Can the chisel grind of the Benchmade Instigator be easily reground to conventional?

[peacefuljeffrey]

I am always on the search for the "perfect" lightweight, feels-good-in-the-hand fixed-blade neck knife, and I really like the looks of the Benchmade Instigator. It's sort of inexpensive (it's only AUS8A, you know), and as such I wouldn't mind making it a "user."

The only problem -- it's a huge one for me -- is that it's chisel-ground. I HATE chisel grind.

Some knives that are chisel-ground can be sort of easily ground by the user on the back side and voila, they are now conventional-grind. But others are ground totally flat on the back side and angled on the front (ground) side, and so you really can't "make" them normal again.

Does anyone have information (first hand) about the Instigator, about whether it would be like any other regular knife if I just ground the back side?

Thanks,

-Jeffrey

 

[rifon2]

I have an Instigator. I can tell you that it's totally flat on the back side.
Flat, flat, flat.

 

[peacefuljeffrey]

But then, if you lie the knife on a table on the flat back side, does the front side slope down toward where the edge is ground? I guess what I'm asking is whether the blade is symmetrical if you were to look at it with the point toward you. If it's not, it won't be right if I grind the back part of the chisel grind. And if that won't be right, I'll have to continue searching for "my perfect" neck knife.

-Jeffrey

 

[DISCO]

Hi what other neck knives have you considered? I have a becker bk11 necker it has a conventional grind lightweight solid and when it's round the neck you almost forget you have it on. I am actually going to get an instigator because of the chisel grind for something different. It should only take half the time to sharpen (that's the idea anyway).

 

[Golbat]

Yep, the Bk11 is great! And the little Fallkniven WM1 also an excellent choice...

 

[rifon2]

But then, if you lie the knife on a table on the flat back side, does the front side slope down toward where the edge is ground? I guess what I'm asking is whether the blade is symmetrical if you were to look at it with the point toward you. If it's not, it won't be right if I grind the back part of the chisel grind. And if that won't be right, I'll have to continue searching for "my perfect" neck knife.

-Jeffrey

Answer 1: Front side slopes down towards the edge.
Answer 2: Blade is not symmetrical looking at it with point towards me.

I do think it's a terrific knife, especially for the money. Great fit and finish, one of the best taiwanese knives I've seen in fact.
Although I wish they'd have used Kydex for the sheath but I guess that would have changed the price point.

But if you don't like chisel grinds you ain't gonna like this one...

 

[peacefuljeffrey]

Hi what other neck knives have you considered? I have a becker bk11 necker it has a conventional grind lightweight solid and when it's round the neck you almost forget you have it on. I am actually going to get an instigator because of the chisel grind for something different. It should only take half the time to sharpen (that's the idea anyway).

I have looked online at the Becker Necker (I like BKT -- I have a BK7) but I thought that it looked like it'd be heavy, and more importantly, isn't it made of carbon steel? I am not big on the idea of carbon steel knives because I want better corrosion resistance, particularly in a neck knife that will be going with me into salt water.

I suppose I have more searching to do. I used to be very fond of my Benchmade TK1, but that was before the plastic on the grip started to peel and come off.

-Jeffrey

 

[peacefuljeffrey]

So far in my search (on knifecenter.com, the most eminently searchable knife seller I've found) my absolute favorite neck knife is the Boker Nealy Specialist II. Now that is a handsome fixed blade knife -- just my style, it's minimalist and sleek. But the problem is, it sells for right about $100!!!! Grrrr!

That Fallkniven necker is not bad looking either, but I don't like handle scales that can't be removed, and it too is more expensive than I think an EDC neck knife should be.

So the search continues. If I won Lotto, you can bet I'd have an array of those Specialist IIs, and I'd use 'em with reckless abandon. But not at $100.

-Jeffrey

 

[rifon2]

The Benchmade Tether knife is very nice.

Light, nicely made, great fit in the Kydex sheath.

Elishewitz design, 440C.

Mine came shaving sharp out of the box, too.

-----------------

P.S. I really like the Becker also. It's not stainless though.

 

[David Schott]

You could regrind it but the blade would be 1/2 as tall. That single bevel travels from spine to edge. The mid point of its height would be where the bevels would end up if they needed to be ground from both sides. Basically, it aint' happenin! Keep searching!

FYI, there are custom, sole authorship handmade neck knives for under 100$ in the makers for sale forum from time to time....find one of those makers and tell him what you want as see how much they are willing to do it for.....sometimes its best to pay for exactly what you want rather than saving a few bucks and having to adapt. The instigator is a very basic design. Without handle scales, with a working 320 grit finish, most makers could do that for you pretty easy. PM me if you want to discuss it at all.

 

[RLR]

You might think custom in this vein:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=393502

 

[SpyderJon]

How about a Nemesis knives Hellion? Just a thought.

Edited to add a couple I forgot about: Shivworks Lil Loco, and the Utility HAK. Both well under a hundred bucks.

 

[buckg]

I have an Instigator. I can tell you that it's totally flat on the back side.
Flat, flat, flat.

That's not a very good chisel grind. A chisel grind should be slightly convex on the back side, like a sushi knife.

Edit: I should clarify that Japanese chisels are convex on the back side. That's a superior grind to the American style which is flat on the back side.

 

[peacefuljeffrey]

Convex, or concave? I thought they had a depression on the back, which would be concave...

Thanks for the recommendations, everyone.

For now, I don't think I'm going to go the custom route -- seems likely to be more expensive than I want to do it. Also, I like the idea of production knives, in case I end up ever needing a replacement.

-Jeffrey

 

[peacefuljeffrey]

How about a Nemesis knives Hellion? Just a thought.

Edited to add a couple I forgot about: Shivworks Lil Loco, and the Utility HAK. Both well under a hundred bucks.

SpyderJon, thank you for pointing me toward the Hellion. That's a mighty little knife! I'll probably end up getting myself one or two of them. I wish it were flat ground, and I think they could have made a slightly more ergonomic handle (with those whaddyacall'em ridges on the grip) but other than that, it's really cool.

-Jeffrey

 

[tristram]

Yes, the Japanese style is slightly concave or hollow-ground, just a little, for getting that superior edge.
I love it, and I "Hhate" the fact that hollow grind, and a strong, razor-style concavity at that, has come to be considered "conventional"
Consider how many hollow-ground knives you have - doesn't flat grind make a nice change?
Suppose you try giving it that slight Japanese-style hollowing on one side?
best of luck,
t.

 

[SpyderJon]

SpyderJon, thank you for pointing me toward the Hellion. That's a mighty little knife! I'll probably end up getting myself one or two of them. I wish it were flat ground, and I think they could have made a slightly more ergonomic handle (with those whaddyacall'em ridges on the grip) but other than that, it's really cool.

-Jeffrey

I can't really say I enjoy the handle, but most people who have one have said that it hasn't been a problem. Then, again, you could cord wrap the handle. For such a little knife, I think it adds a lot of utility. I'm glad you found my suggestion helpful!

 

[buckg]

Convex, or concave? I thought they had a depression on the back, which would be concave...

Thanks for correcting my grammar Yes, they're concaved, not convexed.