BK Scale Project ***FINAL***

The Warrior said:
Damn, that looks like a completely different knife. Looks sweet. Have a question for you. If these were to be anodized in olive drab, would the reflective look be gone? Or, would it still have that shine to it? I was wondering if there were such thing as a "flat" anodize.
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I think most of the reflective will be gone with anodized, specially hard anodized OD. Thanks, Warrior! I love your photos skill my friend.

maethor said:
Wow, that looks incredible. Not that I would ever walk around with that thing (waaay too much bling for me), but it looks just plain awesome. Just one thing, these scales look pretty thick in that last picture. Looks like it could cause some major hotspots. But then again, you're the guy who held them, and who am I to judge your sense of ergonomics?

Will you give out the CAD files? Can I buy the CAD files from you? I'm not planning to go into production with those, it's just that handing the files to my CNC dude here in Berlin would be an easier way to get something like that done than me ordering a set from you and paying shipping, tax, customs... you get the point. I'm thinking acrylic with a bead blast finish and some tritium vials inside... :D

Incredible work! Thanks for letting us see the process!

maethor
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Thanks, maethor! The scales' thickness is very close to the stock but the stock scales having a 3D surface. Therefore, they do feel nicer in hand. I wanted to make something different rather than duplicate the stock one. I agree that the scales are "fat" and needed to trim down in thickness, that will be next. I still have something more to do to it so stay tune...:p
About the CAD file... I wish to keep it for myself, hope you understand:D. Thanks for the kind words:)

Flexxx said:
Those are down right awesome, excellent work Sh@rp, now send all of us beckerheads a pair.

Did the end mill leave that finish?
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Thanks Flexxx! No. the end mill did not leave that finished.:D
 
I absolutely understand, it was just a half-assed shot in the dark. I know how annoying and time-consuming 3d modeling can get. You probably spent quite a few hours making that.
 
Sh@rp, Twice now I have almost bought a set of your scales before I even had the knife you made 'em for (Izula IIRC). Your creativity is off the charts, both with design and materials used, and your craftsmanship appears in pictures to be without much competition for the kinds of products you're creating.

All that said, I'm anxious to see some refining of this set, and will reserve judgment until I see the changes you've mentioned you have in the works at the moment. Without criticizing or really critiquing at this point, I'll say that a major concern I would have about putting those scales on a user large knife is the checkering. While it makes a nice design feature, and probably is pretty "grippy," I can't stand that fine checkering on my handguns because it seems like the shock of firing is amplified and focused at the top of each tiny "pyramid" shape, and it makes my strong-hand feel like it's just being torn to shreds. Figure at the most, I'll suffer 9 such shocks in a .45 before having at least a short break for reloading. With a chopper, I might be swingin' that thing with all my might for 4 or 5 minutes trying to go through a larger (I don't know, 8" or so I guess) branch or trunk. I'd be concerned that a lot of that shock would be focused and transmitted into my hand with the fine checkering.

Like I said though, I am anxious to see where you go from here. They are real lookers at this point, no question about that!

Blues
 
maethor said:
I absolutely understand, it was just a half-assed shot in the dark. I know how annoying and time-consuming 3d modeling can get. You probably spent quite a few hours making that.
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Thank you for your understanding my friend, there is no such a bad question, you don't know if you don't ask;). Yeah, lot of measurement and thought went into scales making...especially when I don't have the option of unscrew the scales, lay on the material, trace the contour then cut, file, sand to the finish...Everything has to be specific precise. Are you in the trade any chance?

slapper said:
Let me be the first to say that those scales look too good.:thumbup::)
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Thanks, my friend.

BluesStringer said:
Sh@rp, Twice now I have almost bought a set of your scales before I even had the knife you made 'em for (Izula IIRC). Your creativity is off the charts, both with design and materials used, and your craftsmanship appears in pictures to be without much competition for the kinds of products you're creating.

