How can I turn a folding knife into a fixed blade knife?

[SpyderEdgeForever]

This is a two part question, I welcome all answers:

1 How can we take a friction folder or a slip joint folder that is made with no lock mechanism, and turn it temporarilly into a safer fixed like blade? Are there people who make or who can make a strong steel sleeve-like attachment that can slid over the knife and lock in place where the joint or rivet point is, so the knife will not be able to close on your fingers when in use?

2 What would be needed if one wanted to take a folding knife and permanently turn it into a fixed blade? Would the folding mechanism have to be welded closed?

[Crux]

Super Glue

[Bloke]

... Would the folding mechanism have to be welded closed?

[Sjucaveman]

Solder would be more temporary and possibly reversible though not as strong as welding.

[SpyderEdgeForever]

Thanks. And what about the idea of a specially-made hardened steel sleeve of some sort that can fit over a folder and then be locked into place, preventing the blade from closing on the users' fingers? What are your opinions of such a device? Does anyone know any who make or can make that?

[Evil D]

Nothing would ever make it as strong as a fixed blade that was never a folder. I think I'd try something like JB Weld and fill in the entire handle and pivot and lock with it. I've done some crazy "last resort" repairs on car parts with that stuff and it held up really well. It really depends on what you plan to do with the knife once it's done. If you're planning on batoning the **** out of it then even welding can and probably will break, and that's besides the fact that it'll ruin your heat treat.

[kodai78]

1) Opinel knives have a ring which rotates around the knife and keeps the blade from closing but isn’t a lock in my opinion so you could retrofit something like that to an existing knife.
2) Remove blade from existing knife handle liners etc. Cut a slot in bar stock and weld, then pin blade into one end of bar stock. Fit slabs if needed.

[The Deacon]

1) Opinel knives have a ring which rotates around the knife and keeps the blade from closing but isn’t a lock in my opinion so you could retrofit something like that to an existing knife.

A zip tie could serve as an improvised ring on a slip joint, if the handle shape permits.

[M4Life]

At some point wouldn't it just be easier to get a locking or fixed blade knife?

[SpyderEdgeForever]

Yes, it would be easier to get a fixed blade or lock blade. But what I wanted to do was to take a Japanese Higonokami folder, which most if not all of you are familiar with, and somehow attach an Opinel-style lock onto it, so the blade cannot close on my fingers under hard use. And I wanted to expand this idea to other slip joint and friction folders, like the Svord.

[The Meat man]

Yes, it would be easier to get a fixed blade or lock blade. But what I wanted to do was to take a Japanese Higonokami folder, which most if not all of you are familiar with, and somehow attach an Opinel-style lock onto it, so the blade cannot close on my fingers under hard use. And I wanted to expand this idea to other slip joint and friction folders, like the Svord.

It wouldn't look pretty, but you could put a steel hose clamp around the base of the blade. This is similar to Deacon's suggestion but might be a bit more secure.

Or fabricate your own ring lock out of some thin sheet steel. That would take more work and expertise though.

[The Mastiff]

I've heard of people taking Douk Douks https://www.knifecenter.com/item/DD815/ ... ack-folder and taking pliers or a vice and squeezing their handles after opening to crush the steel handles which essentially turns it into a sort of fixed blade. Of course it will never close after that but it works.

Joe