BK16 handle scale question micarta vs stock

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PatrickKnight

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Jan 24, 2012
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My question is, are the Ka-bar micarta replacement scales any thicker than the stock plastic scales?

I am trying to find a replacement for my ESEE 3 as I have pretty much given up on making the handle comfortable short of spending the cost of the knife on new scales. I am seriously considering a BK16 as the replacement however I have some concerns with this knife as well. A friend I work with carries his 16 at work everyday so he has let me use it for a bit. I have the same problem with this one I do with the ESEE the handle is to darn thin. I am wondering if I got the micarta scales if I would still have this problem? Or would I need to get liners made as well?
 
Don't know how thick there are but you could always contact Tommythewho and have custom wood scales made. His work is absolutely beautiful if you like wood.
 
That idea has crossed my mind but the way I look at it is if I am going for custom scales I might as well go for a custom knife.
 
The micarta scales are about the same. I made liners out of a thin plastic cutting board. It was the kind that is thin enough to roll up, and came in a pack of five in different colors. It took all of about 5 minutes. Take the scales off, lay each scale on the cutting board, trace around it, cut it out with scissors. http://www.amazon.com/MIU-Flexible-...2637406&sr=8-5&keywords=cutting+board+plastic

I trimmed the edges with a razor blade. Ta da! They made the handles just enough fatter to make the knife super comfy.
 
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Will the stock hardware fit with those liners? The is the problem I am having with my ESEE, I made liners from a Mead notebook cover and one set wasn't enough so I made a second set then the stock strews weren't long enough.
 
No but you can get longer boos from lowes for $ 3.00
Also there are some makers here that sell liners and the longer bolts.
 
I got longer bolts from a hardware store. You're better off replacing the stock ones with stainless steel bolts anyways.
 
If you use the cutting board plastic for liners, typically two sets seems to be the necessary amount to make the handle feel "perfect" (in the opinion of the people I have talked to about it) which adds about 1.75mm to each side of the handles. New screws can be purchased at Lowes as mentioned before, and it doesn't take much to get them fitted on correctly. I believe the size to use is 8-32 socket head cap screws, although I personally have been on the button cap hex head screws as they don't stick out as far. Get them longer than you need them and trim them down to size if they are too long using a file or a grinder or something.
 
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