De-horned RAM

A

audiopile

Joined
Nov 2, 2007
Messages
653
UP front YMMV. Here's what I did to my RAM and more importantly why.
Likes - slim - light - long enough to get ahold of -typical K'shaw build quality -everything fits and everything works the way it's supposed to.Impessive lock assembley - can't see how this thing is ever going to bite me - even if really severly worn.Closing ergo's - works everytime for me
Dislikes : bright clip -painted/baked black - done
sliver picker blade tip - NBD - when I break the last 1-2 mm. off the tip I'll send it to someone to reconfigure the blade tip 1/2" or so shorter.
deployment : Big Deal. I have to admit that Mr. Onion has really spoiled me on blade deployment - I can flip this thing open all the time if I'm paying attention. Touble is that I'm usually using a knife while doing something else - like hanging onto a ladder or lift - I just want the bloddy thing open and locked when I go to use it. I don't mind manually opening a knife - I just want to know it's open and Locked. The lock on these knives is un-ambigious - very positive - you can definitly hear it lock - great.The maggot in the cerial is deployment . Next to my all time least favorite thumbstud ( CRK's tapered unit) - the three nubs for me just didn't work -tried makin 'em longer - much better - still not comfortable. Fipping for me does not get the always open medal - BTW - hands down this is the easiest to flip open and lock knife I have ever handeled. Just not up to Onion open standards.
What I did: Punched all three studs out using the arbor on a drill press. Picked up a piece of junk ( round with hole in the middle - 1/4" approx. tall) used a small bolt and a couple of nuts to attach this to the middle hole - got me a real comfortable thumbstud. Already had removed right hand scale to make it easier to pull in and out of watch pocket.Basically - my suggestion is that Kershaw avoid reinventing the wheel - issue this design with a conventional thumbstud - maybe not as cool - but a better tool.
Again - YMMV - but this works for me.
 
I'll be the first to say. We NEED pics. I want to SEE all you have done.
Sounds interesting.

mike
 
I'm glad you liked the Ram. . .i think it's great that you modified it to work for you. like the others have said. . .pic would be cool

my suggestion is that Kershaw avoid reinventing the wheel
Click to expand...

Well, it wasn't Kershaw that was reinventing the wheel. . .it was us, G&G Hawk.. .and that's what we do :D

Gavin Hawk
 
blademaker said:
I'm glad you liked the Ram. . .i think it's great that you modified it to work for you. like the others have said. . .pic would be cool



Well, it wasn't Kershaw that was reinventing the wheel. . .it was us, G&G Hawk.. .and that's what we do :D

Gavin Hawk
Click to expand...

way to put it Gavin :D

btw audiopile, sounds like ya had some fun modding the RAM. cant wait to see the pics
 
This should have come first: 1.) As would seem obvious - you screw with the knife and it's your problem - don't go cryin to Kershaw CS 2.) It's easy knocking the studs out - gonna be way harder to put 'em back in . Might want to think about this a bit before you do it.
Having said that - this knife keeps growing on me . Still can't reliabily flip it with gloves on ( unless i do the kung-fooo arm wave) . Issue for me because we have this miserable season called winter where I live. In looking for a standard part for the stud - came up with a small KEP nut at the local hardware store. These are the faceted nuts that have a nylon insert to keep them from un-locking once tightened. Small stainless steel bolt fits into this -doesn't lock to the threads at all but goes thru nut - thru blade and can be held by single stainless steel nut on back of blade. Tried two of 'em - not a big improvement over a single nut mounted in the center hole. Iner (closest to pivot hole not useable as a replacement position.
This is rare beast IMHO - a slim and slick knife you can get a good hold on - the choil and the nice generious cut out for stud access really are in the right spots for my relativly small hand. The cut out for stud access is something a lot of designers leave too small IMO - the RAM's is easy to get a thumb into - such a fundimentally important characrtastic in terms of daily use ergo's. Knife is very comfortable to cut with - tip up carry brings the clip far enough back that it doesn't beat up your hand when the blade is actually cutting something and that lock mech is really easy to get used to.
Wonder if the same stud replacement would work on a Sebenza?
 
FYI, the KEP nut you refer to is a nylon insert locknut. A KEP or KEPS nut
has a free spinning external tooth lockwasher made onto the nut.
Hardware is my thing. :)

A socket head bolt might work too. (allen wrench style bolt)

How big of a screw and nut are you using? 4-40, 6-32, 8-32 ??

mike
 
The nut I used was the smallest I could find - I think ptobably 4-40 . The bolts/nuts are the second smallest available in stainless steel. Mic'd the dimensions :
Philips head of bolt : .15"
Diameter of bolt : .08"
Length of bolt : .42"
Nylon insert nut : max. .3" - across flats .26" 4x40?)
Sorry I wasn't more orginized when i filled a goody bag at the areas best hardware store.A lot of hardware stores may not carry this smaller stuff.
As a item of information - if you live in the Milwaukee,Wi. area and haven't visited one of the Eliot's Ace Hardware locations - these may not be the cheapest places in the world - but they've probably got it and might even have people who know they've got it!! Exceptional Hardware stores.
 
From the diameter you give of the screw, it sounds like a #2-56.

I'm still trying to think of something you can use in that amount
of space that would have a decent size head, but not protrude too much.

mike
 
I love my RAM Flipper. I would like to see the pics of what you did.
The only thing I did to mine was smooth out the G10 on the pocket clip side, was a little too grippy in the pocket.
:thumbup::thumbup:For Gavin and the Crew at Kershaw for this great little blade.
 
Obviously most folks are completly happy with the way the Hawks/Kershaw made the RAM. Pics aren't going to help much ? The bolt on a thumbstud fix?? is either a field expedient repair or BUBW ( butt ugly but works) - only makes sense for the tiny minority of potential users who aren't satisfied with the two or three ways the knife can be opened as a stock item.
 
I don't think any one here is beating you up about your mod.
I personally love to see what other members due with the things they carry and use every day. Pics would help me at least get a good idea of what your mods look like, maybe we could give you tips or pointers to help you improve your ideas.
-Eric
 
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