Spyderco R2 - want to mod one?

[STR]

Deacon you are looking at perhaps the single most challenging lock back re-design this guys ever takin' on. There for a while I was like fit to be tied wondering how many more things could come up. It seemed one thing after another but patience and pure stubborn attention to everything that came up one right after another working those out finally won out. Most of the issues revolved around proprietary sizes of both holes and hardware but finally in the end I managed to track down what I needed to do this and the rocker arm barrel and screw set up are all that are Japanese on this shown here.

Final weight is 3.7 ounces compared to the factory weight with the clip on the knife which is 3.1 ounces so it didn't actually gain as much as I expected it to. The tip of the blade has been re-profiled and the Boye detent is milder with a longer half moon sweep now and centered. Lock up is rock solid. The action is smooth and the blade is dead centered when closed with factory snap as it closes and opens.

Not sure what to call this one. Lets call it done and leave it that!

Did some further contouring and am deleting some pictures and re uploading new ones. > I don't like doing this but the pictures take up so much MB of space which is precious and limited that I've got to to make room for future pics. Thanks for understanding.

STR

[STR]

I figured a post side by side with an untouched R2 was a good idea. I may do some additional contouring around the edges on this one yet but I like to carry and use them or at least with one like this keep it handy and use it some getting a feel for it. Once I'm sure of it I'll be in touch for the trip home and squaring up.

Thanks

STR

[The Deacon]

Sorry it gave you fits Steve, but it looks great!!!

[STR]

Thanks. I recontoured some and got a much more satisfying bevel around the edges more like your prototype pictures now but knowing how you take pics I'm sure you'll get some that show that better than my camera will. My camera got stuck today on zoom and I didn't even get the whole knife in the shots when it was opened unless I stepped back some and then it would have worked but by the time I realized it jammed it was getting darker out so I may take some tomorrow.

It was challenging. The wood was a easier to splinter and fray than I expected but mostly my later issues revolved around the proprietary hardware and trying to figure out a way to get the factory spring holder rear spacer incorporated into your new pattern. Then the lock bar/rocker arm issue with the barrel, which was the only thing I had that I could use. One side of that barrel I used looks like a screw but its not. The barrel only has one screw and as it turned out that messed with me there some. Then as you may recall from an earlier post, I didn't want to show the three screws holding the spring holder in place in the rear and intended originally to hide those under the scales but in the end it was just not going to work that way. Lockbacks are just different animals when it comes to assembly sometimes and had it had a more rigid washer like a PB washer I could have assembled it and then slid the washers in place for the blade as the last part to put in there but being that the washers are the thin thin thin Spyderco type that are not metal but some other material which I don't know the name for it was not an option to get those washers in place any other way but before you put the sides on. Long story short everytime I thought I had it put together in my mind I'd go to the shop and try and something else would come up.


I hope you don't think I'm complaining. It was just challenging is all. Frustrating at times being here this long but manageable you know? I think this should work out fine though. I'm happy with the end result even if it was a bit tough to get it here. I like the action, the lock up and the feel of it a lot. I'll mail it out to you tomorrow and let you play with it so you can feel it and look it over. Then once I hear back from you we'll square up. I think you'll be pleased overall. I had to shape the handle somewhat more like the original due to the spring holder which I didn't want to remake unless it was absolutely necessary. The factory one is always better IMO so I stubbornly kept that in the design.

Oh yeah. I have your originals sides, the set you mailed me from the Stretch in brown Micarta and the left over Koa plus some lignum and rose wood I'm sending. When I get some Koa I'll mail that to you as well. Thanks Deacon for your patience and for asking me to do the job for you.

[DelrinFred]

What a beautiful piece of work Steve.
That R2 blade caught my attention, so when I found one for sale today I grabbed it real quick. If you ever decide to do another one of these, just let me know.

[STR]

No more wood for me for a while. I've been thinking this may be the last wood project I ever do honestly. I really don't mind the idea of doing another using micarta or something like that but the barrel I used in the rocker arm was a single I don't even know the ID of to track another down. It just happened to fit and worked since it was long enough but even then it was tricky to incorporate it into the design.

The original hardware is surprisingly short but if I had another one the same size or knew of one I'd consider it in something other than wood. My eyes ain't what they used to be and the smell of dust and acrylic in the air can get old for me too. I guess I'm gettin' old Fred.

STR

[DelrinFred]

Don't remind me. I'll be 72 in two weeks.

[STR]

Happy B-Day.

We need to talk by the way. I got another package in the mail from you today. Not sure I understand the work order exactly. Did you notice one of the knives has an exposed point when the blade is closed? I can fix that but its from the blade never closing deep enough in the folder body. Buck should have caught that on the way out the door but missed it in QC.

STR

[The Deacon]

Looked great in the first group of pictures Steve. The beveled edge makes it look even better. Can't wait to get my hands on this one.

Next project I have in mind should be "a bit" less of a PITA. When the FRN version of the Stretch hits the streets, may ask you to see if the blade (and lockbar, if necessary) from one could be swapped into the Lignum Vitae Stretch you did for me. What can I say, I like the new jimping better. Looks like it should work when I eyeball it, but I know that doesn't mean jack squat.

[STR]

Didn't know about the FRN version but I look forward to seeing it.

We'll talk when its in hand. Your STR2 as you called it went out to you yesterday so I look for it to arrive to your box Monday. Thanks Paul for everything.

STR

[The Deacon]

You called that one Steve, landed in my mailbox a couple hours ago. Looks great. Feels great. Love it. Thanks ever so much.

[STR]

I meant to tell you that a few years back, man probably 2005/06 I bought a folder from Bill Vining which I still have and carry off and on because its one of my favorite knives and he used some of the most beautiful box elder burl I've ever seen on that one. When I asked him how he got that wonderful finish and shine he confessed to using some Renaissance car wax on his stabalized scales. I've since heard from a few other makers that do this also. Just a dab will do ya.

If it dulls down some later you may spit shine it back up with some of that next time you buff out the car.

Thanks again Paul for your patience. I hope it serves you well. The lock up and action seemed spot on to me. I think it should actually break in even more over time.

STR