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BK16 Mod Project. ATTEMPT #2 starts on post #28 DONE!

alright, i'm going to try this baby again. found a 10% off coupon online, made the blade $71, with shipping came to only $83. that's not bad at all, only $10 more than what retail plus shipping will be on the production FFGs when they come out. which i will also buy.
i don't want to deal spot, but if anyone wants that 10% off coupon info pm me. it's good through march 28th.

and i found a 5/16 forstner bit! holes in micarta handles #2 should be way cleaner. version 2 knife is going to rock. i will definitely strip it, but i might just etch the flats this time and leave the grind alone. we'll see how it looks under the coating.

now comes the waiting. i'm terrible at the waiting part.
 
How are you thinking you'll keep the 5/16 outer hole lined up right with the 3/16 or 5/32 pilot hole. I got that figured out for the bigger Becker's but haven't found an alignment tool for these new knives.
 
i've tried 2 things on a piece of test micarta, both worked well

1) i made my initial hole with a roto-zip (mega dremel tool) b/c i happen to have a plunge router attachment for that, so it's what i use. that initial hole is a lot smaller than the final through-hole for the screw. but the little sharp point in the center of the forstner bit actually lined up very well in that and held it in place to have the larger hole centered over the pilot hole. so i actually made the wider outer hole first, then went back and enlarged my smaller pilot hole to the right size for the screw. worked well.


2) what i also really liked was using a countersink drill bit before the forstner bit. drilled my initial pilot hole to size, set that countersink bit (see pic) in there and widened it out like i was going to just do a recessed head. automatically centered the wider outer hole over the pilot hole. then the forstner bit stayed in place and went straight down. worked really well. now that i have the right size forstner bit coming, i think either way will work.
hss-flute-countersink-drill-bit-12-7mm-1001-02-aaronngu77%402.jpg


hope i explained those ok...
 
Hmm, mines not new, I hand stripped it, up to 220 because that's the highest I have right now, but the sig is still intact and I did a number on the FPR text, wasn't able to get the entire handle stripped, and the spine isn't stripped very well at all right now, nor the top and bottom of the tang. But I'm on the same boat as you, I want to keep the signature intact. Sorry, won't trade mine. Nice mod though, really like the barbcarta.
 
dc, thanks for the info on the forstner bit. i got mine in the mail last week, great minds think alike :). along with more micarta and BK16 #2.
lg&m, scales were a litle bit thicker than stock. not a lot, but noticeable.

so project #2 is in the works. i stripped the blade down with paint stripper over the weekend. etched the flats, left the grind alone. it's a light etch, i may do it again to get it looking more unfinished-forged looking. also stippled the handles and put on stainless hardware. i will eventually make another set of micarta handles with knowledge learned from trial 1. i'll post some pics here when i get a chance.
 
ok, round 2.

new knife.
1) stripped the blade. anyone that hasn't heard this already - the spray on stripper sucks. the big bottle of gelatinous stripper is awesome. 20mins, wipe the coating off. i use a razorblade scraper to get the last couple of small spots that didn't just wipe off. very easy, fun. wear gloves. stripper stings when it gets on your skin.

2) etched the flats. like many others, shamelessly stole the gunblue/bleach/etch technique from clich. i tried to wipe out the "first production run" laser etching b/c it's just not my cup of tea cosmetically. i covered the saber grind of the blade with vaseline to protect it from the etching. turns outa a couple little spots of gunblue splashed and/or leaked through near the tip on each side, but overall it worked really well. those vertical grind lines make it impossible to sand the gun blue off without taking a LOT of steel first, so i'm living with them (for now :))

3) stippled the handle. i really like this. bumps the grip level up considerably, still very comfortable to hold. actually more comfortable to my hands b/c it doesn't slide around as much within my grip. Used the soldering iron woodpecker technique from prev threads here on the forum. i forget who i stole the idea from, i'll give credit where it's due when i remember.

4) stainless hardware

5) convexed the edge

i'm really liking it so far. i'll do a set of (barbwire) micarta handles sometime in the next week or two when i have some time.

me likey. what do you think, guys?

BK16try2a.jpg


BK16try2b.jpg
 
I like it! I really prefer not etching the bevel..just the flats. Thats a nice looking FPR! One of these days Im gonna get rid of the flat etch on mine.

How about a pic with the grips off ur first one on this new one? I for one would like to see that combo.
 
That is really nice looking! I like it alot. Great job and thank you for posting about the processes you used.
 
thrillbilly said:
How about a pic with the grips off ur first one on this new one? I for one would like to see that combo.
Click to expand...

thrill,
i would if i could. but i can't until i make more, sorry. a couple days after i started this thread, a BFmember emailed me b/c he wanted a beater 16 (so he could feel free to bang on it and use it instead of feeling like he needed to safe queen it). he'd seen i wasn't really sold on etch attempt #1. it's already up and moved to West Virginia.

i do HAVE the same micarta for this one, so it'll happen soon. i'll take pics.
what i'm torn between now is the rough finish for that same color and texture vs really taking a graduated sanding to it for a smooth and glossy darker brown. what to do, what to do? maybe both, if i can make 2 pairs fit on my micarta slabs when i'm cutting them out.
 
gentemanndvm said:
thrill,
i would if i could. but i can't until i make more, sorry. a couple days after i started this thread, a BFmember emailed me b/c he wanted a beater 16 (so he could feel free to bang on it and use it instead of feeling like he needed to safe queen it). he'd seen i wasn't really sold on etch attempt #1. it's already up and moved to West Virginia.

i do HAVE the same micarta for this one, so it'll happen soon. i'll take pics.
what i'm torn between now is the rough finish for that same color and texture vs really taking a graduated sanding to it for a smooth and glossy darker brown. what to do, what to do? maybe both, if i can make 2 pairs fit on my micarta slabs when i'm cutting them out.
Click to expand...

it is what it is...glad she found a good home!
 
just finished up the how-i-did-my-handle-thread tonight. (see link in previous post if you're interested in the process).

i think it turned out pretty well. here she be:


3f-1.jpg



nice and grippy b/c it's micarta, too :)



(((my FFG production 16 is sitting with etchant on the logo right now. then i'm stripping that baby down. i'll see what handle combo looks best on both of them between the stippled stock handles and these micarta ones. i've got enough barbwire micarta for another set if it looks good on both. might be twice the awesomeness.)))
 
OREGON FAL'ER said:
How are you thinking you'll keep the 5/16 outer hole lined up right with the 3/16 or 5/32 pilot hole. I got that figured out for the bigger Becker's but haven't found an alignment tool for these new knives.
Click to expand...

you drill it to the size of the point on the forsner bit then after you have it bored you drill out the pilot the rest of the way
 
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