Adding grip to a ZT450, or any other smooth metal handled knife?

M

manowar669

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Oct 1, 2002
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I love th ZT450, but rarely carry it because it's too slippery with dry, cold hands. I did put tread tape on it, which worked well, but looks ghetto, and eventually wears off. Any suggestions?
 
I am not familiar with the knife but if you can take the scales off it, or are willing to tape it up good to protect the blade and pivot etc. You could take it some where and get it grit blasted. Or send it to a knife maker and have them grit blast it.

Where ? Any where from a head stone shop to an engine machine shop to a glass sculptor.

You could take some like 36 grit sand paper to it and if you use a pad or hard block to back up the sand paper and pay attention you might do well with that. You could even get creative and do some all in one direction and some cross hatch.

OK I'm reaching so I will stop.

But some of my favorite handles are grit blasted titanium. Though I think they could go with a coarser grit than they do.
 
If I ever own another metal handled knife, I'll somehow attach rubber/leather/micarta/wood/whatever - Even the thinnest micro layer of anything will be an improvement.
 
You could do something like this to the scales... sculpt them

IMG_20160926_151938-X3.jpg
 
For those unfamiliar, the zero tolerance 0450 he has does not have any scales and is probably 2 slabs of titanium with a frame lock. No holes in the titanium except a couple at the back to hold the spacers and the belt clip. This is one of those slim designs and that's why there are no scales. It's made for people who want an air weight knife that is small in the pocket. Sort of a dress pants knife.I am a fan of the ZT line of kershaw knives. I love my 0303 which is the total opposite. Like half a pound of knife that has a definite presence when worn in the pocket. He would need to drill and tap titanium or epoxy something to the feame halves. Maybe powder coat it with a crinkle finish?
 
Stipple by a Pro sounds great.

I have sprayed wrinkle finish paint. It is pretty cool stuff.
If you do it yourself get the metal super clean; wash it with lacquer thinner a couple of times so the paint really sticks. Priming it is smart if there is a primer for the paint you choose; I don't recall mine using it come to think of it now.
Also a key thing is to spray in a warm enough environment and have the knife that temp like 70°F at least. The finish wrinkles better (more consistently over all) then.

What is it about guys, at least us old guys, that loves wrinkle finish paint ? Like on an old microscope or other scientific like instrument.

The valve covers on this engine are wrinkle finish.


And I had to have this HARDENED surface gauge but the less expensive not hardened version came in wrinkle finish and I like that. . . . so . . . I painted mine . . . that's showing 'em huh ?


 
Bill DeShivs said:
As I said, the handles are easily stippled.
Click to expand...

This. I stippled the handles on my BK9 as an alternative to micarta handles, and now they provide the best grip of any knife I own. Probably even better done by a pro.
 
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