I was thinking earlier this morning of why the Chicago screws and hardware that holds the knife handle slabs to the knife take an allen wrench and not a phillips or flathead screwdriver. Is there a reason why allen bolts are used? I think it would make more sense if handle slabs could be taken off by a leatherman. Screw drivers seem to be more multifunctional in ordinary situations. I find myself carrying a screw driver (in a leatherman) way more than allen wrenches. Is there some unspoken rule in breaking or what? Haha
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Why allen bolts?
- Thread starter G.Moll
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It just takes the right Leatherman: https://www.leatherman.com/product/Bit_Kit
Here's a couple of reasons that I came up with:
-Allen and Torx drivers are less likely to cam out during assembly, especially if torque drivers or electric screw drivers are used.
-It is easier to use the incorrect size phillips or standard screw driver and possibly damage the screw. I've messed up many tiny screws on eyeglasses that I didn't have the correct size screwdriver bit.
-Since they have six points instead of two or four points, it is less obvious if they are slightly misaligned. Won't affect the functionality. It's just aesthetics, like misaligned mosaic pins and Black Jack's picture.
Ric
-Allen and Torx drivers are less likely to cam out during assembly, especially if torque drivers or electric screw drivers are used.
-It is easier to use the incorrect size phillips or standard screw driver and possibly damage the screw. I've messed up many tiny screws on eyeglasses that I didn't have the correct size screwdriver bit.
-Since they have six points instead of two or four points, it is less obvious if they are slightly misaligned. Won't affect the functionality. It's just aesthetics, like misaligned mosaic pins and Black Jack's picture.
Ric
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I honestly think it's mostly aesthetics. People just seem to like them better. I've stripped out PLENTY of Allen bolts, so I really don't think that the durability has much to do with it. I used to use phillips/flat screws to attach my handle scales, and pretty much nobody liked them, even though they're much easier to remove in the field even without proper tools, and don't require nearly as deep of a countersink.
I think the big reason is that it's easier to automate/machine allen and torx screws than regular screws. The Phillips head had an advantage over the slot head for the same reason--a robot screwdriver may have trouble hitting the slot just right but the phillips driver goes into the screw head more easily. Plus there's less danger w/ stripping.
That combined w/ aesthetics really seem to push for allen and torx. Telling that the knifemaker who's used phillips and slotted screws said the customers didn't seem to like them.
I don't see many people having to take their knives apart in the field anyway, so that fact that it requires a special tool is not a big deal, for most users it probably never comes up.
That combined w/ aesthetics really seem to push for allen and torx. Telling that the knifemaker who's used phillips and slotted screws said the customers didn't seem to like them.
I don't see many people having to take their knives apart in the field anyway, so that fact that it requires a special tool is not a big deal, for most users it probably never comes up.
Trail Edge
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On an torx or allen screw there is more of a solid surface area when mated with the tool. Besides, its less likely that your 8 year old won't putt a butter knife in the slot. Then there is the tamper proof torxs bits if you want to bolt down your camper shell on your truck (or something you need more of a special tool, or a tool inclined person to sit down and say, "I need the right tool"
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All true. Plus getting slotted screws to line up so they're not 'all over the place' is extra work, particularly taking into account the contours of the handle material. The knife I pictured above came with an option of hollowed-out handle scales to stash small 'survival' items.
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IIRC, Phillips head screwdrivers are designed to cam out. That's because, in early days, they were used with power screwdrivers that lacked sophisticated clutches.
They are like the QWERTY keyboard, designed to force typists to slow down enough to match the capacities of primitive typewriters.
When I learned that, I felt better about all the Phillips head screws I've messed up over the years. I don't hold with machines that are designed to make your job harder.
They are like the QWERTY keyboard, designed to force typists to slow down enough to match the capacities of primitive typewriters.
When I learned that, I felt better about all the Phillips head screws I've messed up over the years. I don't hold with machines that are designed to make your job harder.
