Kodiak PA
Gold Member
- Joined
- Dec 3, 1998
- Messages
- 2,447
As many of you know I own several handmade Little Bear Knives made by BFC own Drew Gleason (Corduroy). To see a review of his Drop Point Hunter:
Click Here
Drew actually got his start modifying Benchmade knives and a while ago I was lamenting the fact that I bought a used Stryker with the blade in awful shape. The blade was so bad that I had to send it back to BM for a new one. When I got the knife back I had a new blade and an old knife handle and it just didnt look right. Drew offered to spruce up the Stryker since he had a free week before his next semester started at college. I jumped at the chance.
Heres 2 pics of my knife after Drew was done with it:
Drew went ahead and put a new carbon fiber handle on it for me. It lightens the knife up nicely but as you know, CF is still pretty hard stuff. Drew didnt disappoint me either in the file work department. I have 2 handmades from him with exceptional file work and my order of the day was: Lots of filework! I wasnt disappointed. Not only does the serpentine style file work run the length of the liners; he even jeweled the inner liners to accentuate the file work!
<IMG SRC="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=48968&a=336785&p=11479526&Sequence=1".
The filework runs the whole length of the knife sans the forward bushing area. He polished the serrated locking section of the liner which really makes the liner-lock stand out. This is da bomb, as my 10-year-old would say. On the spine portion of the liner work he polished the serrations that prevent my thumb from slipping forward onto the spine of the blade.
The handle screws are stainless hex head types to match the pivot screw. He put 12 of them on the handle, which really makes the CF stick out IMO. He used brass liners for the screws and even polished the pivot screw. It looked so nice that I thought he added a new nickel silver pivot.
The knife locks up perfectly even though Drew had to take the knife apart and reassemble it which makes me think this guy has a future in folding knifes as well as mods and fix blades (Drew has actually made several folding knives).
Drew used a black micarta spacer with brass inserts for the spine and I like the dark color against the SS file work.
Gleason is a sneaky devil at times and he likes to hide little surprises that take a while to find. For instance, he added a new stainless steel clip for me and tried to keep it as close to my design as functionally possible. He put my initials in it with gold filler. He put his mark under the clip and Im embarrassed to say it took me like a month to find it. The retaining screws for the clip are hex and are actually quite attractive. I waiting for the next surprise to jump up and slap me in the face now.
I have to say that the favorite part of my new dress knife is the jeweling on the inner liners, which I didnt expect. Even though I figured I would be most impressed with CF handle (which is quite exceptional), I just found myself staring at the liner work & jeweling and was down right amazed that he was able to get this knife to lock up as solidly as it does with NO blade play what-so-ever. The liner lock engages the middle portion of the tang and I feel there is no danger of any liner failure.
Even though I havent had the guts to use this knife (yet
), I think I got a good one. I turned a used knife with a well-marred handle into a brand spankn new knife
.well
.actually Drew turned a used knife into a thing of beauty.
If you get a chance to get a modification from Little Bear Knives, I highly recommend it. My spies tell me we may see one on the Blade Forum Auction real soon
Photo posting courtesy of Photo Point
Regards,
------------------
~Greg~
[This message has been edited by Kodiak PA (edited 08 August 1999).]
[This message has been edited by Kodiak PA (edited 08 August 1999).]
[This message has been edited by Kodiak PA (edited 08 August 1999).]
[This message has been edited by Kodiak PA (edited 08 August 1999).]
Click Here
Drew actually got his start modifying Benchmade knives and a while ago I was lamenting the fact that I bought a used Stryker with the blade in awful shape. The blade was so bad that I had to send it back to BM for a new one. When I got the knife back I had a new blade and an old knife handle and it just didnt look right. Drew offered to spruce up the Stryker since he had a free week before his next semester started at college. I jumped at the chance.
Heres 2 pics of my knife after Drew was done with it:
Drew went ahead and put a new carbon fiber handle on it for me. It lightens the knife up nicely but as you know, CF is still pretty hard stuff. Drew didnt disappoint me either in the file work department. I have 2 handmades from him with exceptional file work and my order of the day was: Lots of filework! I wasnt disappointed. Not only does the serpentine style file work run the length of the liners; he even jeweled the inner liners to accentuate the file work!
<IMG SRC="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=48968&a=336785&p=11479526&Sequence=1".
The filework runs the whole length of the knife sans the forward bushing area. He polished the serrated locking section of the liner which really makes the liner-lock stand out. This is da bomb, as my 10-year-old would say. On the spine portion of the liner work he polished the serrations that prevent my thumb from slipping forward onto the spine of the blade.
The handle screws are stainless hex head types to match the pivot screw. He put 12 of them on the handle, which really makes the CF stick out IMO. He used brass liners for the screws and even polished the pivot screw. It looked so nice that I thought he added a new nickel silver pivot.
The knife locks up perfectly even though Drew had to take the knife apart and reassemble it which makes me think this guy has a future in folding knifes as well as mods and fix blades (Drew has actually made several folding knives).
Drew used a black micarta spacer with brass inserts for the spine and I like the dark color against the SS file work.
Gleason is a sneaky devil at times and he likes to hide little surprises that take a while to find. For instance, he added a new stainless steel clip for me and tried to keep it as close to my design as functionally possible. He put my initials in it with gold filler. He put his mark under the clip and Im embarrassed to say it took me like a month to find it. The retaining screws for the clip are hex and are actually quite attractive. I waiting for the next surprise to jump up and slap me in the face now.
I have to say that the favorite part of my new dress knife is the jeweling on the inner liners, which I didnt expect. Even though I figured I would be most impressed with CF handle (which is quite exceptional), I just found myself staring at the liner work & jeweling and was down right amazed that he was able to get this knife to lock up as solidly as it does with NO blade play what-so-ever. The liner lock engages the middle portion of the tang and I feel there is no danger of any liner failure.
Even though I havent had the guts to use this knife (yet
If you get a chance to get a modification from Little Bear Knives, I highly recommend it. My spies tell me we may see one on the Blade Forum Auction real soon
Photo posting courtesy of Photo Point
Regards,
------------------
~Greg~
[This message has been edited by Kodiak PA (edited 08 August 1999).]
[This message has been edited by Kodiak PA (edited 08 August 1999).]
[This message has been edited by Kodiak PA (edited 08 August 1999).]
[This message has been edited by Kodiak PA (edited 08 August 1999).]
