changed the micarta on my 16 (again). plus comparison to a choiled blade.

[gentemanndvm]

i had another slab of that barbwire micarta i used to make the BK16 handles i posted about last week. for handle set #2, i decided to make the finger guard area bigger, and also to be brave and sculpt the handle a little more.

last week's micarta for comparison:



this week's micarta with the bigger finger guard:




and since i'm taking pics: i saw in a couple threads people were wondering how a choil would look on a 16.
i've had this BanTang BT4 for a while now. Steel is A2. Length is about the same. Also a drop point. very similar blade profiles overall. Which means the handle length is smaller than the 16 to fit that choil in there. i prefer the larger handle size on the 16 (especially the slightly upsized micarta) but don't get me wrong, it's also a favorite blade. So i'm in a real quandry re: which knife to grab when i head out. Excellent problem to have . anyways, i tossed that BT4 in the pic just for comparison's / choil viewing's sake. enjoy.

Here's the top and bottom views of the latest (maybe final???) handle mods, plus a choiled analog.

[The Warrior]

Looks awesome.

[Silverthorn]

That looks damn fine man... damn fine indeed

[The Warrior]

It's kinda funny, I used to look at the sig silhouette I made of the 16, and I would think the handle was like that, and be reminded later that it wasn't, when I saw the actual knife.

[UCPOPO]

So whats the Paypal address I need to send the money to for that micarta?

[SoldMyHat]

That's awesome. Almost like a full size handle with a little less girth in the rear. Looks super comfy. Nice work!!!

[crimsonfalcon07]

Very fine job on that batch. How did you do the contouring? Edge of belt sander, or did you find some other method?

[K9-Handler]

Yeah. I love the way the "This Week" one's front end looks like the full-size Becker scales!

[MikeyJ]

Both sets are awesome, but the larger finger guard and the contoured shape really caught my eye! Excellent work.

[thrillbilly]

Excellent...That is the perfect handle shape for the 16! Very nice....

[gentemanndvm]

thanks for the kind words, gentlemen. it's been a fun project.

How did you do the contouring? Edge of belt sander, or did you find some other method?

cf07 - i used that direct pressure on the sanding belt wheel just like you talked about. worked GREAT. thanks for the tip!

[Axisjoe]

Very very nice, I'm thinking the 16 will be my next purchase. I love the black with orange liners and lanyard.

[crimsonfalcon07]

Awesome, glad it worked for you. I figure, it's a curve, and you need to sand a curve. Match made in heaven. Knives are like women. They're generally nice, but the hand really appreciates some supple curves. Fills the hand, just feels right.