Knife repair for Uncle Henry 885UH

[bigken462]

Hello all,

I'm new to the list by way of trying to find a resource to repair a very sentimental knife which I broke the tip off of this morning. I have carried this knife since it was given to me by my now deceased mother back in 80's. Needless to say I felt a huge cringe when I heard the pop of the blade. Honestly I don't know what the hell I was thinking.

I'm not a collector or knife enthusiast sadly, however I can't begin to tell you how sentimental this knife is to me. I had always understood that these knives had a lifetime warranty, but can't seem to find a working link to anything. I suspect the company may have fallen victim to the poor economy.

Can anyone give me some insight as to what I may could do to replace this broken blade. I don't have a problem buying a new knife just like it, if I thought I could dismantle the blade and switch it myself.

Thanks for any help.

Kenny Taylor
Cullman, Alabama

[useem]

Hello, and welcome. I'm sure someone will be along that can help you. There are many skilled members here and your problem sounds like something they can fix easily enough. i'm sure some one will help you out

[muskrat man]

I could reprofile the blade if not too much of the tip is gone, if it's say in half I might have a replacement blade for it.

If not I'm sure Dale has a blade.

[bigken462]

Hello all, and thanks for the reply.

The top 1/4" or so is the part that is broken. I had thought about a refiling, but didn't know how that would work with those tempered blades. If replacing the blade were an option without risking further damage; that could be something I would be interested in. While it is a very sentimental knife; it is also one I use often.

I called Taylor Brands this morning and they said that the only option for me would be to have the whole knife replaced.........Not an option. Lol I'm just waking up from working night shift, and will post a link to a picture in a few hours if my new membership status will allow posting links this early.

***Edit***



Thanks,

Ken

[Hukk]

Taylor Brands only sells Chinese made knives, they aren't made in the USA anymore and they are trying to sell you a knife. It most certainly can be repaired. Taylor Brands merely bought the rights to use the name when Schrade/UH went out of business.

[orvet]

I may have a blade for it.
If not, the other option is to buy another 885 and put the blade in your old knife.

I will check my parts & get back and let you know if I have a blade.

Dale

[orvet]

I do have a used blade that appears to be about 1/8" short.
If you would like me to put it in your knife, you can email me.
My email is orvet@comcast.net

I like to restore heirloom knives.
Knives with a family history are the best knives in my opinion.

Dale

[bigken462]

Thanks guys for the replies. I will e-mail some of you privately for prices.

I just need to make sure that swapping this blade out with a new blade can be done w/o further damaging the knife. I know that Taylor Brands pitched their marketing ploy on me, however they mentioned that replacing the blade required near destruction of the knife itself. Obviously I would just settle for a broken tip before I would risk destroying anything.

Thanks again for each of your replies.

Kenny

[orvet]

I just need to make sure that swapping this blade out with a new blade can be done w/o further damaging the knife. I know that Taylor Brands pitched their marketing ploy on me, however they mentioned that replacing the blade required near destruction of the knife itself.

Kenny

That is a clever sales line.
It never occurred to me that they must get numerous calls, emails & letters about knife repairs. It is very creative of them to use those calls as an opening to sell a new knife.
I can definitely see how they could use the Swinden Key System in such a marketing strategy.

The truth is that it no more destroys a knife than rebuilding an engine destroys a car.
Yes, you must disassemble the knife to put a new blade in it. But you can replace a single blade, rather than all three blades if you had sent the knife back to the original Schrade USA company. They would have had to replace the entire blade assembly. The reason is that internal rivets held on the handles with keyholes in each bolster. The rivets also held together the blades and springs of the knife.
When I replace a blade, I cut the internal rivet and drill a hole in the bolsters for the pins that go through the bolsters, blades & springs. When it is finished, the pin fills the holes in the bolsters & you don't even see them.

The Swinden System was, I believe, intended to be a faster way to manufacture knives. Its big flaw is that it did not easily lend itself to repair, unless you are willing to take a couple extra steps in the process.


Send me an email & we can work out the details. I can even explain in more detail (if you wish) about the differences in the way the knives were made.

Dale

[philco]

Kenny,

My dog ain't in this fight, as the old saying goes, but I will tell you that Muskrat Man and Orvet are both very talented knife repairmen. I have had work done by both of them and both did an excellent job. Either of them can repair your knife so that it's as good as ever. Taylor brands may have discouraged you, but rest assured both these gentlemen are capable of fixing you knife to your satisfaction.
Folks around here understand how much a knife like that can mean.

Regards,
Phil

[useem]

YUP, ORVET does excellent work, he built me a world class BUCK 110. Have a lookhttp://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/knife_foru ... =14&t=9599

[useem]

http://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kni ... =14&t=9599

[Hukk]

Thanks guys for the replies. I will e-mail some of you privately for prices.

I just need to make sure that swapping this blade out with a new blade can be done w/o further damaging the knife. I know that Taylor Brands pitched their marketing ploy on me, however they mentioned that replacing the blade required near destruction of the knife itself. Obviously I would just settle for a broken tip before I would risk destroying anything.

Thanks again for each of your replies.

Kenny

Near destruction WHAT A CROCK of BS! Dale (Orvet) is well versed in repairing knives with swinden keys and does it well as do many others. You will be much happier (IMO) with your old knife having a new blade than you will with the knives they now make in China. Afterall - is that Taylor made knife going have any sentimental value to you at all? That's why we repair knives - just like anything else.

You are correct about a marketing ploy - afterall the Chinese made Schrade/Uncle Henry has not been all that well received - at least not what they hoped for. Collectors don't want them - they want the originals!!

[orvet]

Sorry Ken,
I thought I posted a picture of the replacement blade.
As you can see, the blade is still in the doner knife.

Dale

[bigken462]

Thanks Dale, you should have an e-mail waiting in your inbox.

The more I sit and read your guys website the more I find it interesting. On the diving forums I'm involved with, we have a photography section to show off scuba gear. Is there anything like that here? It would be great to look over some of the knives out there that belong to the members here.

My grandfather passed to me a fixed blade huge Case knife years ago. I bet the blade is 7-10 inches long. Looks like something off a pirate movie. I may try to grab a snap shot of it and post it so I can get some history on it. I'm sure it's something of the 70's era or at most early 80's. I know this is the repair section so I'll try to keep the post here on topic for the repair of my knife. This could get addicting. Lol

Thanks,

Ken

[orvet]

Ken,
E -mail inbound.

Dale