Who takes their knives apart? And who leaves them alone and assembled???

FlaMtnBkr

FlaMtnBkr

Joined
Oct 20, 2004
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This would make a good poll but it appears I can't add one...

But as the title suggests, I'm curious how many people take apart their knives to clean them or to see how they work, etc on a somewhat routine basis

Or

How many leave their knives assembled to clean them and don't take them apart at all or only do so for a repair, etc that is quite rarely done

I guess I assumed most people leave them alone but it seems like I've been reading a lot about knife disassembly so I'm a bit curious to see the amount of members that do one or the other, and think others might find it interesting as well!

You can be as brief as "take apart" or "leave alone" or tell us what you do and why, or even your entire maintenance process and any tips you've learned along the way. And pictures are always fun!

So as short or detailed as you want. Maybe we can also get some good tips and reasoning for a particular stance in addition to how many and the ratio of each!

What do you do?
 
I take knives apart occasionally but I wouldn't call it routine. I generally do it after I've carried a knife for a year or more and it really needs a thorough cleaning, or when there's some kind of issue. For the most part, though, I'm in the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" camp.
 
Leave it alone unless I need to repair or want to make a mod. But not to clean.
 
I very rarely take a knife apart. If it aint broke, don't fix it. I can usually get pocket lint out with compressed air or a fine brush and I apply any lube needed with an insulin syringe. If you drop it in fine sand it's tough to avoid a teardown, but otherwise I like to leave them together.
 
I've never taken one apart. There is nothing that I would want or need to do to a knife that would require it. I have removed individual fasteners to apply loctite, but that's all.
 
Edit: So much for starting off. Y'all are fast! And my 2 yr old daughter was climbing on me so typing was a bit slow


I guess I will start things off. While I love tinkering and taking things apart to clean or see how they work or even to fix or modify, I mainly leave my folders alone.

I've found I can clean them just fine completely assembled with hot running water, liquid soap, and some cleaning implements like q-tips, toothpicks, papertowels, and old toothbrushes. I will take a knife apart if something is broken or seems off but try not to if I don't have to.

I guess I feel like I'm inviting a lost part, stripped screw, or difficult assembly that might result in damage. And I can get them squeaky clean without taking apart so this is what I do anymore.
 
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I usually take my knives apart and set them up the way I prefer them. on rare occasions when I know In advance that I wont be keeping it I leave it stock. But if I am considering keeping it, I find the best way to assess the quality of a knife is to examine the parts they don't think anyone is ever going to look at. For me if a knife is as beautiful on the inside as it is out I know it had some effort put into it. But if its like my ex girlfriends (Beautiful on the outside, train wreck on the inside) then I know I will have to have my fun while it lasts but eventually I'm kickin the thing to the curb. :D
 
I used to take them all apart.
Now I don't take them apart unless I need to, which isn't all that often.
 
I take 'em apart. Fixed blades with removable scales need to be cleaned/oiled under the scales. Folders and flippers come apart now and then to clean the gunk out from around the pivot and lock mechanisms. Plus I'm an engineer/mechanical geek, so I like to see how things come apart and go back together. Takes the mystery out of it...

I just got a ZT 0566 and I'm thinking about taking in apart to see how the assist mechanism works, and decide if I want to keep it or remove it. I'm told these work better deassisted, so maybe I need to find out.
 
I do take them apart to clean but not very often, typically after major sharpening like reprofiling or when the action feels gritty.
I am no mechanical engineer and therefore appreciate the simple construction of frame lock knives.


Miso
 
I leave them alone mostly. I did recently take apart my Hinderer and did the tuning tips, polish and oiling but it was mainly for fun. It was a little bit smoother when I was done but not enough difference to make it worth the effort. The fun factor was worth it though.
 
CRK's all get taken apart.

Peened slipjoints do not.

I don't own many modern folders that don't fit into those two categories. Only a few, and they're not that interesting.
 
I am like most of the above and normally leave them alone--like posted above if it ain't broke leave it alone--only if theres an issue will I tinker with it.
 
I've taken a couple down to deassist. A couple to add aftermarket hardware. Otherwise, I don't mess with them. I don't carry any single one enough, or in the environment, that would require routine cleaning.
 
I do not generally take my folders apart. When I have an old used one that needs help, I might strip it down to see how it works and why it won't "center." Otherwise, KISS.
 
One of the first things I do when I get a knife is take it apart.

Sometimes before I even cut anything with it!

Just the way I am, but I like to see every part, make sure the lubrication is good, and put it back together. Maybe it gets me more familiar with it, I dunno?!
 
Leave it alone unless I have an issue with it and then I consider sending it back to the brand.
 
JR88FAN said:
One of the first things I do when I get a knife is take it apart.

Sometimes before I even cut anything with it!

Just the way I am, but I like to see every part, make sure the lubrication is good, and put it back together. Maybe it gets me more familiar with it, I dunno?!
Click to expand...

I think it does. Also helps you learn the mechanics and why certain things work the way they do.
 
leave intact.

screws being used instead of pins in the old days was due to easier and faster more accurate assembly for less skilled labor and such. not for ease of taking apart. guess screws are an added benefit for modding and such but i can keep clean without disassembly as well as any pinned knife i own which i cant take apart without the right tooling, time, and effort.
 
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