Becker-inspired knife to be made... bad news.

Daizee, I had an idea that you may like. Have you ever seen the way they do grip reductions on glocks. They fill them with a marine epoxy, and then grind away the thickness on the backstrap.
Well my thought was that if you were shortening the blade a lot, then you wouldn't need the bottom swell on the grip(for chopping). You could reduce the handle length w/o affecting the grip length.you could end the handle right after the lowest bolt, and modify a set of the grivory scales using the marine epoxy to acheive a roundness on the bottom of the handle. Can you understand my description?
 
Interesting idea, Slapper.
Tho I think in this case that sort of modification would be beyond the scope of the original intent and become a different sort of knife entirely.

I also find it curious that when karbar scaled down the Tac-Tool for that little glock experiment, they appear to have put one of those ka-bar-style kraton handles on it, not a scaled becker handle. probably it's easier to churn out scaled kraton short runs on a lathe than something that requires a mold and casting etc.

-Daizee
 
I like the idea of full sized handles and razel/BK3 shape with no wire notch.
 
The Pb4 has the same handle as their other bayonets. Intead of reinventing the wheel they went with what they had. I mainly wanted to give you something to think about, to take your mind off the day.
 
daizee said:
Grunt, 4.125" would be the 75% scale of the 10. I realize that's 1/8" over max carry length in many areas. If I do the 10, do you think it should fit in 4"? 73% would put it right on the money.

-Daizee
Click to expand...

I'd say go with 4" and no thumb ramp, use the grivory scales for the handle so they can be easily replaced
 
I agree, Slapper, sounds like a faster setup to prototype. I still want to see mini Grivory handles, tho. :-)

How about a miniature BK2 and BK5 hybrid?
Click to expand...

Woah, what would that look like??

A 3/16" thick sandwich sabre??

-Daizee
 
daizee said:
What a frustrating day.
It started with burned coffee this morning and ended with the discovery that the blade in the top pic (not the bk2) cracked during heat-treat. Didn't discover it until this evening.

Anyway, for this project I started laying out some steel and drilling some holes, but my phone crapped out and corrupted the SD card, so the pix are now in limbo. I guess THAT's the end of the frustrating day. I'm going to go eat ice-cream and hopefully won't end up wearing it.

-Daizee
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That sucks man. At least you know how to salvage it-ICE CREAM!
 
Well, the SD card in my phone is shot. So the in-progress pix I was gonna post are gone.

Fortunately the price on flash storage has plummeted, so it's like $6 to replace and a new one is on the way.

-Daizee
 
daizee said:
I agree, Slapper, sounds like a faster setup to prototype. I still want to see mini Grivory handles, tho. :-)



Woah, what would that look like??

A 3/16" thick sandwich sabre??

-Daizee
Click to expand...

I'm thinking full size grip BK 5 blade profile with no choil, or top bevel. Let's call it a Magnum Camp Short?
 
The "Camp Special"?
I might have to sketch that out.

Oh boy Oh boy, if I can get these pix off my other phone you'll get a big laugh. Hehehe.

-Daizee
 
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What you missed was the hole-drilling and some entertaining alignment pictures.
Day 2:

hack-sawin':
IMG00013-20110314-2110-small.jpg


Done hack-sawin':
IMG00014-20110314-2125-small.jpg


Done filin':
IMG00015-20110314-2256-small.jpg


Checking shape, re-drawing lines:
IMG00016-20110314-2302-small.jpg


mmm... Becker-style meat cleaver? Clearly more shaping to be done.
IMG00017-20110314-2304-small.jpg

IMG00018-20110314-2304-small.jpg


worked on the bench grinder for awhile:
IMG00019-20110315-0037-small.jpg


sweet! did a bunch of perimeter sanding at 60grit. The edges juuuust need to be broken, and a couple spots shaved down a hair more.
IMG00020-20110315-0038-small.jpg



IMG00021-20110315-0038-small.jpg


awesome utility size!
IMG00023-20110315-0038-small.jpg


Excalibur? (not my hand)
IMG00024-20110315-0042-small.jpg


next up, some minor finishing and then bevels. They may have to wait 'til I have access to the big grinders again.

-Daizee
 
I can't put this thing down. I love it so far.

It's amazing the difference 1/16" plus the coating thickness makes in the hand compared to the BK2.

-Daizee
 
Ok, the final handle shaping touch-ups are done and it's at roughly 100grit all over. The handles now fit about as well as a factory knife.

I hit the surfaces with a 220 grit rubber-backed sanding pad on a drill, which I've never tried before. Not bad, but I need some coarser stick-back paper. At any rate, it's ready for bevels and then some moderate hand-sanding. I'm gonna keep this one somewhat matte rather than going hog wild on the shiny.

With the handles pre-done I could even finish this in one more evening. Nobody picked up at Kabar today when I called to order a set of grivory grips. I'll try again tomorrow.

-Daizee
 
More Progress!
I finally got back over the "The Shop". I spent a few hours doing bevels at the KMG with a dull belt (I'm still a n00b and need to go slow) while the H-man finished making the tool arm holder for the rest of the accessories.

Here's a fuzzy shot - it doesn't look quite as intimidating without the handles.
That's my left-hand grind - pretty pleased except for the little whoop at the back of the plunge. We'll see how that sands out.

IMG_20110403_121240-small.jpg


-Daizee
 
It took a week to get some shop time in.
The knife has been sanded to 220 grit by hand with blocks.
There are some deep scratches from the 60 grit belt on the bevel, which I don't think I'm going to take out completely (hence going up to 220). Besides, they'll blend right in with the wear from chopping and whatnot. The perimeter of the knife has been sanded to a quick 400, one step up from the 220. I think it's ready for heat-treat. There are two other little knives wating for my attention, so this one has to step down the assembly line quickly.

Here it is surrounded by sandpaper devestation and then a more square shot (I confess, some of that sandpaper was from a previous tiny knife finished last week).

IMG_20110410_001735-small.jpg


IMG_20110410_001751-small.jpg


-Daizee
 
I'd like to see a bk-2 type blade but shortened with a gut hook and slight thumb ramp or jimping. Make a helluva deer knife... I look forward to seeing more on your project. Best of luck!
 
Dangit, I didn't even think to take another handle shot.
Anyway, the next picture will likely be the complete knife.
Timing will depend on the next go at the treating oven.

Remaining steps:
1) harden & temper
2) light finish sanding
3) painstakingly shape handles (hahahaha - with an allen wrench)
4) sharpen
5) sheath
 
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