Beckerhead Knife Making and Modification Thread

Got some more pics with way better lighting:

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Finally made a better pocket sheath for my SYKCO 311... this thing has been in my pocket since the day it showed up. I made a quick and dirty sheath for it that has performed valiantly for a couple years now, but as with anything it was starting to show some wear and tear as it wasnt made as an end all be all kinda thing. SO! I knocked this thing out yesterday... Not the best but I dont think its too bad for having no idea what I am doing and no leather working tools. LOL I just started cutting, sewing, and waxing and here we go!

Square shaped pocket slip sheath, beeswax impregnated leather, welt sewed "proud", and two tethering holes in the bottom for a "static line" to run through a belt, or can be worn as a neck knife. Also left the interior space and welt sort of ambiguous so that it could fit other knives/things I would just have to reform it. It'll do until finally I get around to getting something more proper made for it.

The new and the old.


Think this will work...
 
I think he mentioned earlier he was using katalox. I really like katalox myself, especially on the rare occasions you can source figured stuff.
 
Nice work, ITHAF. You must have huge pockets. A knife that large goes on my belt!

Glad to see you found the sunlight, GSOM. ;-)
Lookin' good!
 
Daizee, you might consider trying 5.11's pants. Nice large pockets, and other pockets in all kinds of useful places, ripstop, teflon treated for stain resistance, and, IMO very comfortable. In case you wanted to fit a fixed blade knife in your pocket...
 
Nice work, ITHAF. You must have huge pockets. A knife that large goes on my belt!

Glad to see you found the sunlight, GSOM. ;-)
Lookin' good!


Thank you! And yes the 311 is just almost on that line between belt/pocket size. I always just wear plain ol jeans, but it works! This sheath ended up a bit bigger, but I wanted something a little "beefier sturdier" Actually, in the same pocket with the knife/sheath goes my little craftsman pliers.

Same size blade as the 14, except 3/16" thick,saber/convex ground, 52100 steel, and it has a "full size" handle. Love it, you'd be hard pressed to ever bust it.
Ancient pic, but kinda shows what I mean...


And in the pocket (with old sheath, new sheath sits just a smidge lower, and its adjustable.)

 
Daizee, you might consider trying 5.11's pants. Nice large pockets, and other pockets in all kinds of useful places, ripstop, teflon treated for stain resistance, and, IMO very comfortable. In case you wanted to fit a fixed blade knife in your pocket...

hahaha, yeah... I don't think putting MORE stuff in my pockets is the right answer!
I'm actually quite happy with the belt thing. I use tech-loks and they're easy on/off.
Folders IWB are nice and discrete, or a birudashi that disappears into a side pocket and doesn't cause problems sitting down. :-)
 
I picked up a coal forge at an auction a couple months back. Got a bit of square bar and a hankerin' for an ulu. We'll see what happens...
 
check and see if your local tractor supply sells heating coal -- the nut sized stuff should be about perfect for forging.
 
check and see if your local tractor supply sells heating coal -- the nut sized stuff should be about perfect for forging.

I have a little bit that I got from a coworker, but I will definitely look for some at the farm store when I run out. Thanks.
 
Looking good, GSOM.
Too fancy for us plain folk here in New England.:D but very nice.

Thanks guys. Ray - I did actually think of that while I was doing it....but since it's intended to be a user (and it has been used) I figure that fits right in with the New England sensibilities ( if not the Shaker ones).

hey gsom, what wood is that? looks neat!

Katalox (as was mentioned by CF) also known as Mexican Ebony. Burns pretty easily with power saws, but works quite well with rasps and fresh belts on the grinder. Surprised at the brown color, though....it's kinda purplish black in it's raw state...

Besides the other mods which look great GSOM, That edge though, Daaaamn.

Thanks....thinned it out a bit on the slack belt grinder. If a stock 15 is slicey, then this is.....slicier.

Glad to see you found the sunlight, GSOM. ;-) Lookin' good!

Now that you see what katalox looks like finished, maybe a little scale action for a large kiridashi?

Finally made a better pocket sheath for my SYKCO 311... this thing has been in my pocket since the day it showed up. I made a quick and dirty sheath for it that has performed valiantly for a couple years now, but as with anything it was starting to show some wear and tear as it wasnt made as an end all be all kinda thing. SO! I knocked this thing out yesterday... Not the best but I dont think its too bad for having no idea what I am doing and no leather working tools. LOL I just started cutting, sewing, and waxing and here we go!

Square shaped pocket slip sheath, beeswax impregnated leather, welt sewed "proud", and two tethering holes in the bottom for a "static line" to run through a belt, or can be worn as a neck knife. Also left the interior space and welt sort of ambiguous so that it could fit other knives/things I would just have to reform it. It'll do until finally I get around to getting something more proper made for it.

The new and the old.


Think this will work...

Nice looking sheath, IWHAF. Though I agree with daizee - I couldn't carry it in my pocket. Mostly because my oversized rear end makes pocket carry of ANY knife difficult.
 
Now that you see what katalox looks like finished, maybe a little scale action for a large kiridashi?

HMMMMMmmmmm.....


Nice looking sheath, IWHAF. Though I agree with daizee - I couldn't carry it in my pocket. Mostly because my oversized rear end makes pocket carry of ANY knife difficult.

hahaha, that's right. I forgot there are menfolk without an arse.
 
Lol considering I carry it in my front pocket my arse ain't got nuthin to do with it, that being said it would probably do well as an arse pocket sheath. I think we have a money making idea there gentlemen... Arse Pocket Sheaths.... :D
 
Thank you DunkEm...

School has been taking up all of my time but to keep myself from going crazy I have been taking on little/fast projects like the sheath above, and a W66 restoration...

I found this little guy for cheap and started the initial restoration things, oil soak, scrub, sharpen, and buff. Well I accomplished all of that but as I was sharpening I noticed that the previous owner had put on an extremely obtuse angle with what appeared to be a real coarse stone/file. No matter, I buzzed it up and took it down, then outside to cut some wood. Dang thing was sharp enough to shave, but because of its age, wear, etc, the overall geometry was just not up to snuff. It was cutting just not as well as its less that 1/8" self should be. So I went back to the drawing board and decided to take it to my 2X42 and thin the grind down. Well after a couple of zips, I resharpened and its much better. Have not taken it through the grits to take out the grind lines yet BUT wanted to test before I put more time into it.

Before:


After:


It cuts real good now that everything has been calmed down a bit. Also before hand (if you can see) the spine was really rough, probably just from being knocked around, used and abused. SO! Initially I just squared and cleaned it up, but after going back to the drawing board I decided it was in desperate need of a rounded spine... I like it alot. Also fixed the top swedge as it was a bit wonky. I liked the rounded spine so much I went ahead and rounded the spine on my Green River Belt Knife... This is hard to get a picture of since the spines are so tiny, but I tried!



Also did something a bit different on the Green River, the spine was sharpened to 90 for scraping/striking, so I rounded the spine up to the hump/drop point. Then I left the end portion/drop point, squared off and polished after the hump. So now I can still strike a firesteel, and the spine is o so comfy! It was also a little bit of a test for another idea I have later on.



Overall, no real time invested, but some big differences here (at least to me).
 
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