- Joined
- Feb 10, 2014
- Messages
- 1,119
Hey everyone,
An earlier post I made, and a couple posts from other members, got me thinking about a thread dedicated to breaking down and explaining the process of modifying a traditional slip joint. We can also use this to help answer and questions about knife mods that are not shown in the tutorial below.
To begin, here is a post Charlie made a while back explaining how to disassemble a slip joint, I use this same method
:
Next, I will refer to a couple of my posts that break down the build process:
Here are the materials I will be using for this mod:
Here is where I begin:
An earlier post I made, and a couple posts from other members, got me thinking about a thread dedicated to breaking down and explaining the process of modifying a traditional slip joint. We can also use this to help answer and questions about knife mods that are not shown in the tutorial below.
To begin, here is a post Charlie made a while back explaining how to disassemble a slip joint, I use this same method
:
The tools of the trade!
None but the best! A fine cutler's hammer, and a venerable old remnant kitchen knife, of good quality carbon steel.
Not shown is a six inch piece of high grade 2x4, left over from building a bench in my workshop!
Here is where a scanner just doesn't cut it! (pun intended)
I'll have to describe how I got to the next step;
You open the blades of the knife, and sit it on its back on the 2x4.
If you feel uncomfortable hitting something with your hand over the upturned blades, cover the edges with a couple layers of duct tape - might save you some stitches.
No, I don't speak from experience!
I prefer to start the DIP tool (knife) between the main blade and center liner. Tap briskly! Watch that the tool is going straight! Bing goes the pivot pin!!
Turn the knife end for end and cut through the other pivot pin, in the same "space" alongside the center liner. Bing!!
Now continue the tool through the main spring pin, and Voile!
The knife is in two, with its innards on display!
Elapsed time - 2 minutes!!
Look at those beautiful rivets! Observe the slight relieving of the spring, so it works smoothly.
I've wondered if the round part of the tang contacted the spring, along with the run-up, when the blade was open - the knifemaker's secrets revealed!!
What else do you see??
Next, I will refer to a couple of my posts that break down the build process:
Here are the materials I will be using for this mod:
Apache copper/creme burlap composite scales, with nickel hardware, an easy-open notch, and a rat tail on the bolster. This composite is a personal favorite, the copper mesh was given to me by a friend who works on composites used in military applications, and he sent me the mesh which is used as a conductive material in apache and black hawk helicopters.
Here is where I begin:
Ok, so after a long Monday, I was finally able to get some workshop time in and make a dent in this knife (not literally). Sorry about the crappy pics, its hard to take quality pics on my phone while I'm working without slowing down too much. So here is a breakdown in my progress so far:
First things first, I needed to trace out my liners, bolsters, and scales out of the nickel and composite, then I cut them out on the bandsaw:
Then I drilled the pin holes in the scales for alignment and precision purposes during the setup process. What you see here is the original scale double-sided taped to both rough cut liners to assure the holes match up properly:
Here are the liners separated from each other:
Here I am using the template I made from the old liner to mark off where I want the bolster to be:
Once I set the bolster to match the template, I clamp it in place, then I use a pencil and I shade the part of the liner that will be directly below the bolster, and the exposed edge of the bolster on the bottom. This does two things, it helps me eyeball where the bolster needs to go, and the pencil lead prevents the solder from sticking to the liner and the bottom edge of the bolster in the next step:
After wiping the liner and bolster with acetone, I put a little flux on the liners and bolsters where I want the solder to stick:
Soldering:
Cooling down:
Here is where I changed up my plan a little bit. I was planing on using a 2 ton epoxy to stick the scales to the liners and not pining them to the liner like I sometimes do on a smaller knife with a bigger bolster, but I decided to go a different route due to the smaller bolster on this larger knife. Since there is so much more surface area to cover than I usually have to work with, I definitely want to make sure that scale is secure, but since I am pinning it, there is no need to use a 2 ton epoxy, super glue works just fine!
Dry fit test to see how the bolsters line up looks good:
Here is where I drill the scale pin holes in the liners based on the old template:
After sanding off any burrs from drilling, and cleaning with acetone, the scales are ready for gluing:
Now I drill the holes in the scales and bolsters:
Dry fit for alignment looks good:
This is where I called it a night.
Last edited:
