Beckerhead Knife Making and Modification Thread

Don't mind the scales, just threw them on for the photos, don't want photos with no pants on do we?

Finally got the some of the mods finished up on the two (it has only been 4 months...)
Straight clip with a penetrator tip.




The tip is just a Very small (about 1/8") tall secondary sharpened steep straight clip. It isn't much, but it allows the tip to cut through when piercing as opposed to wedging through.
Combined with the straight clip and the stout point, it makes for a good fat wood removal tool.
 
Hope this survives the fire:

IMG_20160213_134017-small.jpg
 
Wow, ok. I thought most of them are a higher alloy tool steel and would require some soak.

Good luck and keep us updated!
 
NJBillK said:
Wow, ok. I thought most of them are a higher alloy tool steel and would require some soak.

Good luck and keep us updated!
Click to expand...

I'm certain it IS a higher alloy, but I'll be treating it in a small forge. There's a pretty big risk of grain growth if I over-cook it by that method. It will likely come out just fine as far as any user is concerned, but I won't be able to make any claims about exact hardness. There's a reason I don't generally sell mystery alloy blades. Which means I may get to keep this one. :D
 
Thats pretty sweet Daiz!
It's an American company, if they're still around I'm sure you can find what it is...keep us posted! I'm interested to see the final product!
 
I've got an idea about a 5. I think Imma pm you daizee to get an idea of how I can do my handle.
 
MMmmmm.... file and scrap knife.
For those who were keeping score, the file knife took overnight to harden fully, which suggests to me that it's O1 or similar. It turned out wicked wear-resistant (discovered when polishing) when tempered at 1084 specs, so it's gonna be pretty sweet. That one is still in progress, but the scrap knife is done.

post heat-treat:

IMG_20160217_200937-small.jpg



preparing to etch:

IMG_20160217_215649-small.jpg



boo-yah:

IMG_20160217_220300-small.jpg



IMG_20160217_221202-small.jpg
 
NJBillK said:
Don't mind the scales, just threw them on for the photos, don't want photos with no pants on do we?

Finally got the some of the mods finished up on the two (it has only been 4 months...)
Straight clip with a penetrator tip.




The tip is just a Very small (about 1/8") tall secondary sharpened steep straight clip. It isn't much, but it allows the tip to cut through when piercing as opposed to wedging through.
Combined with the straight clip and the stout point, it makes for a good fat wood removal tool.
Click to expand...

Nice work man. :thumbup:
 
Dubz, Thanks, it seems to work out well so far!

Daiz, nice, do you have an estimate on hrc? Have you used the scrap enough to notice any chipping?

I am loving the shape of that, I will be making a mini version from some scrap 1084 I have laying around instead of another kiridashi.
 
NJBillK said:
Daiz, nice, do you have an estimate on hrc? Have you used the scrap enough to notice any chipping?

I am loving the shape of that, I will be making a mini version from some scrap 1084 I have laying around instead of another kiridashi.
Click to expand...

The scrap is 1084, and I'd figure it at 60hrc or so, which is my usual target. I haven't cut anything serious with it, but 1084 treated this way is pretty tough even at that hardness. Rolls are more likely than chips.

I haven't cut anything with the file knife yet - it will get an edge after the handle is done. But it's certainly harder than the annealed 1084 I tested it on. I could feel the hardness change dramatically about halfway up the handle (when sanding/polishing) where the quench really took effect, and as I mentioned it's very wear resistant like a good tool steel. As such, it probably isn't at it's 'best' not having soaked for a long time at temp, but I expect it will be at least as good as the 1084 with longer edge holding if the grain isn't too coarse at the edge. I'll feel how fine the grain is once I get an edge one it.
 
Flat is where it's at today: kwaikenesque Hyde Speedster Scraper annealed, ground, re-heat-treated, single linen micarta scale. Everything is at 600 grit.


IMG_20160227_155909-small.jpg


IMG_20160227_155852-small.jpg


IMG_20160227_155658-small.jpg


IMG_20160227_155646-small.jpg


IMG_20160227_160002-small.jpg
 
NJBillK said:
Giving my 5 a good 'ol Fisking!
Taking it down to around .020 behind the edge and thinning the whole flat down along with it.

There were some depressions in the side that is shown as sanded, one about the size of a quarter around was dished in to the point that I had to run my 60 grit blaze to get the surrounding material off... It was as if someone took it from the temper cycle and leaned on it against a ball hitch...
It wasn't noticeable until I hit the flat with the marker and started sanding it flat, but it was a bear to get passed.

Before: just usage and patina


Now all I have left is 400 grit Norton belt and medium Scotch-Brite for finish.
Current standing:



If I don't choose to distal taper the tang, I should be done tomorrow afternoon. If I do then it will take some thinking since I only have a 1x30 and the whole tang won't fit on the platen making it a bit more difficult.

But, a 5 with this much of the flat removed is begging for the ass end to be lightened. Maybe a taper, some wood scales, and pins would work well...

This modding Crap has to end, who am I kidding... This is going to end up one hell of a turkey and ham slicer, anyone else thinking this will be the goto knife for next Thanksgiving/Christmas?
Click to expand...


That is freaken' beautiful!
 
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