Becker campanion

[deltablade]

I have an early Becker, called a companion I think. I have removed mosty of the blade coating, convexed the edge, and reshaped the top of the blade somewhat. It is still a heavy knife. I note that the new BK2's have holes in the tang and wonder how I could safely drill a few in mine to lighten it a little.

 

[tradewater]

Locked up tight in a good drill press vise, using good bits at low speed and lots of cutting oil. Can get pretty exciting if a bit grabs it and turns it into a "Cro-van Fan".

 

[gmoneyluv]

Locked up tight in a good drill press vise, using good bits at low speed and lots of cutting oil. Can get pretty exciting if a bit grabs it and turns it into a "Cro-van Fan".

Yeah, if it grabs and start spinning, you got yourself one powerful food processor. Good sharp bits, slow speeds, lots of cutting fluid - should do the job.

 

[LECTER]

Campanion.

 

[deltablade]

Thanks guys, I guess the question I didnt ask is, would I notice enough difference in weight and balance to make the mod worth the "food processor" risk? lol

 

[clich]

I've had better results with low pressure and high speed. Make sure the edge is facing southpaw. That way should it spin, the spine is the contact point

 

[Bladite]

wouldn't hurt to make a jig so it can't spin...

 

[tradewater]

This might be helpful to you. http://its.fvtc.edu/machshop1/drillpress/cutspeeds.htm Tap magic is a good cutting oil to use if you can find it.

 

[willis]

CroVan fan,now that is funny tradewater.

 

[Ethan Becker]

Hey Delta.....

I hate to discourage mods but if you use little bits whiCh are much less likely to grab-you are gonna go thru a bunch of bits and gain very little....If you take the high riisk route and use larger bits, that whole CroVan fan thing is likely to be an oh shit reality.......Clamps are in order here if you do not have a machine vise......BTW Trade is right, it is always a good idea to have a little TapMagic (see your local machinists supply house) around the shop.......

It could get real ugly....

Good luck....

Ethan

 

[SpookyDriver]

Reminds me of one of the entries on the tool poster in my workshop:

DRILL PRESS: A tall upright machine useful for suddenly snatching flat
metal bar stock out of your hands so that it smacks you in the chest
and flings your beer across the room, splattering it against that
freshly-stained heirloom piece you were drying.

 

[deltablade]

Well, you guys have convinced me that if I try to lighten up my Becker I will prob lighten up my body instead, a few fingers, nose, etc. so I will just put it out of my mind and enjoy the strength of my original with no holes thru the tang.

 

[Ethan Becker]

Whew....A crippled customer is not likely to buy more stuff....Lol......Them fingers is important tools Mr. Delta and you only get ten......How I have managed to keep all of mine this long I do not know but, I know I am glad they are still there.....I will sleep a little better tonite........

All Best...........

ethan

 

[deltablade]

Thanks, Ethan, and love your knives. My campanion has a bk7 and BK9 for campanions

 

[daizee]

Good call, Delta. I think the best way to get holes in your Becker tang is to buy a new ka-bar BK-2.

Drilling into already hardened tool steel is not a lot of fun.

 

[deltablade]

and thanks to you all for keeping me outta trouble, see ya down the trail

 

[bdmicarta]

Good call, Delta. I think the best way to get holes in your Becker tang is to buy a new ka-bar BK-2.

Drilling into already hardened tool steel is not a lot of fun.

I would keep the knife as-is.

A few months ago I talked to a guy that sells knifemaking supplies about adding holes to the blade blanks that he sells. He said you could do it with a carbide bit. I haven't looked into where to get the bits or what they cost.

 

[SoldMyHat]

Good call, Delta. I think the best way to get holes in your Becker tang is to buy a new ka-bar BK-2.

Drilling into already hardened tool steel is not a lot of fun.

Did camillus HT the whole knife?

I am pretty sure I remember reading that kabar only puts the HT on the blade.

 

[SoldMyHat]

I believe it was reading the thread of the bk9 blank that needed sharpening and had the blue stuff on it.

 

[DougB2]

I used, or tried to use, carbide drill bits to enlarge some holes in a Spyderco Mule of M390. The blade just laughed at me. Steel is hardened for a reason. I don't mess with it.