All that said, I'm anxious to see some refining of this set, and will reserve judgment until I see the changes you've mentioned you have in the works at the moment. Without criticizing or really critiquing at this point, I'll say that a major concern I would have about putting those scales on a user large knife is the checkering. While it makes a nice design feature, and probably is pretty "grippy," I can't stand that fine checkering on my handguns because it seems like the shock of firing is amplified and focused at the top of each tiny "pyramid" shape, and it makes my strong-hand feel like it's just being torn to shreds. Figure at the most, I'll suffer 9 such shocks in a .45 before having at least a short break for reloading. With a chopper, I might be swingin' that thing with all my might for 4 or 5 minutes trying to go through a larger (I don't know, 8" or so I guess) branch or trunk. I'd be concerned that a lot of that shock would be focused and transmitted into my hand with the fine checkering.

Like I said though, I am anxious to see where you go from here. They are real lookers at this point, no question about that!

Blues
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Thanks Blues, I see you have solid point base on your gun grip experience. I too preferred micarta for a chopper because they absorb shock and have a soft feeling in hand. So, that leads me to the question of what did you do to your gun grip? Did you find another patten on the grip that worked for you? Thanks for the input and kind words, I really appreciated it my friend:thumbup:
 
These look great.

What about weight? Do you plan to remove stock from the back side of the scales to lighten them, or is the aluminum already comparable to grivory or micarta scales?
 
Sh@rp said:
Thanks Blues, I see you have solid point base on your gun grip experience. I too preferred micarta for a chopper because they absorb shock and have a soft feeling in hand. So, that leads me to the question of what did you do to your gun grip? Did you find another patten on the grip that worked for you? Thanks for the input and kind words, I really appreciated it my friend:thumbup:
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I'm constantly experimenting with pistol grips, but unfortunately, the best fix I found for the gun doesn't translate well for knife handles. I use a rubber Hogue sleeve for my .45. Even that's somewhat of a trade-off though. It makes the grip pretty thick, which is fine for my hand, but not good at all for concealing/carrying.

On the other hand, I do wear gloves when chopping, which I didn't think about before I posted, and that would probably simulate the rubber wrap pretty closely.

But back to what I'd be more comfortable with on knife handles using my bare hands, I can envision a pattern very similar to where you are right now, only increasing the spacing of the criss-cross lines and rounding off the high points instead of them being like the point of a pyramid. I'm thinking of kinda like "domes" instead of pyramids, if that makes sense. Not being a machinist, I don't know if that's feasible in the machining process or not, and if it's not, it sure ain't no big deal. I've actually consulted doctors about the sensitivity in my hands that led to me mentioning it to you. I don't think I'm typical at all, though if others can identify with what I'm saying, I'd love to know about it. I would feel a little less like a freak! :o Certainly don't make any changes based on what I'm saying unless they are in line with something you were thinking of doing anyway. I probably jumped the gun posting before really thinking about it first.

One way or 'tother, I'll be buying scales from you sooner or later though. Love those Izula scales with the ants etched(?) or engraved(?) in the surface. My next purchase is going to be a BK14 Eskabar, and I don't think I've seen you make scales for that (yet?), but it wouldn't be long after that before I could pick up an Izula too. And like I said, I'll be watching the evolution of these big-boys too.

Blues
 
SaturatedShadow said:
These look great.

What about weight? Do you plan to remove stock from the back side of the scales to lighten them, or is the aluminum already comparable to grivory or micarta scales?
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The aluminum scales definitely weight more than the stock scale or the Micrata scale given that they're solid rather than hollow like the stock grivory. Yes, I just draw up the stock removing for the back today, I'll give it a try tomorrow plus doing something else;)

Quarter Tank said:
interesting

how is the weight?

they look larger than stock grips?
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The weight is a lot heavier than the grivory. I don't have the small scale to weight something like that but I can guess they weight at least double the Micarta if not more.:thumbdn: They do look larger because the stock one has 3D surface meaning more material been removed compared to mine.:o

Arkanian said:
The machining of the scales reminds me of the surface of the ZT handles.
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Thanks,but The ZT 300 is true 3D machining mine is not even close:o

Thank you all for your inputs. I really appreciated a lots, friends. There are many talents among us and I've learned a lot from this forums, cheers:)
 
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BluesStringer said:
I'm constantly experimenting with pistol grips, but unfortunately, the best fix I found for the gun doesn't translate well for knife handles. I use a rubber Hogue sleeve for my .45. Even that's somewhat of a trade-off though. It makes the grip pretty thick, which is fine for my hand, but not good at all for concealing/carrying.

