The biggest headliner at Blade 2016 might have been Columbia River Knife & Tool’s Homefront with “field strip” technology. More than a decade in the making, the Homefront is a folding knife that allows the user to — yes, you guessed it — field strip the knife!
Yeah, “big deal,” you’re saying. Well, it is, if you think about it. First off, most manufacturers will void your warranty if you take apart your folding knife. Second, even with the few manufacturers that encourage users to take apart their folders, (Chris Reeve, for example), doing so can be a bit tricky as the knife is composed of multiple small parts that are very easy to lose. I know from experience. I lost the back spacer on my Chris Reeve Sebenza 21 after disassembling it. Ugh. Now I have to order a new one.
With the Homefront, the user doesn’t have that problem as the knife breaks down into three large parts. The two aluminium handles and the blade. Pretty cool, huh?
Specs
- Overall Length: 8.313 inches
- Closed Length: 4.728 inches
- Weight: 4.8 ounces
- Blade Length: 3.502 inches
- Blade Thickness: 0.133 inches
- Blade Material: AUS 8
- HRC: 57-58
- Blade Finish: Brushed Steel
- Blade Edge: Plain
- Handle Material: 6061 Aluminum
- Lock Type: Locking Liner
- MSRP: $150
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The Homefront with “field strip” technology. The patent is pending, BTW.
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Boom! Just three parts! Cleaning this baby is a piece of cake.
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It’s super easy, too. Step 1: Slide front release lever up to disengage. Step 2: Rotate release wheel clockwise to loosen handle. Step 3: Pull knife apart. No tools required. Cleaning the interior of your knife has never been so easy!
I had the gentleman at the CRKT booth demonstrate just how easy it is. See the video above.
It’s a really nice-looking knife on top of all the field strip gadgetry.
While you might think this technology would come at a premium, it doesn’t. Like most CRKT knives, the blade is reasonably priced at $150. It will be available starting in July 2016.
For more information, make sure you check out the CRKT website.
Not really interested in a field strip blade. Mine is a K-bar, carried since ’67. Maybe old fashioned but still really effective.
Pretty interesting. After reading the article, now I know why I could not get any parts from S&W to fix my assisted opener. The nub broke and they wont’t answer my email.
Thanks
Not excited about a “feature” nobody asked for or needs. Now if interchangeable blades would be one thing as someone already mentioned.
Too late. I’ve already switched to fixed blades, so I just don’t have to monkey with it.
Been carrying a folding knife (pocketknife for us old fogies) every day since I was 7, and I’m now 61. I’ve never had the need to disassemble one in all them years. A rinse in hot water, maybe a quick scrub with a toothbrush, and for those stubborn chunks deep down, a sliver of wood whittled down to size with the knife. Then a squirt of good old 3 in One oil and it was as good as new. Just another pricey gizmo to prove Murphy’s Law .
Nice. Now they should offer interchangable blades like my Case knife did.