Do you want Handle Scales for your Swamp Warden? Now Ready for Shipping.

[bpiatt]

A couple suggestions if I may:

First, put a bit of radius around the end of the tang hole opening at the butt (like the Rodent Solution has) or those sharp edges will tear up your hands.

Second, and this is purely from a manufacturing standpoint, but you might consider connecting the two circles on the back for a full-length raised part in the center. This would save on cutters and take less time to make, with a side benefit of being stronger without much weight gain. Just a thought.

I will definitely be rounding all of the edges and the points on the slot for the lanyard hole. This is just a rough drawing so we have a template to work with in mastercam. I originally planned to have the two circles on the back of the handle one continuous raised lip but my boss advised against it because of how hard it will be to get the lip perfectly symetrical to the knife tang. We are also concerned about the tolerances from knife to knife. I ordered two more swamp wardens which should be here tomorrow so that way I can see how tight the tolerances are from knife to knife. Thank you for your input, if anyone else has suggestions please feel free to post. Feedback helps me ensure everyone will be happy.

[SpyderPhreak]

Excellent. I agree that you wouldn't want the lip to be in contact with the tang all the way around the whole edge due to variance, good call there. I was thinking about something that would look a bit like a box-end wrench where it necks down a bit from the circles. Either way, if you've thought about it and considered the options, it's all good.

I have several of the earlier Wardens I could measure pretty accurately as well if you'd like. Just let me know which dimensions you're looking for.

[bpiatt]

Excellent. I agree that you wouldn't want the lip to be in contact with the tang all the way around the whole edge due to variance, good call there. I was thinking about something that would look a bit like a box-end wrench where it necks down a bit from the circles. Either way, if you've thought about it and considered the options, it's all good.

I have several of the earlier Wardens I could measure pretty accurately as well if you'd like. Just let me know which dimensions you're looking for.

That would be really helpful man. Ill take a picture and mark the dimensions that would be helpful in paint. I'll label them "a,b,c...etc" so its easy for you to reply. Thank you for offering to help, its greatly appreciated. I really hope these were water jetted to tight tolerances. These were not designed with handle scales in mind so I'm a little concerned. We should have a better idea tomorrow if the other knives I ordered arrive.

[SpyderPhreak]

That would be really helpful man. Ill take a picture and mark the dimensions that would be helpful in paint. I'll label them "a,b,c...etc" so its easy for you to reply. Thank you for offering to help, its greatly appreciated. I really hope these were water jetted to tight tolerances. These were not designed with handle scales in mind so I'm a little concerned. We should have a better idea tomorrow if the other knives I ordered arrive.

No sweat. I would bet that these were either water-jetted or cnc'd (based on what I know about Busse, I would bet they are cnc'd). I do know that there were some slight differences in thickness from the earlier ones to the most recent, but I am not aware if the other dimensions changed sizes at all.

ETA: One thing which WILL make a dimensional difference is the powder coat. For example, colors like black, sage, tanker, and muddy are fairly thinly coated (jungle green is probably the thinnest), where moss green is pretty thick. Could change dimesions by a few thousandths or so (possibly more?).

[swimmerdude1127]

How did I miss this thread? I'm definitely interested in checking out the first set. Might be something I could use. The kydex sheath to match sounds great as well.

Please keep in mind that there were two different thicknesses to the Swamp Warden. The earlier ones were about 0.18" I believe, and the later ones were about 0.15". It's definitely a noticeable difference when you're using the wrong thickness kydex sheath.

[bpiatt]

How did I miss this thread? I'm definitely interested in checking out the first set. Might be something I could use. The kydex sheath to match sounds great as well.

Please keep in mind that there were two different thicknesses to the Swamp Warden. The earlier ones were about 0.18" I believe, and the later ones were about 0.15". It's definitely a noticeable difference when you're using the wrong thickness kydex sheath.

Ok, ill have to pick up one of the thicker ones aswell. The one I have is .155 thick with coating and I'm pretty sure the two that are in route to me are the same. Those with the thicker knives won't have an issue with the handle scales fitting, but the thicker wardens will not fit the kydex pressed for the thinner blades. Thank you for pointing this out to me, I did not know they were made in two thicknesses.

I thought about the coating thickness variance but was hoping it wouldn't be enough to effect the fit of the raised slots on the scales. Ill go ahead and try to pick up a swamp warden in every color just to make sure, if I can afford them as they appear for sale.

