BK7 mod info?

H

Herger

Joined
Feb 2, 2011
Messages
197
O.k. after spending 4 hours doing the February challenge with the BK7, I was thinking of a possible finger choil. I looked through the old threads but did not find the info I was looking for. One: Is this a good idea for the BK7? Two: From an engineering point of view does this weaken the blade? Any thoughts, opinions or tech data would be appreciated...
 
I'm not the expert, but I'd be careful when grinding a good-sized choil in there. You wouldn't want to overhead the blade while doing it. You might have ok results with a quality half-round file. Of course Filing a lot on hardened steel is a bit of a chore...
Don't ask me how I know THAT.

I'm not suggesting it's a good or bad idea - just don't want you to ruin your blade by accident with an otherwise reasonable idea. I suspect strength would not be greatly compromised. The blade edge is probably the weakest part to begin with.
Maybe an expert will chime in.

-Daizee
 
Daizee, thanks for the info, it's a beautiful blade and really hate to mess it up in any way. That would be like destroying one of Michael Angelo's works...
 
[youtube]WKV4j8-G1Nc[/youtube]

Wayfinder15 from BCUSA did an old Camillus one some time ago, and he never had any problems. He has a very interesting setup as well.
 
DerekH, Thank you for the vid. This guy went to town on his Bk7. I'm leaning towards towards doing it, not sure if I would put it in my mill with a carbide cutter or grind it though...
 
I would use something small, like a dremel, and just make sure to dip the knife in water frequently. Hold the metal with your bare hand, and when it starts getting uncomfortable, dip it in water to cool it off. Might take awhile, but it would be much more likely to keep from getting messed up that way.
 
DerekH said:
[youtube]WKV4j8-G1Nc[/youtube]

Wayfinder15 from BCUSA did an old Camillus one some time ago, and he never had any problems. He has a very interesting setup as well.
Click to expand...

Interesting. So that's what choils are for. Sounds like it really increases the versatility and allows larger blades to be used for tasks that need fine control.
 
Has I started to read this thread my wife brings in the mail and my BK7 I traded for the other day came in lol and first thing i thought was this needs a choil LOL
 
I enlarged a choil on a Swamp Rat with a Dremel and a grinding wheel.
I asked about making it bigger, and someone recommended this set-up...

http://www.craftsman.com/shc/s/p_10155_12602_00925262000P

00925262000-1
 
Qeth said:
Interesting. So that's what choils are for. Sounds like it really increases the versatility and allows larger blades to be used for tasks that need fine control.
Click to expand...

The BK5 has one. Wasn't Ethan's choice as I recall, but Jerry Fisk wanted it.
 
Thanks for the info everyone and Guyon do you knew the reason why is was not a choice of Ethan's?
 
Mrwhitetailfanatic said:
Its a combat knife. Just stabbing and slicing
Click to expand...

Nope, it its a Camp Knife, though I will say some very High Speed Low Drag, trained killers were looking at it for an issue knife.

It was thought of as a knife made to go from the camp kitchen to the woodpile.

Ethan doesn't like choils because they tend to get hung up in the media you'r cutting.

I used mine as a meat and veggie knife. Split some wood with it. I tend to look at knives as tools first weapons second.

Moose
 
I *LOVE* that BK-7 in the video. OH MAN.
I'd just decided I didn't want one - and in fact I'd probably make a knife at this point before modding one that much, but that is a SWEET blade!

-Daizee
 
sqoon said:
That is interesting considering the BK5 design and its main marketed purpose.
Click to expand...

Jerry Fisk was the collab desinger that wanted that feature put in, I do believe. Fisk is on here somewhere, I'll see if I can't get him to come and tell us somemore about it.

Moose
 
Hi guys. Yes, the choil was put in for a "choke up" type grip for finer control on some things. I thought this one should be as all around as I could make a large knife in the field and that required the abliity to choke up on the blade. I use my middle finger in the choil with my fore finger on the spine of the blade for some finer work and it does it well.

Like some of you, to me, a knife is a tool first and in real world applications it will always be 99.9% of the time. If you have to use any knife for a weapon you should be out of shells and the phone needs to be charged up. As Bagwell once told me, "the best knife to use in a knife fight is a 12 guage pump shotgun."
I use keep my BK5 in the jeep and have used it a lot.
 
Is it crossing the line to mention that the ESEE 6 has a choil? Cause it does.
 
fisk said:
Hi guys. Yes, the choil was put in for a "choke up" type grip for finer control on some things. I thought this one should be as all around as I could make a large knife in the field and that required the abliity to choke up on the blade. I use my middle finger in the choil with my fore finger on the spine of the blade for some finer work and it does it well.

Like some of you, to me, a knife is a tool first and in real world applications it will always be 99.9% of the time. If you have to use any knife for a weapon you should be out of shells and the phone needs to be charged up. As Bagwell once told me, "the best knife to use in a knife fight is a 12 guage pump shotgun."
I use keep my BK5 in the jeep and have used it a lot.
Click to expand...


Jerry, thank you for the added intel.
It's always good to see knife royalty pop in at the Becker forum. Granted, that is the sort of company Ethan seems to keep. :thumbup:
Still, it classes up the place a little what with all the scallawags and neerdowells here. (I'm talking about Bladite and Moose. :D :p)
 
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