- Joined
- Jun 2, 2011
- Messages
- 243
This is a bit long winded so please bear with me.
So Ive been working on this for a little over 2 months now. It all started when back in May I was once again drooling over the BK-5 and the JAB Baconmaker trying to decide which would be my next knife. My wife walked by and said you need another knife like you need another hole in yer head. Sigh practical as ever (Love that woman).
This started me thinking about last years deer and elk hunt. My hunting buddy is an ex-butcher and we spend the hunt discussing knives, guns and so forth. I didnt get an elk last year but I did get a buck and started out trying to do the work with the BK-2 but it just was too thick to work with comfortably. I switched to the bk-11 and used it for everything but the tenderloin and backstrap. The blade was just too short so I had to switch to my Buck Vanguard which has a little over a 4 blade but other than that matches the geometry of the 11 very closely. It wasnt perfect but close.
Our discussion shifted to blade length for field dressing and he felt that a 5 blade is perfect for most big game and I believe he is right. The only reason that the 2 didnt work was the fact that as I got to bone the point where the grind began deflected my cut. It was at this point during my reminiscing that I thought what if a BK-2 was full flat grind? Ooooohhh
This percolated in the back of my head for quite a while. On June 6[SUP]th[/SUP] I received a call from my brother saying my Dad had suffered a massive heart attack and was gone. To say I was devastated and my emotions ran the gambit would be an understatement. I started drinking and thinking about my dad. He was a farmer from birth to death (even though he was retired) and whenever he needed something he took what he had and made it into what he needed. It was at this point that the BK-2 FFG locked into my brain and I had to do something, anything to release my frustration. So began this project. I posted a pic of the initial blade work that night in another thread and I have had a few hours here and there to work on it.
This project is more of a tribute and way for me to work through my loss than anything else. Ive thought about the next steps. I thought about Cliching the blade but while at the farm I found an old Ontario Old Hickory knife that was worn and pitted. My mom told me that my dad always had it in the combine to cut things that clogged the head out. 30+ years of being used had left it worn but he still had it razor sharp so I think this one will earn its pantine through use. She also told me his love was knives. Huh, I never knew.
So if you have suggestions please pass them on. This may take another two months before I complete it. Mr. Becker, I apologize for bastardizing your creation.
So, let the pictures begin.
This is the starting point complete with one of Nicks first gen sheaths.
Here is the blade after the first nights work. I did everything with a Black Diamond file and emery cloth and a sanding block.
Test fitting the antler shed. I cut it in half with a hack saw.
Im a measure 4 times and still screw it up kind of guy so I decided to do the basic cuts and then glue and pin it and then do the final cuts and shaping afterwards.
Here it is glues and pined. My Dad LOVED JB Weld. He used it to fix everything so I used it as the epoxy for the scales.
I close up of the blade. Ive only taken it to 400 grit emery. Its a working blade not a safe queen.
This is where I ended up tonight. The wife said I had filled the house with the smell of something burning. Well yeah, I was using a dremel to shape the scales.
Thanks for looking.
To be continued
So Ive been working on this for a little over 2 months now. It all started when back in May I was once again drooling over the BK-5 and the JAB Baconmaker trying to decide which would be my next knife. My wife walked by and said you need another knife like you need another hole in yer head. Sigh practical as ever (Love that woman).
This started me thinking about last years deer and elk hunt. My hunting buddy is an ex-butcher and we spend the hunt discussing knives, guns and so forth. I didnt get an elk last year but I did get a buck and started out trying to do the work with the BK-2 but it just was too thick to work with comfortably. I switched to the bk-11 and used it for everything but the tenderloin and backstrap. The blade was just too short so I had to switch to my Buck Vanguard which has a little over a 4 blade but other than that matches the geometry of the 11 very closely. It wasnt perfect but close.
Our discussion shifted to blade length for field dressing and he felt that a 5 blade is perfect for most big game and I believe he is right. The only reason that the 2 didnt work was the fact that as I got to bone the point where the grind began deflected my cut. It was at this point during my reminiscing that I thought what if a BK-2 was full flat grind? Ooooohhh
This percolated in the back of my head for quite a while. On June 6[SUP]th[/SUP] I received a call from my brother saying my Dad had suffered a massive heart attack and was gone. To say I was devastated and my emotions ran the gambit would be an understatement. I started drinking and thinking about my dad. He was a farmer from birth to death (even though he was retired) and whenever he needed something he took what he had and made it into what he needed. It was at this point that the BK-2 FFG locked into my brain and I had to do something, anything to release my frustration. So began this project. I posted a pic of the initial blade work that night in another thread and I have had a few hours here and there to work on it.
This project is more of a tribute and way for me to work through my loss than anything else. Ive thought about the next steps. I thought about Cliching the blade but while at the farm I found an old Ontario Old Hickory knife that was worn and pitted. My mom told me that my dad always had it in the combine to cut things that clogged the head out. 30+ years of being used had left it worn but he still had it razor sharp so I think this one will earn its pantine through use. She also told me his love was knives. Huh, I never knew.
So if you have suggestions please pass them on. This may take another two months before I complete it. Mr. Becker, I apologize for bastardizing your creation.
So, let the pictures begin.
This is the starting point complete with one of Nicks first gen sheaths.
Here is the blade after the first nights work. I did everything with a Black Diamond file and emery cloth and a sanding block.
Test fitting the antler shed. I cut it in half with a hack saw.
Im a measure 4 times and still screw it up kind of guy so I decided to do the basic cuts and then glue and pin it and then do the final cuts and shaping afterwards.
Here it is glues and pined. My Dad LOVED JB Weld. He used it to fix everything so I used it as the epoxy for the scales.
I close up of the blade. Ive only taken it to 400 grit emery. Its a working blade not a safe queen.
This is where I ended up tonight. The wife said I had filled the house with the smell of something burning. Well yeah, I was using a dremel to shape the scales.
Thanks for looking.
To be continued
