First knife project: Benchmade Fixed Resistor (220SBK)

[JustDSM]

I was issued this knife during my service in the US Air Force as part of a specialized team tasked with recapture and recovery of critical resources. This particular knife has also deployed with me to Iraq, so it has quite a bit of sentimental value. Although I wish it was a non-serrated blade I can't bring myself to replace it.

So.. Here's the knife:









As you can see it's well used, the edge is in poor shape relatively speaking, and it's without a sheath. Overall I think it's in good enough shape to spend a little time on to bring it up to snuff and serve as my EDC fixed blade. I'm relatively new to knives other than owning them and putting crude edges on them. I've owned my fair share of them from childhood to present. Chopped down young saplings and carved countless points into sticks... So I'm really here to look for some advice and perhaps get some input on refinishing this knife of mine.

I'm not looking for anything too radical to start my first project. I'd like to refinish the blade in some kind of satin finish (stonewash?) without the black coatings. I'd fine leaving the black scales as they are, as I doubt anyone is producing replacements for this discontinued knife. Besides, they aren't in too bad of shape. Might rough them up a bit with some steel wool. Beyond that I'm probably going to look into a custom kydex sheath that will support IWB carry of this blade.

Any tips on refinishing/stripping the knife down? Thanks for the advice. I'll be sure to keep you folks updated on the project as it progresses.

 

[sweet_hitch-hiker]

You could easily strip off the coating with some sandpaper... you probably wouldn't need to start too low, then work up to probably 400 or 600 grit, go in alternating directions with eaxh grit level (vertical, then horizontal with the next, then vertical again) and go until you dont see the scratch pattern from the previous grit.

You could sent it out to have it stonewashed, or get a tumbler yourself if youd rather go stonewash.

Theres also quite a few custom scale makers and im sure if you check out the custom maker section there would be sometht could help you out, same with the kydex.

 

[JustDSM]

I got to tinkering a little bit today. Wanted to get a feel for what I wanted to do by looking at the knife disassembled to get a feel for what I'm working with.

Started by removing the T6 screws from each handle to remove the scales:







Got started "scrubbing" the blade. I must have had my garage raided, as I only had some 400 grit wet/dry. Started to rub the finish out with 400 and noticed the blade had some striations and would take a bit of work with 400 grit to remove. I'm debating leaving them as it gives a "worn" look to the knife that I kinda like. Though I suspect I'll later sand the thing smooth for a more "professional" look. I'll sit on it for now, but I'm liking how things are looking thus far. Removing the hammered black finish while leaving the holes and jimping blackened has a rather neat look in my opinion.





I also like the etching that Benchmade applied, and how even after light sanding still hints to the origins of the knife. Wonder if I'll sand through it eventually.. More to follow.