F1 Thermorun handle problem

[sxmolloy]

I never thought I would say this but I have a problem with the handle on my F1.

The Thermorun of the handle is coming loose from the tang. Although it's not major, it's annoying. When you press the handle you hear it click a little and can feel the slight shift in it.

At the moment this isn't affecting the way the knife performes but it does seem to be getting slightly worse. It only seems to be loose in the middle of the handle.

The guarantee for an F1 is 2 years. I have had this knife at least 6 years and whilst it has been used very, very hard, bashed and battered like a knife of this standard should be, it has been looked after.

Any suggestions?

 

[scottishwolf]

I'd still give Falkniven a call as their customer service is very good.

 

[Xunil]

Can you get anything under the handle material at the front of the handle. If so, you could warm the handle on a radiator and mix up some two-part epoxy. A small syringe with a piece of thin tubing (like you get with a can of WD40) could be used to squirt glue into the handle which, when it cures, will also cure the problem

Don't try to force anything in there if it won't easily fit - you don't want to make things worse...

 

[JonathanD]

Superglue will sort it.

 

[sxmolloy]

Thanks. As the handle only seems loose in the middle there's no way I can get anything inside to apply a glue. The edges of the handle are still held tight so unless I pry it away it wouldn't work.

I think I'll drop Fallkniven an email, if I get no joy there I will look at cutting away the Thermorun and replacing it with wood. Thanks again.

Stu

 

[Xunil]

Have you checked the lanyard hole to see if there is a crack, or the back of the handle ?

Normally the Thermorun stays sealed to the tang - unless the grip is compromised somewhere it shouldn't shift, so I'd be looking at the end of the grip where that small protruding bit of tang juts out or in the lanyard hole for a gap or split.

If you replace the handle material it can be a little tricky due to the unusual shape of the tang which is meant to have the Thermorun grip fitted:

 

[ged]

...I think I'll drop Fallkniven an email ...

That's probably your best bet to start with.

if I get no joy there I will look at cutting away the Thermorun and replacing it with wood.

If I were contemplating the destruction of the existing handle then I'd first try drilling a hole or two somewhere near where I thought the gap had opened up, to see if I could pour in some warm, slow-setting epoxy. Warm epoxy can be quite fluid. If the knife and handle are also warm, then it has a good chance of wicking into the gap and filling it well enough to, er, cure the problem. I wouldn't use quick setting epoxy, it will set before it's warm enough to flow well and I don't like it anyway.

Another option might be to wrap the handle in something like self-amalgamating tape. If you put on enough layers tightly enough it might squeeze the handle back to where it's supposed to be, or it might just hide the problem enough to make it bearable. The F1 handle is on the skinny side anyway so it might be an improvement. And the new sheath you'd probably have to get could be an improvement too.