How do I fix the broken tip on my knife? It depends on the maker of the knife and what kind of warranty you got for your knife. The most common damages that knives receive are chipped edges or broken tips....
The most common damages that knives receive are chipped edges or broken tips. The repair process may include cleaning, removing rust, polishing, regrinding, retreating the sheath and on occasion replacing missing or damaged pieces. Repairs are aimed to restore the use and function of the knife not to make it look like new again. Most knives come with a warranty in the event of breakage. In the event your knife does break, check to see if it is covered by a manufacturer's warranty and follow the directions given to have the item replaced or repaired by a certified craftsman.
Karl Pfitzenreiter has been in the business of cutlery for 24 years. He is the president and CEO of J.A. Henckels, a position he has held for the last 20 years. Pfitzenreiter states, "It depends on the maker of the knife and what kind of warranty you got for your knife. If the damage is caused by material or craftsmanship defects a good manufacturer will replace it. If that's not the case, the only hope that you have is going to a cutlery specialty store. They can grind back the tip to the blade. If the handle is broken, this could be something they cannot know how to replace.
If your knife has sustained a nick in the blade, it is possible that the nick can be ground out during sharpening of the blade. Handles can be replaced fairly easily depending on the materials and craftsmanship of the knife.
If the knife tip is broken, it can be ground down with a new but shorter tip on the blade. Many high quality knife makers will offer warranties for their knives and replace them if a defect is found in how they were made. Typically the manufacturer will do the repair on their merchandise as opposed to the dealer who sold it. Many upscale cutlery dealers may also offer repair services for the items they sell if the damage is not covered under a warranty. Cheaper knives are often the most difficult to repair as the repair costs may exceed the value of the original item.
Many older knives were manufactured with hard carbon steel that was chrome plated. To repair broken tips on these knives, the blades need to be correctly tapered and thinned and then polished. In doing this the chrome will be removed and the blade will be subject to staining. There is not a good way to replace the chrome plating so the knife user will have to pay for the knife to be chromed again or scrub the item well after use to remove rust or stains that may result.
Knife repairs are not always easy or economical so you should put extreme care and consideration into purchasing knives. Keep in mind what you want to use them for, how long you want them to last and how expensive it will be to replace or repair them if they become damaged. By investing in a higher quality knife, you may be able to obtain a reliable and durable item that may save you time, money and frustration later on.
