Beckerhead Knife Making and Modification Thread

[1066vik]

I highly recommend easing the edges on those scales -- otherwise, it's a good looking knife.

 

[zzyzzogeton]

This happened yesterday because, well, sometimes stuff happens. Powder coated some throwing knives. BK1 for Becker content and scale. The throwers are 14-1/2 inches long and run 18.5 to 19.4 ounces.

I have recently learned how to powder coat stuff, have access to a 4 ft x 4 ft x 7ft powder coating oven and have some "real" powder coating work to do and wanted to practice on some non-critical work before doing it for final realsies. No idea how well it will hold up for throwing, but until it wears off, I will always be able to find them.

 

[NixKustoms]

Finished this last night. Sold it this morning.

My take on a nessmuk. I call it "Mukluk" O1 1/8" 3.5" blade length, and walnut scales with aluminum pins. My buddy at work has an RC tester and this one tested around 61-63rc. I'm happy with it, and I'll have to make more of them. Longer handle next time.

 

[daizee]

Super cute, Nick!! Love it.
Yeah, you'll need more handle for that puppy. Don't be afraid to let the handle be longer than the blade, as long as the lines flow.

 

[NixKustoms]

Thanks bud!! Yeah this was definitely a leaning blade. My other blades have longer handles. I'm really hoping that my ergonomics help with the grip. That's all part of learning though.

 

[The Warrior]

Cool muk Nick. I could probably get at least one finger on that handle, haha.

 

[daizee]

Thanks bud!! Yeah this was definitely a leaning blade. My other blades have longer handles. I'm really hoping that my ergonomics help with the grip. That's all part of learning though.

Rev rev rev!
Nice move carving out the forefinger groove in the scales. That's important with a guardless profile. I bet that thing will be delightful to use.

 

[NixKustoms]

Cool muk Nick. I could probably get at least one finger on that handle, haha.

Thanks Jim! Yeah probably. Haha

Rev rev rev!
Nice move carving out the forefinger groove in the scales. That's important with a guardless profile. I bet that thing will be delightful to use.

That groove just kinda happened when I was trying to contour the handle but I liked how it looked so I kept it. Haha sold it to a buddy so hopefully I'll get some good feedback from him.

 

[NixKustoms]

Finished this one up today. I'll get better pictures tomorrow.

 

[daizee]

Woo-hoo!
I like your pin pattern.

 

[NixKustoms]

Woo-hoo!
I like your pin pattern.

Thanks bud!

Hopefully it's a little different than most.

I got busy cleaning the shop and other life stuff today so I neglected tutti take more pictures but I did force a lemon patina on the knife today with dinner. Tomorrow isn't looking much better for free time. this weekend we're going fishing so hopefully some action shots coming soon. :thumbup:

 

[NixKustoms]

Another one finished.

 

[daizee]

Noice!!
that'll be hard to take off your belt.

 

[NixKustoms]

Noice!!
that'll be hard to take off your belt.

Thanks bro!!

This was made for my tattoo artist. So he'll certainly get a lot of good use from it. Just gotta make the sheath now.

 

[daizee]

Drilled a pile of holes tonight.
Shop n00bs: If you don't have the right tools and techniques to drill LARGE (over 3/8") holes in small pieces of relatively thin stock (under 3/8"), find someone to teach you!!
And when you find that person, please give me their contact info...

I hate doing this, hence the move to waterjet for dashi with large holes, but I haven't been making 'em fast enough to justify another batch.
St00pid Daizee.

 

[Bladite]

holes. bah :>

 

[NixKustoms]

I ran into that problem once....once.

Daziee, do you do your own HT? I'm thinking about only doing 1095 for a while. Mostly because my tempering oven won't get to 500°F, and my O1 is rc'ing at around 61-63. Unless I'm missing something, I'm gonna hold off on O1 for a while.

I also dig the nessmuk style blades you've got going there. Can't wait till see those finished!

 

[daizee]

I ran into that problem once....once.

Daziee, do you do your own HT? I'm thinking about only doing 1095 for a while. Mostly because my tempering oven won't get to 500°F, and my O1 is rc'ing at around 61-63. Unless I'm missing something, I'm gonna hold off on O1 for a while.

I also dig the nessmuk style blades you've got going there. Can't wait till see those finished!

It's a crappy problem! threw the whole drill press vise at me. Need to add some accessories to the table. I only use the big-boy drill press about once a year, so I tend to forget that it needs some bits until I want to use it...

Yep, I do my own HT. I can get to 475-500 in a small oven with some techniques - PM me. My target is Rc-60-61 for most steels/blades. Also, that new HT oven of yours should be able to be run at a lower setting, no? 1095 is best quenched in brine (risky) instead of oil to get full martensite conversion, so I understand. Give 1084 a try. It's cake to heat treat, and you probably would want to temper it at 400-475 at the most. It almost never cracks in quench, is cheaper than 1095, and all you give up is a smidge of abrasion resistance (and the possibility of a hamon).

 

[NixKustoms]

Yeah those big drill presses are dangerous. I get into guys at work I'd they are using one without having it clamped down. I've seen what happens. Scary. Glad that you only got a few cuts considering what coulda happened.

Pm'ed ya bud.

 

[granitestateofmind]

Looks like a great piece. I will be doing something similar to my 15 soon (I hope).

Next time get yourself a two or three axis vise for your drill press. You can mount the scales in that and use the drill press with a sanding drum and maneuver the wood or steel, brass, or any other material around more accurately without the jumping or running out.

Another added bonus is that you can work slower to keep your chuck from getting beat up from the lateral load.

Moving this over here, where it belongs....
Yeah, NJBill - I'd need a whole new drill press to go with that vise. The quill on my old Craftsman is....ah....not too precise. It wobbles a bit. I have an X-Y vise that I used to try and do some proto machining on some aluminum - won't be doing any more of that. Mill cut fine, but until there was some lateral (or vertical, drilling holes) pressure on the bit it was wandering about. Every hole looked like I started it freehand. Works great with a brad point where the point centers the bit before the spurs start cutting....and non precision drilling of things. It's good for Kydex - and drum sanding. It's not like I'm going to make it any worse.....