Adding some ON Lays to a BM450

[Gary W. Graley]

I'm going to dress up a Park Avenue folder by Benchmade Knives, the BM450 Terzuola Designed small folder.

My thoughts were to drill and tap, not sure the thread size to use or which screws to use...hence the post...two holes on each side to fasten small pieces of mammoth ivory onto the sides.

So questions are;
Drill to do the job on the mammoth

Screws that are small enough to not overwhelm the look of the knife
scales will be around 2 1/2" long by about 5/8" wide, also looking for a couple pieces of mammoth if someone has some kicking around that won't do them anygood but might work on this folder, please let me know...

Drill and tap for the above screws

I would hand shape the two pieces with files and sand paper to fit up to the knife as it is anodized aluminum and don't want to open up the anodizing...

So what do you guys recommend? I've only ever worked on fixed blade knives and never took on the detail work of adding scales, though I imagine this style will be about the easiest since it's an on lay and not needed to conform to a bolster or be a structural part of the folder, just to dress it up and to make it a bit thicker in the hand.

thanks in advance guys/gals,
G2

 

[Belstain]

I use 0-80 fillister head screws from brownells #080-050-080 you can probally get a 0-80 tap from the local hardware store. use a #56 drill for the aluminum a #53 for clearance holes and a #43 to countersink the screw heads. ALWAYS USE NEW DRILLS IN EXPENSIVE MATERIALS
Here is how I do it
First you need to make sure the sides of the scales the will contact the knife handle are really flat.
Take the knife apart and clamp the two sides together being careful to line them up perfect then figure out where you want your screws t be and center puch it real good. drill through both sides with the #56 drill.
Now you can take them apart and clamp a scale to each one and drill through your holes and through the ivory using the same #56 drill. (if it was steel handles I would use a band new one for the ivory) Next drill through the same holes in the ivory with the #53 drill now you are ready to countersink the holes in the scales. set your stop on your drill press so there is at least 1/16" clearance from the drill to the table then go over all your screw holes with the #43 drill making sure to drill from the outside of the scale all that is left is to tap the holes in the aluminum. just take the belt off the motor on your drill press and loosen the return spring and it will keep your tap perfectly aligned. turn it by hand.

 

[Gary W. Graley]

Thanks, that sounds exactly what I need to do!

Now for some Mammoth for the scales, if someone
has some small pieces, scrap or would be willing
to sell me some let me know, don't need a lot...

Excellent Belstain, very clear instructions...
G2

 

[Peter Atwood]

Those are some great instructions! Nice little knife Gary....I've thought about picking one up myself. Adding the scales will be a big hit.

 

[Gary W. Graley]

Originally posted by Peter Atwood
Those are some great instructions! Nice little knife Gary....I've thought about picking one up myself. Adding the scales will be a big hit.

Peter, it's a great little folder, carry it in my jeans watch pocket with a leather fob attached. The edge was made very well, no shoulders on the bevel, almost a convex type edge, push cuts nicely!
G2

 

[Michael_Aos]

Post some pics when you're done. I might try and talk you into doing one for me as well.

Mike