Hey Mike - good to hear from you again! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> Have you had a chance to get out for some more interesting photos? Tom

Hi, Tom,

Thanks. Here are a couple photos from the last week or so:

http://flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=337064709&size=o

http://flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=339425962&size=o

Cheers,

Mike

I disagree that handle fit or gap does not affect the function or integrity of a knife... a gap, any gap at the junction of the blade and the handle is a gathering / entry / holding place for dust, grime, germs and moisture and therefore corrosion or contamination (field dressing game), if you are not very careful to pay special attention to the gap... efforts to clean it out will often only push moisture etc... further under the handle where corrosion is harder to detect... most knifemakers will pay very special attention to this area, whether it is a guarded knife (careful soldering) or no guard (epoxy or other seal) to prevent corrosion etc... from creeping under a hidden tang knife where it can go undetected and risk the possibility of failure etc... when you need the knife the most. IMHO
That being said, I was fortunate enough to purchase a few of these the first time around (6 if you must know :0) and all of them have gaps ranging from pretty large in my opinion to large enough to cause me some concern... I'm not really worried about all are ear-less but one.....
I have spent some time thinking of a fix but haven't come up with an acceptable, secure, pliable solution to would resolve my concerns on this new knife...
Still thinking on it.... I'll share my solution if and when I come up with it.... but thought I would share my humble thoughts on this issue :0)

I agree with Kalimalena. My SS4 also has a medium size gap between the blade and handle like pictured at the top. My concern was moisture, and in a place where I could not detect it and or threat it. I thought about a dabbing some silcone in there but nut sure how it will hold up. It would be nice to here some suggestions.

Good point Kalimalena, Blood is a very hazardous material and you definitly don't want it stuck in something you cut food with. I am considering filing a bit of a ramp so there is a smooth transition between the spine and the handle rather than a sharp drop off. It would also need to be polished to match the spine.

When Busse and when Swamp Rat first released Resiprene C handled knives, there was some discussion about how a cut in the material could be fixed by pressing the two sides of the cut together and momentarily applying a lighter's flame. This same property could perhaps solve your dilemma. If the gap is small, perhaps put on an oven mitt, soften the Resiprene C with a flame, right behind the gap, and push the Resiprene C into position to close the gap. If the gap is larger, perhaps shave a very small piece off of another area of the handle, then shove it into the gap, and momentarily apply a flame, then push it down into where it belongs.

My gap is a bit big for that and I shudder at the thought of cutting a piece of somewhere else but if you had a little piece of res c you could melt it in there.

Great pictures

Dan

The gap at the handle and the blade will not affect the performance of the knife. We coat the entire knife including the tang to insure that any moisture that might get in will not affect the knife.

With that said, if you are unhappy with the knife please send it back and we will see what can be done to repair it.

Dan

Thanks, Dan.

I am not the least bit unhappy with my knife but like alot of people I like to fuss with it a bit so it is exactly the way I want it.

A dodgy fit is just a bit of character!..