On the other hand, I do wear gloves when chopping, which I didn't think about before I posted, and that would probably simulate the rubber wrap pretty closely.

But back to what I'd be more comfortable with on knife handles using my bare hands, I can envision a pattern very similar to where you are right now, only increasing the spacing of the criss-cross lines and rounding off the high points instead of them being like the point of a pyramid. I'm thinking of kinda like "domes" instead of pyramids, if that makes sense. Not being a machinist, I don't know if that's feasible in the machining process or not, and if it's not, it sure ain't no big deal. I've actually consulted doctors about the sensitivity in my hands that led to me mentioning it to you. I don't think I'm typical at all, though if others can identify with what I'm saying, I'd love to know about it. I would feel a little less like a freak! :o Certainly don't make any changes based on what I'm saying unless they are in line with something you were thinking of doing anyway. I probably jumped the gun posting before really thinking about it first.

One way or 'tother, I'll be buying scales from you sooner or later though. Love those Izula scales with the ants etched(?) or engraved(?) in the surface. My next purchase is going to be a BK14 Eskabar, and I don't think I've seen you make scales for that (yet?), but it wouldn't be long after that before I could pick up an Izula too. And like I said, I'll be watching the evolution of these big-boys too.

Blues
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Thanks, Blues for your feedback. I'm going to make a few different pattern on the grip anyway. I'm not locked on that particular pattern yet, just something I thought it's easy to started with. The "dome" pattern is possible to do but time consume and not cost effective but I'll keep that in mind. Thanks for the compliment on the Izula scales! the ant was engraved not etched (fine engraving .001" spacing gave it the look of etching). I have a thread on the Eskakar scales and it will be done soon. Thanks for watching.
 
Awesome looking scales man! Any chance I could snag that 3D file from ya? For just the plain version anyways if at all possible. And are you planning on making more?
 
sweet :)

give those rascals at KaBar a run for their monies :)
 
DerekH said:
Awesome looking scales man! Any chance I could snag that 3D file from ya? For just the plain version anyways if at all possible. And are you planning on making more?
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Thanks, Derek. As I answered maethor about CAD file in post #21 and I wish treating everyone equally same. Hope you're cool with that:D. However, I love to help making the handle for your Brutus if you wanted to. Cool project you have there, and I love to see the progress. Let me know if I can help.:). This still is not final yet as I found a couple things needed to dial in and I wanted to try a few different "texture" on the handle... so, yes there will be more than one set after all this.
Bladite said:
sweet :)

give those rascals at KaBar a run for their monies :)
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Thanks, Bladite.
 
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Sh@rp said:
Thanks, Derek. As I answered maethor about CAD file in post #21 and I wish to treat equally same to everyone. Hope it's cool to you:D. However, I love to to help making the handle for your Brutus if you wanted to. Cool project you have there and I love to see the progress. Let me know if I can help.:). This still not final yet as I found a couple things needed to dial in and I'll try a few different "texture" on the handle... so, yes there will be more than one set after all this.

Thanks, Bladite.
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Sorry man, didn't see your reply to Meat. Heck dude, I would settle for just the base outline, but if not I understand.
 
DerekH said:
Sorry man, didn't see your reply to Meat. Heck dude, I would settle for just the base outline, but if not I understand.
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I can help you with dimension if that's what you're looking for.
 
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not sure how i missed your prototype post Monday, but those look pretty slick.
since they feel too thick to you, can you broach them to knock 3/32" or 1/8" off the bottom side?
what mill are you using?
 
hd1971 said:
Sharp, what Cam software are you using?
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I'm using Surfcam. Are you in the trade any chance?

1066vik said:
not sure how i missed your prototype post Monday, but those look pretty slick.
since they feel too thick to you, can you broach them to knock 3/32" or 1/8" off the bottom side?
what mill are you using?
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Thanks, I'm going to cut down 1/8" each side and hollow out the back, apply a different "texture pattern" dial in couple minor spots or may be going wild, who knows??? Haas CNC mill is what being used for this job.
 
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