clich's gunblue/bleach thread helped bring my BK2's SexyBack

[gentemanndvm]

had the BK2 for a while. really loved the difference micarta handles made in feel, looks, everything. it was enough to get me hooked on Beckers. Here she is back then, vestal and pure on the first day out.

Since then, i've been working on my collection. i'll get a family shot together eventually (once i get enough posts/threads in here for my BH number).
and along the way i found, coveted, and then got the BK10. Fell In Love. So while i still LIKED my 2, my extended BK10-lovefest phase meant it didn't get out much. Liked the 2, Loved the 10. The 10 got all the carry time.

But a week or two ago, i saw clich's gunblue/bleach etching mod and knew it was time. time to bring two great tastes together. time to bring my BK2's SexyBack. check it out:

i really like how it turned out. pretty easy, pretty awesome. for any of you thinking about doing it, DO IT. it looks great. as clich said, it's permanent etching, so know that ahead of time.
i also convexed the edge while i was at it. you know, i may have to double fist the BK2 and BK10 for a little while....

 

[L4NE4]

Sweet! I just did it to my 11 and 14. Haven't posted pics yet though. How did you apply the bluing on the blade before the bleach soak?

 

[gentemanndvm]

l4ne4 - i taped off at the swedge and put a solid blueing on the upper flat and around the spine. then i removed the tape and bleached it point down at an angle to try and get the tracks along the flat of the blade like clich's. but mine didn't track up along the flat of the blade at all. don't know what i did different???
so i just blotch/spot applied blue to the flats and soaked it again. came out like this.
followed with wash, 220grit, then blued it again to darken the etchings. then 220 again, 400 and 1000 grit to finish. then i convexed/resharpened the edge.
i liked the aged/patina'd look i was getting, so didn't sand all the way back to shiny at each grit, just to a point where i liked how it looked.


i also decided that as long as the gunblue and bleach were out, i would do a spike hawk. i ordered one right before christmas just to try it as my guinea pig before the BK2. axehead looks awesome. i'm going to sand down and restain the handle, then i'll post pics of that alongside the BK2.

 

[CowboyStyle]

Great looking knife awesome job on the etching. I may have to try out the gun blue method on my next knife.

 

[clich]

DAMN! that looks bad ass man. Well freaking done

 

[whereismyclock]

nice stuff man. These are one of the most impressive mods

 

[NixKustoms]

That looks sweet. I'm a little apprehensive to try that on my own though. I might eff it up some how, and I don't have the gun blue or the Jameson Irish whiskey.

 

[shooter mcgavin]

looks great. i will be attempting this very soon. hope mine turns out as nice as yours

 

[L4NE4]

I didnt get the lines on mine either. Oh well still looks great!

 

[clich]

I didnt get the lines on mine either. Oh well still looks great!

Maybe the angle? I dunno I did a few all the same way with the run type of result. Still looks cool as hell and its a pattern I haven't gotten yet. Very cool

 

[clich]

I also use super blue. Not sure.if that has anything to do with it or not

 

[gentemanndvm]

i used the Super Blue too (i stalked your thread to see what to get). did you leave enough extra liquid on that it was wet/drops on the surface when you put it in the bleach?

it seemed like i should to get it to "run", so i tried to leave as much on as i could. but i couldn't really leave a whole lot of extra on both sides equally since it would have spilled around as i was removing the tape, and then turning it vertical to drop in the bleach. stupid gravity. beats me what i did wrong. lucky outcome, though!

 

[clich]

No I waited until it was completely dry. Either way it turned out great. I've seen some etches that don't turn out so well and the Blade is ruined. I'm glad that my write up produced such a sexy bk2. I'm blushing lol