Dex's Saber 16 Modification WIP : Progress Update

[Dexwithers]

Title says it all, I think....

So I felt like doing another work in progress thread, This time on the BK-16 Laser Etch Saber Grind Steel piece of Awesomeness that I was able to get my hands on.
I know, A lot of you would have tucked her away in the safe, But I believe that this thing was made to be used and be beaten on.
The Saber 16's are my favorite and I'm so glad I was able to get one with out the "First Production Run" Bull S@%& on it.

Let's Start with some Pics.

Day one.

I wanted to make sure I etched the logo deep this time, real deep. So I spent almost a week applying PCB Etchent a few times a day and washing with soap and water in-between applications.

Once I finished, this is what I ended up with.

Next It was time to strip. This was the fastest coating removal ever. Took like 3 minutes. No lie.

25 seconds in.

45 seconds in.

It's coming off good now.

Just lightly scraped it off with a razor blade.

Naked steel....

I almost over did the etching. haha

Here she is with some handle scales. I think she looks amazing so far. This one happened to have a really dark almost black color to the spine and tang. I might leave it as is, not sure yet.

And I must say that this spine is way more sexy than the full flat grind.

Updates to come.......... Enjoy...

 

[The Warrior]

This one happened to have a really dark almost black color to the spine and tang. I might leave it as is, not sure yet.

I like the looks of it like that as well.

 

[MezmerizedOne]

Man I'd love to find one of those! Awesome looking 16 man!

 

[Aikiguy]

That looks...wow...amazing! The 2 tone of the blade looks really sweet. Awesome job with the saber grind.

 

[tman038]

Looks great. Use it well

 

[CamH_16]

Oh sweet! I kinda like the 2 tone finish... I still don't get how these still keep getting past Ka-Bar, I mean isn't the grinding process totally different, grinding a full flat and a saber is pretty different. Maybe the guys making these just make a saber every now and then for a laugh?

 

[johansson D]

Nice! That is some sexy nekkid steel!
And she stripped real fast for you too

 

[Lethal289]

Awesomeness indeed!

 

[Eero]

That looks great. I wonder why the top of the steel came out so dark. Could just be the photos and lighting but it seems really dark in tone. I like how that etch came out. Maybe I'll try this versus the electro etching. A little less complicated but slighty more time consuming. How many times a day and how many days did you apply the etchant and how long did you leave it on? Thanks...

Got anything else planned for this knife??

 

[Norse_Nightcrawler]

Now that's one sweet blade.
And you sir must be one charming sob to get a beauty like that nekkid that fast

The two tone is looking great, so i think you should leave her as is and put some nice leather pants on her.

 

[Dexwithers]

Thanks Guys. This blade is so dang sexy. And yea she got naked faster than any blade I've stripped so far. Maybe cause it was the last of the stripper, I finished off the can on her. Maybe what was left in the can was more concentrated?

And Eero, its not the pictures, the blade really was that dark under the coating. I like it!

So I etched it at least 3 times a day, sometimes more, for 5 days. I just put it on with a q-tip and let it sit. I would usually go check it with in a few hours and apply more. Usually I would rinse and clean with a toothbrush and some liquid soap then rinse and dry before I apply the next application. Usually when I left it over night, the etchent would dry up and the blade would have to be cleaned for sure. It's not hard to do, just like you said, time consuming.

So yea, I've got many more plans for her. I'm going to convex for sure since almost all my Beckers are convexed. Gonna make a nice leather sheath her and probably a Kydex as well. I'm thinking she might be my EDC for a while so I want options for sheaths. I am also thinking about doing a little file work but I'm sure yet. Also going to make some nice scales for her. Thinking wood since I'm kind of on a wooden knife handle kick right now. The plans for the Handles are going to be awesome.....I think........In my mind they are looking pretty sick. haha
I'm thinking I might take my full flat 16 and do identical but opposite colors for handles as well.

Just wondering if any of you have used wooden handles on a hard user knife and how did they hold up? I usually prefer micarta but I'm kinda tired of it at the moment and looking for something different.

 

[Eero]

Thanks for the info on the etching. I've got a 7, 4, and 10 to etch. Looking forward to see what else you come up with.

 

[Dexwithers]

Good luck man. It's a lot easier to etch multiple blades at once for sure.

And try adding just a few drops of hydrogen peroxide to the pcb. It's supposed to make it more active or something. Not really sure, I read it somewhere or saw it in a youtube video. Lol Maybe do one knife with the Peroxide and one without and you can let us know if it makes a difference?

 

[Tdhurl1103]

I really like the look of the etch on the logo....not so much on the "BK-16." It looks really deep to me which I'm not reall keen on. Eh, but what do I know? If you are happy with it, then that's all that matters. Nice job!!!

Of course, if I had a sabre 16..................

 

[LostViking]

Just got a used 16, but I love your knife,

 

[Crackcase]

Mine has the same dark raw steel and shiney grind. I got scales and sheath from 710. Looks great.

 

[Dexwithers]

I really like the look of the etch on the logo....not so much on the "BK-16." It looks really deep to me which I'm not reall keen on. Eh, but what do I know? If you are happy with it, then that's all that matters. Nice job!!!


Of course, if I had a sabre 16..................

Thanks. And yea I went deep on this one. Wanted it similar to the stamped ones. I think if you saw it in person you really like it. I love it! lol

And yea, got to love the Saber.

Just got a used 16, but I love your knife,

Thanks man and congrats on your 16. It's an awesome knife!

Mine has the same dark raw steel and shiney grind. I got scales and sheath from 710. Looks great.

Really? Must have been the batch of steel they used for some of them. I really like the two tone look. I'm afraid to do to much to the blade since I really don't want to lose the blackish color.
Feel free to post a pic of yours all pimped out if you want. I'd like to see it.

 

[Dexwithers]

Ugh......... Been checking out custom knives with file work on them this afternoon, and I'm thinking I'm ready to give it another shot.
Man there is some nice file work out there. I've only done it once before and I really had no idea what I was doing. I think this time would be so much better and since I'm probably gonna epoxy the scales on, I can fill all the file work in with black epoxy and sand it all flush and polish it.

What do you guys think? File work or no File work?

Here is a pic of what I did last time.

I just made it up as I went along but if I did it again, everything would be mapped out beforehand and measured out, not eyeballed like before. haha

I don't know yet. I'm still drawing some stuff out to get ideas.

Please let me know what y'all think.

Thanks

 

[forester226]

Looks sweet!

 

[Brew-Jitsu]

Ugh......... Been checking out custom knives with file work on them this afternoon, and I'm thinking I'm ready to give it another shot.
Man there is some nice file work out there. I've only done it once before and I really had no idea what I was doing. I think this time would be so much better and since I'm probably gonna epoxy the scales on, I can fill all the file work in with black epoxy and sand it all flush and polish it.

What do you guys think? File work or no File work?

Here is a pic of what I did last time.

I just made it up as I went along but if I did it again, everything would be mapped out beforehand and measured out, not eyeballed like before. haha

I don't know yet. I'm still drawing some stuff out to get ideas.

Please let me know what y'all think.

Thanks

Looks awesome. I love the styling on this.