Finger grooves

G

Gaucho

Joined
Oct 19, 1999
Messages
418
I recently picked up a Greco Persian fighter for a song. Its of slightly thicker than 1/4" A2 stock, and has a 5" blade and an OAL of 10". As you can well imagine, it was quite heavy.

I've modified it by drilling two largish holes in the handle and filing the micarta scales to fit my hand. Its now faster in the hand, but still too heavy. Also, the index finger groove behind the blade is not deep enough nor recurved enough to really prevent the finger from slipping onto the blade in a hard thrust. I need to deepen that finger groove and possibly add one for the middle finger in order to 1. create a truly secure grip, and 2. lighten the knife's weight further.

I need advise on the best way to remove A2 stock for these grooves. Is it OK simply to use my Nicholson files- I'm pretty good with them and think that I could do a nice job, but am unsure as to whether or not the stock is too hard to work with a hand file. I don't want to scratch up the handle finding out and accomplish nothing, so I thought that I'd ask those who do this for a living before I attack the Greco.

Thanks in advance for your help.



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Gaucho

Tuvo muy mala suerte...se callo en mi cuchillo.




[This message has been edited by Gaucho (edited 26 October 1999).]
 
Dr. Lathe,

Thanks for the advise. I hadn't considered asking John Greco himself because I thought he might be upset that I would want to alter his design. But he was perfectly nice and very helpful on the phone.

It turns out that the handle of the knife is not heat treated like the blade, and therefore is amenable to hand filing. John was kind enough to guide me in how to go about deepening/creating the finger grooves without compromising the integrity of the knife. I even know the secret formula for the blade coating now:>). So, I guess that I'm going to give it a try and see what happens. I'll let you know.

Thanks again,



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Gaucho

Tuvo muy mala suerte...se callo en mi cuchillo.


 
The secret is Dutch Boy crib safe clear lacquer in satin finish. It is sold only in K-Marts. And let me tell you it works just as John said it would.

I was able to create the finger grooves with a file and about two hours of sweat equity
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. I then polished them with a conical diamond hone and wet-dry sandpaper.

They came out just fine. And Man what a difference! Between the finger grooves and the strategic filing/sanding I did of the micarta scales, the knife now feels like it was custom molded to my hand- which I guess it was
smile.gif
.

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Gaucho

Tuvo muy mala suerte...se callo en mi cuchillo.


 
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