Advice wanted.

K

kodiak

Joined
Dec 24, 2002
Messages
1,304
Hello, this is my first post in this forum. I am going to modify the blade on my newly recieved Microtech Scarab. I thought I could learn to love the combo edge, but I can't. I pretty sure I will never own a knife in this price range again so I want it how I want it. :D I am a pretty good fixture maker and a pretty good grinder. This is what I want to do:

000_0296.jpg


I want to mount the knife on a plate use a dowel and a rod to make a jig if you will to put the curve in the blade instead of the serrations. Like the blade in the picture. I will put a radius on the grinding wheel. Any advice you can give me (even if it's negitive) I would love to hear. Thanks.
 
Instead of ruining this knife why don't you just sell it and buy the recurved blade one you want?
 
If you insist you have to ruin this knife, get a cheaper knife with the same general dimensions as the MT, then practice the grind to see if you really want to do it.
See if the hardness of the blade is gone, the grind comes out as you like, and if you can take the black finish off the MT blade, as it will look strange with a portion of the black ground off.
Myself, I think L6steel has the right answer...
 
I wouldn't try it.
#1, The dimensions of the blade are very different. What seems to work well on that wide blade is going to look completely different on the narrow one.
#2, You have to do more than just grind the edge bevel up past the serrations. That will leave you with a splitting wedge profile back in front of the handle, especially on a saber ground blade like that. In order to take that much meat off, you'll have to regrind the entire blade to keep the right proportions and have it be a good cutter. Taking that much material away on a blade that narrow could seriously weaken it.
#3, You really don't want to mess of the heat treat. Its not that hard to grind knives after heat treat, but I personally try to avoid having a lot of material to remove on a hardened blade. Not a fun job.

Also if you still want to go through with this, I would rethink the equipment you plan on using. Since you said you'd radius the wheel, I'm assuming your using a stone wheel. As a guy who made knives for several years on benchgrinders, I can tell you that a belt grinder is the way to go for a task like this. Stone wheels run hotter, don't cut as cleanly, and vibrate much more. Even with a fixture, it will be difficult to get that kind of a grind blended in with the factory grinds on the blade, and you will have a hell of a lot of work getting a nice finish on it. You'd be much better off using a small wheel on a belt grinder, and grinding vertically if you ask me. This will give you much better results, and more control than using a jig.
I really can't imagine trying this on a knife that expensive though. I'm sure you could sell it and get something that you like with the money pretty easily :)
 
Can I just be redundant? These guys are right. If you really don't like that Scarab, send it to me; I don't have one yet. If you check out Blade Auction you might find a cheapo knockoff to practice on at least. One thing is that these knives are very difficult to disassemble and even worse to get back together. If you tried to work on it with the blade in the knife you'd end up with a sloppy mess full of crap and it'd never function properly again. I think you should just send this disappointing knife to me. I'm not big on serrations either but will compromise my values for you; I'm that kinda guy.

Alternatively, Michael has a good suggestion; MT keeps its value pretty well, especially if it's fresh with all the papers. You should be able to recover much of your cost and then find a knife you like. The Vector is sweet and you can find one occasionally if you're patient. Good luck!
 
these guys are right. don't do it.
tony is a good freind of mine, he owns microtech. try to sell it on an auction or something.
I don't want to hear of you getting hurt, or destroying a great knife.
 
Well ok. I not stupid and I'm not knife maker. I tought it would work, but I certianly respect your opinions. I guess I won't do it. Thank you for your input. I love the Microtech Scarab aside from the combo edge. Mabee I just need more time to adore the lines of this beautiful blade. :D
 
Wreck it baby!
Combo edges are for undecided wanabees. You know what you want. Go for it. Just don't overheat it.
I just had to go against the grain!
adam. :D
 
I take the view; you can't own to many knives. Save that beauty and buy yourself another, maybe two. I have fifty or so. Fred;)
 
Michael and Fred: Yay! Y'all have the right attitude: Question everything. :D Michael you are of course right in a way - why not make your knife what you want it to be? I can dig it. But I sure wouldn't do that on this particular knife; I'd be like Fred, buy another that was set up the way I want.

There's no knife on the planet more fun to play with than an MT double action out the front. I have a whole collection of em! (Okay, a small collection. :)) And just play play play. But it'd break my heart if I went reworking one of them and damaged it. Not only are they expensive, but they're so tight and run in such close tolerances that harming it would be very traumatic! (For me. ;))

But we should sure support anyone's fun with their knives, regardless what form it takes. Right now I'm gonna get out my Makora Fire Ant and pop it a few times; what a sweet knife!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top