Easy open mod

[mfm22]

thinking of making an easy open notch on one of my GEC's
Surprised that I can't find any info on how it's done.
Anyone have suggestions or have done this please chime in on

 

[Jsega51]

Well, you can start by marking the knife on where you’d like the EO notch, then use a Dremel tool to remove the necessary material. Go slow, finish it off by hand, going through various grits of sandpaper to smooth and blend the EO area, and then carry for enjoyment!

 

[Vaporstang]

This is way out of my experience realm but a couple of thoughts: Do you have a "junker" knife to experiment on first? And before taking a Dremel to it, think about what angle you want the end notch to be. If you already have an easy open knife look at that, otherwise some close-up pictures.

 

[mfm22]

My thoughts exactly. Dremel tool ,got one may as well use it

Less valuable aka "junker" to practice on.

Unknown factor is how the cover material reacts to dremel as well as the brass liner/scales

I like jigs for this type of thing but I think a vise and some sort of depth stop will suffice

 

[bonzodog]

Half round file,this is the latest to be modded

 

[mfm22]

Nice job bonzo , just enough to pinch.

What type of cut file coarse to fine

 

[LastRodeo]

Well, you can start by marking the knife on where you’d like the EO notch, then use a Dremel tool to remove the necessary material. Go slow, finish it off by hand, going through various grits of sandpaper to smooth and blend the EO area, and then carry for enjoyment!
View attachment 879136

I use a sanding drum like Jake's to remove material and then finish it off with these fine grit bits.

 

[kvaughn]

I usually make the initial cut with a triangular file to the depth you want as a guide. Then use a small Dremel sanding drum of the chosen circumference you want to take the rest of the material off. Finish sand with sandpaper wrapped around a dowel. Practice on a beater is always good as noted.--KV

 

[Jsega51]

I use a sanding drum like Jake's to remove material and then finish it off with these fine grit bits.

That happened to just be a pic I grabbed on the net but that’s what I’d use to get started. I also like those finer grit bits. Hand filing is a good way to go also, the Dremels can remove a lot of material in a very short amount of time so any mistakes you make can get amplified pretty quick lol

 

[NJBillK]

Like realty, location location location!

Hold your knife as you would normally do so, then mark both sides of your ring finger with a pencil. This is where I like to place my EO notch, as it is close to the tip of the knife but disappears during use.
This will also double as a guide to how wide to make the notch.

Take it slow. Try to pad your blade well, and tape up the pivot as best you can. This will aid in keeping grit from the pivot and spring.
Practice on a beater.

Best of luck and post your results.

 

[Babalu32]

Find a buddy with a spindle sander. Goes real quick and easy to control how deep you go.

 

[Ernie1980]

Find a buddy with a spindle sander. Goes real quick and easy to control how deep you go.

I was about the post this same thing! It also has the added benefit of helping you keep everything symmetrical.

 

[NJBillK]

Like a few posts above, I used a sanding drum chucked in my drill press, and my table elevated so the press was acting as a spindle sander.

Once the bulk was removed, I used progressively finer grit sand paper on a wooden dowel for a finer and finer polish.

Find a buddy with a spindle sander. Goes real quick and easy to control how deep you go.

I was about the post this same thing! It also has the added benefit of helping you keep everything symmetrical.

 

[rswanson]

Hi mfm22 ! You asked about the EO notch I cut in the thread I posted about losing my Gec 78 but I'll respond here to keep everything in one spot.

So I did use a dremel to cut the notch. The standard abrasive drum (80 grit?) is all I used to cut the notch then I finished it off with some 320 & 800 grit sandpaper. First I practiced on some screen mounding I had laying around. I clamped the stick of moulding in a vise and cut probably a dozen notches to get the hang of it. The test grinds took almost no time at all to perform and really gave me good insight on how to hold the tool and how to keep the cut parallel to the handle so I'm glad I went that route. The actual modification was pretty simple from there.

Once I thought I had a good grip on the process, I opened the knife and stuffed a little paper towel into the handle up against the pivot and ran some blue painters tape around the pivot area and the blade. The paper towel was inserted to keep the ground-off material out of the pivot of the knife and the tape protected the blade when I tightened down the vise. I had magnetic vise jaw pads in the vise so the tape on the blade might've been overkill but no matter.

The actual cut was pretty easy. Looking at some other EO mods posted here recently I got a good idea where I wanted the notch. I drew the notch centerline on to the handle covers with was pencil and had at it. I went slow and used the highest speed setting on my dremel. The sanding drum cut right through. After I sunk the drum in halfway to give the notch the widest width I cleaned up the depth on both sides and then chamfered every edge with the sandpaper.

If I did that modification again, I would most likely draw the drum back and forth a bit to widen the notch. It's a wee bit shallow. Hopefully some of my ramblings help you out!

 

[bonzodog]

Nice job bonzo , just enough to pinch.

What type of cut file coarse to fine

Medium cut file,finished with micromesh thro the grits to polish the brass.I used painters tape to protect the pivot and scales.