Who has broke a hollow handle knife?

J

JTC

Joined
Dec 22, 2002
Messages
1,398
Everyone always talks about how that hollow handle knives are weak at the handle blade junction. Except of course one piece knives like Chris Reeves knives. I have never seen pictures or ever hear of anyone who has broke one at the handle. I have seen pictures of Bill Bagwell breaking the blade on a hollow handle knife but it was nowhere near the handle.
I currently own 3 such knives. A Buck Buckmaster, a 20 year old Guttman Explorer survival knife with the cast aluminum handle, and a Bianchi Nighthawk II. I have never detected any weakness in the construction of these knives.
Now I'm not asking if you like this style of knife but if you or anyone you know has had one fail because it had a hollow handle.
Thanks for your time.

John
 
John Rambo stuck a wild boar, built a bunch of booby traps, and threatened a sheriff with his hollow handle knife and had zero problems.
 
Broke my cheap Rambo II knife splitting wood while camping. I sheared off the bolt that held the blade to the handle. The blade held up very well. It got through quite a bit of wood before it finally broke.
 
I think that the reason you don't hear as much about their failure is because not too many of us care to own/use them. Simply in concept, it would be less sound than an ordinary fixed blade. Yes, if time and effort are seriously put into it, it can be a functional tool. It is similar to the idea of a liner lock: You can build an exellent liner locking knife. It happens all the time. But you compare the idea of a liner lock with the idea of an axis lock, and the liner lock comes up short. Same idea applys here.
 
I think that the reason you don't hear as much about their failure is because not too many of us care to own/use them.

I have seen them used and abused aplenty. Most of them hold up pretty well. If anything they will fail at the silly sawteeth rather then the blade and handle junction. If you do a search you will find several good threads on this subject. Including a photo of a well worn Buckmaster which I posted just last week.

The reputation for handle failure comes from using the ultra low end survival knives like the handful of knockoff models made in Taiwan which were then sold for $1-15.00. The better production models (Al Mar, Aitor, Buck, Bianchi, Kershaw, and the like) held up well; as did most of the custom knives

n2s
 
I have seen the cheap and nasties, they are awful and dangerous. You need to ask why do I need a hollow handle? Most of the knives I have come across have excessively compromised quality for such a small volume. In most cases the marketing has implied Rambo type survival capabilities when in all reality the need for the BandAid is justified only after the blade has sheared off and cut the user. A bad case of false security is frequently projected.

It is still nice for that extra support where you might leave the sporran, with the survival kit, behind. So immediate needs can be taken care of. Still buy a decent make, it will be expensive, and also carry the necessary survival and 1st aid kit.

A colleague used to keep a strip of matches and two cigs in his handle so when he went fishing he could still sneak a smoke in the rain. I hope to get the Reeves Project II later this year, if only to have and enjoy a definitive knife.
 
There was a long thread on this a couple of years ago. No one had broken the joint on any of the better quality knives, and a couple of guys said they had managed to get junkers to hold together by using a thinwall socket and some locktite -- but they were still junk even if they didn't come apart at the handle.
 
I'd like to see someone try and break a Parrish blade!! :D (man I want one of those bad.)
 
Tim-Gabz

You should enjoy the Project II, it is most certainly a definative knife.

Mine is gone only because I have a bunch of ~7" knives and traded for something I didn't have, a large Classic Sebbie. So it was a CRK for a CRK. Worked out well for both of us. I've been carrying the Sebbie for about 2 years, every day.

Rob
 
I have them from the Rambo I to the Randall 18. I am sure the cheaper junk is weak but the good stuff is good. I have a Buckmaster that has been put through the ringers and many CRK one-piece knives.The hollow handled knife is my favorite knife of all. Chris Reeve makes the best, in my opinion.
 
My Buckmaster has been used and abused.I cant imagine it's handle failing,well I could but it would only happen torturing it at a friends fabricating shop.
 
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