Different handle materials for Cold Steel?

G

Gwinnydapooh

Joined
Jan 20, 1999
Messages
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The other thread made me think about this--the gripe I most often hear about the quality of Cold Steel knives is the durability of the Kraton handles. Why do they insist on this material for so many of their knives? Who else here would sell a CS tanto, SRK, Master Hunter or Trailmaster with a Kraton handle to buy one made of something else, like a solid, pinned piece of micarta? The shape could be pretty close to what they use with Kraton, so I wonder how much that would really add to the cost--IF there were a market for it? Just thinking out loud.

Is there any good reason why this is a really stupid idea? I've been wondering lately about buying a Cold Steel, cutting off the Kraton and affixing my own coffin-shaped handle of micarta or maybe maple. I don't have the money right now to do it anyway but I'm interested in your comments.
 
Gwinny, I've been thinking of stripping down the kraton on my "bush ranger"(?) and affixing a nichol guard and micarta grips. Haven't yet, but the thought is lingering. Doesn't sound like a bad idea. Something different. (while I'm at it, I might as well redesign the sheath it comes with) I'm not found of the stock sheath. hey, thanks for the regenerated idea!

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Lead,follow, or get the hell out of the way!
 
I broke the brass guard on my Recon Scout using for a throwing knife, the handle already had a cut in it. I cut off the handle and removed the broken guard. I made a new guard out of some stainless material. I made a new handle out of a cutting off a young hickory tree. I used a steel roll pin and epoxy to secure the handle on the tang. I also capped the roll pin with drilled out spent .30 caliber carbine hulls leaving a lanyard hole. I also took the black coating off the blade. I like the knife more now that I have redone it. Even though I broke the guard, I couldn't hurt the blade.
 
Gwinn, sounds like a good idea, the wood coffen shaped handle, I like natural handle materials a lot more than Kraton or even Micarta, but I even like Stag more than wood. I don't have what it takes to start re-handling a knife, so I have to settle for this...

View


Let's try that!

[This message has been edited by PhilL (edited 02-23-2000).]
 
I absolutly agree. I really really like/love a few of the cold steel offerings. The prices are reasonable when compared to custom stuff and the quality is generally very good to excellent. Why dont I own any !?!?!? the damn rubber handles. Kraton, shmaton Im not buying a knife with rubber handles. It cant cost that much more money to make it out of zytel or micarta or almost anything other than rubber. Almost meaning not Pakawood. I would buy there products in a heart beat if it werent for the handles.


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ALex

http://home.att.net./~a.boriqua
 
Almost meaning not Pakawood
Click to expand...

Glad you threw that in there!
biggrin.gif


Phil, I actually completely forgot the stag Trailmaster. But I bet I could affix a stag handle for a whole lot less than they charge. I only said coffin-shape because that's the next thing I want after handling a Bagwell Hell's Belle last summer.
 
How about something like this?
A CS Black Bear Classic in STAG?
I've never seen a Loveless BB in stag, if I did I know I couldn't afford it. Heck I don't know if I can afford to do it on a CS-14BBC, but I was just playing around with the idea.
My rendering of the stag isn't all that great, but it looks like it might be a pretty cool knife.
So, what do you think?
View
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Well that's not working, if you want to see it try here... http://albums.photopoint.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=254126&a=1889226&p=17176384

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"Will work 4 Knives!"
Homepage: http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumList?u=254126

[This message has been edited by PhilL (edited 03-01-2000).]

[This message has been edited by PhilL (edited 03-01-2000).]

[This message has been edited by PhilL (edited 03-01-2000).]
 
This thread has inspired me. I am trading for a bigger sized CS folder with customizing it in mind. I like the Voyagers but I don't like the integral pocket clip. I also like the Scimitar blade style but I don't like the handle. Whichever I decide on, I'll add bolsters and something cool for scales, maybe bloodwood or stag. When I do, I'll let you guys see it.

Jake
 
Jake, I envy you and the talent it takes to do something like that. What a great way to get a custom one of a kind knife. Looking forward to seeing it.
 
i got a recon scout a few months ago for $35. the handle had been cut off and wrapped and epoxied. i found it a little slick, so i cut that off and wrapped it in paracord. i've been experimenting with different wraps and many give a really good grip. something to consider.
 
Cold Steel did produce the trailmaster in Micarta once (why they stoped I'll never know) it was called the "Flight of the Intruder Model" and came out pretty well.
 
I have rehandled four Trailmasters using stag, leather washers and one piece micarta. I also replace the standard sheath with a heavy duty leather one. I have a picture available if anyone wants to see the final product, just tell me what E-mail to send it to.

Bubba
 
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