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Budget BK 11 scales!

Jakeboy

Jakeboy

Joined
Feb 12, 2011
Messages
326
I love the little "baby" Becker. A very capable small blade, for sure! I tried the paracord wrap for the handle, but just couldn't get used to the feel of it in my hand.

I decided to fashion a set of scales (at low cost), that would make this great little knife more comfortable. I used a piece of 1/2" thick, birch hobby plywood I had purchased from a Michael's craft store when I was there with my wife who was looking to frame a painting.

I scroll sawed off a couple of blanks from the $5.00 piece of plywood, epoxied the roughly cut pieces to the handle after drilling a couple of holes for plug gluing) and shaped the scales with a 1" belt sander, files and rough sandpaper. I then ran some 220 grit paper over the scales and applied some tung oil, Minwax Walnut stain and Bliss carnuba boat wax.

This is now a great, compact and comfortable small knife. I know it won't win any awards, but it's a real user for me now.

Total cost of materials was well under two bucks. Ha ha! I love it!



 
Looks great. Just curious why you did not bring the handle further toward the guard.
 
Economical. Functional. Attractive. Just like the blade they're on.


JOB WELL DONE!

Kudos man, excellent idea/work.
 
It's in their hobby wood area. The size is 1/2" thick, 5" x 12" approx. and is high quality. No knots or voids, and is all tight grain birch laminate. The stuff looks like marine grade to me. A great deal at around 5 or 6 bucks, as I recall. They had some nice, solid cherry wood planks for dirt cheap, too.
 
abcdef said:
Looks great. Just curious why you did not bring the handle further toward the guard.
Click to expand...

If I had it to do over again, I'd bring it a tad bit closer to the sheath lock. I didn't want to partially cover up the forward holes in the handle, as I think that would look a bit odd, but looking at it now..... Oh well. I also had a concern for the blade locking into the sheath. Looking at it a little closer and handling the finished product, I'm not exactly sure that extending the scales a bit more forward would improve on the ergonomics. With the scales the way they are, my index finger seems well placed in the blade handle's contours. That's not to say that extending the scales further to the front wouldn't be an improvement.

I'd like to give that a try next go around, for sure. The beauty of the little BK11 is that it's a heck of a bargain, considering the tough blade you get.
 
thrillbilly said:
Economical. Functional. Attractive. Just like the blade they're on.


JOB WELL DONE!

Kudos man, excellent idea/work.
Click to expand...

Thanks!
I'm looking at Becker's as the best, reasonably priced, ultra tough, blades on the planet. I've got my eye on a BK 9.

I'm thinking my BK 11, paired with a BK 9 would cover everything from slicing onions in camp to major chopping duties. I'd want to make my own scales and sheath for the BK9 in order to make it truly mine, though.
 
Jakeboy said:
Thanks!
I'm looking at Becker's as the best, reasonably priced, ultra tough, blades on the planet. I've got my eye on a BK 9.

I'm thinking my BK 11, paired with a BK 9 would cover everything from slicing onions in camp to major chopping duties. I'd want to make my own scales and sheath for the BK9 in order to make it truly mine, though.
Click to expand...


Dooooooo Eeeeeeeeet Maaaaaaaan!
100_0208.jpg

you will Not be disappointed in The King!
 
Nice I made mine from a piece of scrap oak window molding from redoing my kitchen. I would think you could get some free wood at any mill or cabinet shop.
3-1-12%2520036.JPG
 
LG&M said:
Nice I made mine from a piece of scrap oak window molding from redoing my kitchen. I would think you could get some free wood at any mill or cabinet shop.
3-1-12%2520036.JPG
Click to expand...

The third knife to the right, is the the Tops key A knife?
How do you like it, I am interested in buying one since they are only ~$30.

Great job with the scales, they look better than alot of the stuff you see here, I like that you left the hole open, I'm sure it could be used for something useful.:confused::D

-orangish ducktape
167a.png

“Simplicate, and add lightness”
-Colin Chapman
 
Thanks, it's the key B & I like it alot $30 is why I got it. Thought it was a good way to cheaply check out Tops knives. The para cord does a lot for the grip.
 
Congrats Jake, thats a nice set of scales. I agree too, handles for the 11, 13, and 14 definetly improve the...useability? Ergonomics? Lost the word :confused: but you get what I'm saying right? :D
 
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