Customized SAKs

U

UnknownVT

Joined
Feb 15, 2003
Messages
2,575
I've posted some pics of my customized SAKs in The Gallery section -

Customized SAKs

Here's the overview shot:
CustomSAKs_S.jpg


The other post has the details.

Anyone else with SAKs that have been customized, and care to share with us, please?

--
Vincent

http://UnknownVincent.cjb.net/
http://UnknownVT.cjb.net/
 
Originally posted by ThePatriot29
Where in the heck can one get that kind of work done??
Click to expand...

Thank you so much for the kind words.

The details and additional close up pics are in the thread I posted in The Gallery section - here's the direct url:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=257987

To summarize - I had these done by KJ Lewis of SC - he was featured in one of Ken Warner's Knives 'XX books (unfortunately KJ no longer does this work)

My EDC Scientist #1 was the first he did with tools inlet in the handles, and the Scientist #2 along with the SwissChamp and Waiter were the last ones he said he was doing.

There is another web site for customized handles:

http://ark.ship.edu/~mbyoh/swiss.html

You have to bear in mind that Victorinox SAKs are such good value (I mean the all singing SwissChamp can be had low priced at under $40) so these customed handles cost more than the knives themselves.

It might be cheaper and more satisfying to try to make one's own custom handles by studying the standard handles.

Inletting the tools in the handle can be a real challange though.

This photo of a translucent handled SAK shows the internal structure of the handles fairly well:
swiss_flame_gross_1.jpg
 
Ive done some in the past. Some in buffalo horn, bone, stag, osage orange (wood), african walnut, ect.
 
Sorry unknown, I would like to, but the knives that received the scales are long gone. I havent seen one of them in over 15 years (I believe). They reside with whoever their current owners are (?). At that time I did not keep pics of the knives I worked on.

If you want to customize these your self, its fairly easy, an afternoon project. You pull the handles of an sak (use a small flat head screwdriver, be careful not to dent the liner). Use the old handles (scales) as a template. Cut out, sand finish, ect. You countersink the new scales where the pins fron the knife liners slightly portrude (where the knife liners will eventually meet the new scales). You then glue then handles on with duro two ton waterproof epoxy.
 
I've done a few following the steps tha have been outlined in other emails. you jut have to take your time, be willing to sacrifice the original handles and be careful with the epoxy!

Pix of a Victorinx Tinker with Kudu horn handles is attached.

Take Care!
Scott
 
Originally posted by gorlank
I have seen a few nice stag and horn handle Swiss Champs on ebay like this example. Are these factory models? They are pretty nice and seller has great feedback so have contemplated purchasing one of these.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2177819865&category=43335
Click to expand...

I believe these are Victorinox factory knives - see -
http://www.swiss-knife.com/asp/detail.asp?lan=EN&code=1.6794.61&shop=SK
(there's link on that page to a stag handled one)

If that was the price sold then that was really good value.
 
How about scales that don't scratch? Maybe stone?
SAKs can last a long time. The cellidor always seems to scratch up quickly, although it's pretty durable from the functional point of view. One of my main complaints actually.
 
Originally posted by johnniet
How about scales that don't scratch? Maybe stone?
SAKs can last a long time. The cellidor always seems to scratch up quickly, although it's pretty durable from the functional point of view. One of my main complaints actually.
Click to expand...

Stones can crack and shatter - that's why one does not see stone used much on knife or tool handles - Micarta is good stuff as are G-10, and stablilised woods.

However, one can easily bring back a cellidor scale by using car polish - and if you have deeper scratches - coarser metal polish or rubbing/polishing compound can help minimize those scratches - then finish off with car polish.

This was my EDC between 1982 and 1988 and the handles have been "reviived" by polishing:

fc0e2d32.jpg

see (link): My EDC Story - Victorinox Combo Tool Story

Most of the scratches are due to rubbing against coins, keys in the pocket - so it's probably better to avoid that in the first place by carrying the SAK in a pouch -

those SackUps work great or you can make yourself one out of leather, chamoise etc - and then you're only limited by your own creativity.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top