703 + 703 blade swap = 703 and a "coltsfoot"

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DesertChris

Joined
Sep 8, 2013
Messages
1,472
So, this is a double project for me.

I aquired a 1988 703 that looked great in the photos, but the spey blade was heavily sharpened and worn down.
So I aquired a 1991 703 with a terrible main blade, but minty spey and sheepsfoot blades.
I figure they have the same blade steel (425?)

So, I did a blade swap with the minty spey blade onto the first knife. Now the 1988 703 has 3 minty blades :)

Then I figured I had a bunch of 703 parts, but only one minty blade. The sheepsfoot.
So I proceeded to clean the parts up, and reassemble SOME of them into a single blade 703 "Coltsfoot" ;)
Also I started giving the blade a mirror polish, since I have discovered I love the slipperyness when cutting something.

Neither knife is fully finished since I intend to rescale the 1988, and the Coltsfoot has had its scales removed to disassemble it.

I have some Gaboon Ebony, and some Amboyna Burl. Which wood do you guys think would be nice with which knife?

Here are some photos of the fun and games.

Two knives and some leftover parts.


Disassembled 1991 703.


I used one of the discarded springs as a spacer while peening in the spring pivot pin.


I recycled the blade pivot pins, trimmed them down and peened.them back in.


Scale wood choices




Started the mirror polish, but needs a lttle more time on the buffing wheel.

 
you're getting way too good at this Chris. Cant wait to see the final product. Now get to work!
 
Doug_86 said:
you're getting way too good at this Chris. Cant wait to see the final product. Now get to work!
Click to expand...

Thanks Doug!
It might be a few days until I can finish them up with new scales.
I ran out of time today, and chores are beckoning me.
Hopefully I get them done soon.
I want to pocket carry the Coltsfoot as soon as possible :)
 
Looking great Chris! You are having way too much fun with your Bucks :)

Here's a 701 that came with a broken main blade spring, I took it apart and re assembled this thin little 440C cutter ;)




It's a single spring two blader now, I can just sneak my nail into the sheepfoot blades nick to open it. Main had a broken tip so it became a Wharncliffe.
 
sitflyer said:
Looking great Chris! You are having way too much fun with your Bucks :)

Here's a 701 that came with a broken main blade spring, I took it apart and re assembled this thin little 440C cutter ;)




It's a single spring two blader now, I can just sneak my nail into the sheepfoot blades nick to open it. Main had a broken tip so it became a Wharncliffe.
Click to expand...
Thank you :)

Wow! What a cool modification of your 701!
I like that one.
 
Ok, here is the "Coltsfoot" with Amboyna Burl "pre-scales" , spending the night in a clamp with epoxy curing :)
(The 703 blade swap will get ebony scales later)

 
A little bit of progress.....rough shaped the scales with a saw, before the sanding begins.
And now my Gal is putting me to work on other stuff....maybe I'll sneak out to the garage later ;)



 
Almost done with the Coltsfoot...sanded....steel wooled...just needs a visit to the buffing wheel and she will be done :)



 
You know Chris, it takes a very special kind of knut to go to such efforts to preserve a little bit of special steel! Good on ya' for the fine effort with this one, looks like it will be a neat lil' cutter when you are done with it! I love the grain of that wood :thumbup: :)
 
sitflyer said:
You know Chris, it takes a very special kind of knut to go to such efforts to preserve a little bit of special steel! Good on ya' for the fine effort with this one, looks like it will be a neat lil' cutter when you are done with it! I love the grain of that wood :thumbup: :)
Click to expand...
Thank you for the kind words :)
I really like the 700 series, so getting to play around with the extra parts is pretty darn fun.
I couldn't resist, and sharpened her up before she has been final buffed.
With the newly added mirror finish on the blade it is a nice slippery cutter :)
And shaved hair off my arm with almost no effort.
I'm really going to enjoy using this one.
 
You have some excellent work going on here. Is this something you have experience in or just knowledge through tinkering? That little single blade is a beauty, and I'm sure the minty-3-blade will look fantastic with that dark ebony!
 
hawaiianhawk said:
You have some excellent work going on here. Is this something you have experience in or just knowledge through tinkering? That little single blade is a beauty, and I'm sure the minty-3-blade will look fantastic with that dark ebony!
Click to expand...

Thank you.
I just started playing around, and did some searching for what other people have done.
After the first one, it is much easier.

Here is is a 501 and 484 conversion I used Gaboon Ebony on, and the ebony shines up really nice!


 
The Coltsfoot is done :)
All buffed and polished and extra shiny.
I even used it to cut things a couple times today :)
And she definately is a great cutter.
She isn't flawless (I had a small gap on the end of one side of one scale. Epoxy filled it nicely when attaching the scales), but I like it :)



 
Very Excellent Chris. Flawless or not the knife looks great. Thanks for sharing bud.
 
Doug_86 said:
Very Excellent Chris. Flawless or not the knife looks great. Thanks for sharing bud.
Click to expand...

Thanks Doug.

I like it alot. It has been in my pocket everyday since it was finished, and has been used for cutting stuff :)
It was definately worth the effort.
 
Part two of my dual project has been completed :)

Before cleaning and new scale installation.


All done :) Brand new Gaboon Ebony scales on a 703 :)








She turned out really pretty..... and shiny :)
I put a bit of a mirror finish on the blades to make them more slippery when cutting :)
 
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