557
Greetings, first an educational story and then a question .

I am one of those who have had a hard time with Benchmade's 710 in D2 steel. Haven't been too happy with the edge, I've had it a little under a year now. ( I know, I ought to get a Sharpmaker and diamond rods but those suckers cost way too much in my neck of the woods).

Anyways, many methods and devices for sharpening have been used, and the marks of those battles really show on the blade. I have found that my Fällkniven DC4 combination stone is pretty good against D2. Except for the damned unreachable recurve. Diamond sharpening steel works OK for the recurve but the thumb studs always get in the way of getting a nice angle.

Now, ever since I got the knife and Torx key set I've tried to remove the studs, but to no use. The just revolve independently, it seems. I have tried holding the other stud with pliers and opening from the other side, result: destroyed screw head, Torx key just goes spinning around. Yay.

I am a patient and relaxed kind of guy but today I had had enough. So I'm off to the tool cupboard, out comes Mr. Hacksaw. "Take this, you sonofabitch screw", says I and go to work. I sawed a slot in the left side thumb stud assembly from the top down, a few millimetres deep. Into this slot goes a standard SAK flat screwdriver (very nice fit, btw) to hold the stud in place while I open with a Torx bit from the other side.

Lo and behold! It worked and the studs came away. I then proceed to convex the recurve part to nice hair-shaving edge as I had the sandpapers at hand. Really simple now that the thumb studs were out of the way.

Well, now that I have finally destroyed any resale value of my knife with my rather crude methods, and since obviously I was too proud to ask for advice beforehand, here is my question:

What is the proper way to remove the thumb studs from a Benchmade model 710 folding knife? :D
 
i don't actually know,

but i have read that most companies use locktight or similar products to keep the screws from coming apart from friction against your pocket etc. in this case you can use a hair dryer or other source of mild heat to loosen up the locktight and you should be able to unscrew them just fine.

the spyder hole was a great innovation for more reason than one-not only does it work well for deploying the blade but it also allows full sharpening of the blade without removing the thumb studs.
 
was trying too remove the thumbstuds from my mini ruckus today , and couldnt get it off,,,finally just gave up
 
Should be able to get them off with a torx driver on either side, if you have a vice clamping one of the drivers down and masking the blade with masking tape and use the other driver to unscrew should work.
 
I'd think heating the screws up with a heat gun and dissolving the loktite should make it a little easier :p before removing the screws :D
 
65535 said:
Should be able to get them off with a torx driver on either side
Click to expand...

I've easily loosened this with a T-5 bit held with my fingers and a T-6 bit in the screwdriver attachment.No problems here and not heating involved.
 
I would send an email to Benchmade and as them how to do it.

But first I'd tell why you want to remove them and about your sharpening dilemma. Ask them for a solution. How about a Lansky system... sometimes you can find them on ebay for cheap with little use.

You could always just sent the knife to BM to be resharpened.

Just some thoughts.
 
Heat with a soldering iron for 30 seconds to loosen the loctite then use 2 T6 screwdrivers on either side of the stud
 
Ok, thanks for suggestions. I'll have to keep in mind the heating when I'm having thumb stud problems the next time. Either I go and buy a soldering kit or maybe just toss the blade into the oven for a while.. :p

I wouldn't want to send the knife to Benchmade, I'm in Finland so that's not too practical. And it would feel a bit like cheating, too. I like to try my own sharpening and maintenance techniques even if they result in some gawdawful scrathing and occasional knife brutality.

Urgh, I am Man, knife is my tool and servant, it shall do my bidding. Urgh. :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top