Any Experiences with Knifekits.com?

B

bama_lou

Joined
Jun 15, 2004
Messages
710
For those who built folders and fixed blades using knife kits, what's the word regarding the overall quality of the knife kits supplied? Is there some sort of play expected when one is finished building the knife, or have they mastered this sort of trade so as to create an idiot-proof knife kit?

I am interested in assembling the CC4 Cowboy Classic fixed blade. They rated it a Skill Level II, the lowest skill level in the knives they are presently selling. I believe I have enough skill to complete the knife, however, I do not have specialized tools available because I only live in an apartment.:)

Can anybody share their experiences and comments regarding these knife kits?

cc4-2.jpg


The picture looks straightforward; stack the leather pieces, slip the tang into the handle, tighten at the butt end, polish the pommel and the guard, etc.


Also, I get to own a handsome looking field knife with a handsome looking sheath "built" by a handsome looking man who has developed a great interest in knives!
 
I have used two of the knife kits from Darrel Ralphs website, the Delta 5 chute knife and the SG4 hunter. Both came out really well and they have turned out to be good knives. The bolsters and all come really squared off though and it takes some work to smooth em out. I also dont like the screw in pins so I used oak dowell rods I like the contrast I got with the green litnum vite (however you spell it) and the red oak rods on the chute knife. Aus8 blades hold up real nice and when done makes a great all around knife. My uncle has made two of the folders from Darrels kits both styles of the DDR liner locks and the Typhoon balisong. They all came out fantastic and we both made the scales from our own wood supply. I hope this helps.
 
I've built the DDR3 folder kit. Fit and finish was pretty darn good. One of my bolsters had some chunks of metal missing from the screw holes on the side that faces the liner . . . but that was the only problem I had - and you can't see that in the finished product anyway. Overall it turned into one of my better quality folders, and all of my other folders are factory production.

Just realize that a kit takes a LOT of sanding and polishing. Those leather washers are sanded down and polished . . and possibly saturated with epoxy, too. The guard and pommel are sanded down and polished. If you don't have a sander, this is going to take several hours of elbow grease. Wear a respirator and do it somewhere where cleaning up a lot of dust will be easy.

Looks like a cool kit! Good luck.
 
It's been a while for me, but I've made a couple of the old DDR3 little folders, plus a bunch of the TC-4 tactical/utility fixed blade kits, and they are really well made kits. Great bunch of people to deal with:D

- gord
 
Knifekits.com sell the best kit on the market, imo. Excellent fit and finish and with a little practice you can build a great looking knife. Here are three I made up as christmas presents last year. (Cocobolo, Paduak & Micarta handles)

DSC00625.jpg
 
Nice work there Boozoo !

I am on my 7th folder kit from Knifekits.com.
For the price of the cheaper kits , you really cant go wrong.
The higher priced kits are even nicer and worth the money. I too live in an apartment and can do most of what I need to do to complete the folders.
The nicest thing about some of these kits is the amount of customization you can do on them , filework , your own wood , changing the basic shapes etc.
They are great people to deal with as well.
 
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