Cold Steel Kobun Modification

[dark_gladiator]

Howdy everyone, this is my first post here. Let me know what you all think.

I've been looking for a fixed blade EDC and self defense knife for a while, especially after starting Pekiti-Tirsia Kali. I've tried out a few different knives, but I was pretty surprised at how much I liked the Cold Steel Kobun after ordering it from Amazon, especially because I only paid 35 bucks for it with tax and free shipping. This is how it looks from the factory, measuring in at 0.1" below the legal limit for carry in Texas.

Anyways, being who I am, I couldn't just leave it alone, so I decided to make a few mods to the knife. First off, the knife is very slim, and that's one of the reasons I liked it for a carry knife, but I still felt like I'd prefer something a little... extra in the handle. The day that I got it in, the first thing I did was cord wrap the handle, to give it a little more thickness and improve my grip.

Here's how it looked after the wrap.

I'd been thinking about how little I like the modern tanto shape, and the very angular yokote on the kobun even before I purchased it. I saw a few other posts where people had reprofiled the tanto shape, ending up with something approaching a spanto type grind and profile. So, tonight I sat down with my whetstones, and reprofiled the yokote. Here's what I ended up with, and I think I like the profile a LOT more than the factory grind.

Even being careful wiping off the filings, I lightly marred the finish, so I'll have to go over it with some high grit wet/dry sandpaper eventually, but in the meantime, it'll do just fine.

Let me know what you think

 

[bdmicarta]

Here's how it looked after the wrap.

I've been curious to see how one of these might be modified, but your links aren't working. I looked at the links and shouldn't there be a ".jpg" at the end?

Edit- I pasted your links into my browser and could see the images, don't know why they aren't showing up in your thread.

 

[dark_gladiator]

Photo links fixed, I guess flickr doesn't provide links to the original file link anymore, I had to hunt it down in the source.

 

[Chris "Anagarika"]

Nice mod, very nice!

Thanks for the tip about flickr. Damn, nowadays have to look for source?

 

[dark_gladiator]

Thanks!

And yes, flickr used to have direct links, I don't know when they changed. Maybe I have to pay for premium again?

 

[incaorchid]

I really like the mods you did!

Do you know what that wrap style is called?

I couldn't do a better job but maybe you could hide the knot and melted ends in the lanyard hole?

 

[JohnnyMayhem]

The regrind on the tip is what really sets it off. Great work!

 

[dark_gladiator]

I really like the mods you did!

Do you know what that wrap style is called?

I couldn't do a better job but maybe you could hide the knot and melted ends in the lanyard hole?

I have no idea what the wrap style is called, I was just playing around with the cord I had, and thought it looked nice, and it definitely improves the handle's feel. The diamond shaped space between wraps matches my fingers perfectly, and makes it feel really grippy.

I'll see about doing a pictorial of what I did, or looking up a similar method, or maybe even making a video, but I'll summarize it here. To do the wrap, I laid two strands of cord in parallel at the top of the handle, and flipped it over. You're then left with four strands that are available.

For further explanation, I'll number them as follows, as you are looking at them with the blade pointed down.

1f 2f

3f 4f

1i 2i

3i 4i

The strands will be sticking out from positions 1i-4i (initial), and 1f-4f (final) are currently empty, but will be where the strands will occupy when finished.

I started by crossing the strand at 2i over to approximately position 1f, and holding it loosely. Then I crossed the strand at position 3i up and to the right, crossing the first strand and ending at postion 2f.

Then you move the third strand at position 4i up and left, crossing over the second strand to end at position 3f.

The final strand is then crossed over the third strand, and under the first to complete the weave, and end up at position 2f.

The cords are then pulled tight and adjusted as necessary, the cords pinched to the sides of the handle, and then the knife flipped over to repeat the process, until reaching the lanyard hole.

I think you're right, and it would be a good idea to rethink the method for finishing the wrap. I played with a few ideas, but kept being unsatisfied with the result, and ended up just getting frustrated and melting the ends as shown.

 

[Chris "Anagarika"]

Just tried today on computer, the Flickr sharing works again.

Not sure why on Opera Mini it won't work. Used to be working fine

 

[MTHall720]

Great work!