[SpyderPhreak]

All of mine are the earlier, thicker ones. I'll double-check the thickness on them too.

[bpiatt]

All of mine are the earlier, thicker ones. I'll double-check the thickness on them too.

Thanks Spyder, the thickness is the only dimension I should be needing from you. I'm going to pick up one of the earlier models as soon as one pops up in the exchange.

[Waldganger]

Do you have a projected production date?

[tbdoc4kids]

Just picked up on this thread. I would be in for at least 2 sets. Black canvas and black/green G10 would be my preferred, but green micarta works also.

[bpiatt]

Do you have a projected production date?

As of right now, its up in the air. Our mills are currently producing product that have higher priority. The handle scales are next in line when the next mill opens up. We still have to make a prototype, make changes to the prototype to have exceptional fit and finish, get feedback from you all, make additional changes, then run production. I don't want to give you guys a date and then let you down. For now I plan to just update you guys as things happen to let you all know progress is being made. If you have any questions or ideas please feel free to email or PM me. Thanks everyone.

[SpyderPhreak]

I measured all four of my original run Swamp Wardens. I have Black, Jungle Green, Sage, and Muddy Brown coated ones. All handle thickness measurements were between 0.183" and 0.185". I measured five or six spots on each knife from just behind the choil all the way to the butt. So, apparently all of those coatings are pretty darn close to the same thickness. Whoda thunk it? My guess is the stock metal used is right at 0.180" thick, just as specified by the Swamp.

Also, for the heck of it, I measured the circle diameters at each end of the handle cut-outs. The small ones were 0.505" diameter, and the larger ones at the butt were 0.760" diameter. These diameter measurements are +/- 0.0005" between all four examples, so I'd say the cut-outs were highly likely cnc'd.

PS - My calipers are referenced semi-annually to a good set of check-blocks, so I trust their measurement accuracy completely.

[bpiatt]

I measured all four of my original run Swamp Wardens. I have Black, Jungle Green, Sage, and Muddy Brown coated ones. All handle thickness measurements were between 0.183" and 0.185". I measured five or six spots on each knife from just behind the choil all the way to the butt. So, apparently all of those coatings are pretty darn close to the same thickness. Whoda thunk it? My guess is the stock metal used is right at 0.180" thick, just as specified by the Swamp.

Also, for the heck of it, I measured the circle diameters at each end of the handle cut-outs. The small ones were 0.505" diameter, and the larger ones at the butt were 0.760" diameter. These diameter measurements are +/- 0.0005" between all four examples, so I'd say the cut-outs were highly likely cnc'd.

PS - My calipers are referenced semi-annually to a good set of check-blocks, so I trust their measurement accuracy completely.

Beautiful, thats exactly what I was hoping for. We should be good to go as far as the handle scales fitting all of the knives. I'm just going to have to pick up one of the thicker wardens for those who may want sheaths with the scales. Thanks for taking the time to help me out Spyder.

[SpyderPhreak]

No sweat, glad to help! Looking forward to seeing what you come up with!

[bpiatt]

Hey Guys,

We've got the first prototype off of the Mill. The fit is very close but still a tiny bit off, we will be correcting this and doing another run. We are just using some spare delrin we had lying around for the prototypes and it is a very rough finish. It still lacks the holes for the screws, they will be added when we have the layout perfected. Here are some images, let me know what you guys think.






Also, I need to know what you guys would like to see as far as hardware goes. We are having trouble finding allen head screws to hold these together in the size that we need. We will definitely be using stainless steel components and cant seem to find allen screws in the length we need. Would you guys prefer a slotted screw or phillips? We will be using pan heads.

[climbingrocks]

Probably a flathead for me, that way I could use a penny or dime in a pinch.

[AValenz]

Probably a flathead for me, that way I could use a penny or dime in a pinch.

+1 on this idea

[AValenz]

Now I need a a Swap Warden and some of these grips any up date on price and color of the other two materials?

[bpiatt]

Now I need a a Swap Warden and some of these grips any up date on price and color of the other two materials?

The colors to start are going to be black paper micarta and green canvas micarta. We plan to offer any color/material choice you want as long as there is 9 other people who want the same as you (10 all together).

I am almost positive the price will be 55 shipped as long as the materials are similar prices to black paper and green canvas. These are still a ways out before they will be ready for you guys, I will keep updating you as progress is made. Keep the questions and suggestions coming.

[Thrill]

Looking very good...thanks for the update. Who wants some orange?