folder kits

Joined
Jun 6, 2001
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hello all! this is my second post on bladeforums and i usually stick to the emerson forum,however three things have transpired in the last few days. the first was getting robert terzoula's book "the tactical folding knife". this is a great book! i realize that most of what is in the book is probably "old hat" to you guys, but to the layman it is full of great information. the second thing that happened was stumbling across this part of the forum. i have visited pretty much every part of this forum and this is, IMHO, the best. i've learned more on this forum in the last few days than i have in countless magazine articles and conversations with other people. my hat is off to whoever had the insight to create it. as for the last thing, the other day i decided to put a new set of scales on my cqc-7. while i won't win any awards for this, it did turn out pretty well and has inspired me to order enough handle material to put new scales on 3 more knives. while this will keep me busy for a while,i am thinking that a folder kit may be the next place to go.(i have seen plenty of fixed blade kits, but i am not a big fixed fan) so l was wondering if anyone could suggest a good quality liner lock kit.any help would be appreciated. thank you!
 
The 605 Special is a real winner. Designed by Darrel Ralph and sold by Koval. Just got mine about a week ago. It had a few problems, but I truely believe mine is the exception and not the rule.

And let me tell you, you are not going to find a higher quality knife for EDC at this price anywhere. Mine, as well as a model for future knives, will replace my BM Leopard as a EDC backup to my always present fixed blade.
 
The 605 is definitely the best liner lock kit available. Its got a few options too, you can order it with or without scales, or you can get a damascus blade, and theres lots of things you can do to it on your own to make it one of a kind. Its available at Koval knives, and texs knifemakers supply. Texas advertises theirs as having a cryo treated blade, I think thats something they do on their own and might make the knife perform even better. Almost all of their kits are cryo treated. You should check out their selection of lockbacks and slip joints also.
 
What tools would you recommend someone have to put together a kit knife?
 
Lets see. Different kits require different stuff.It depends on how close to finished the knife is. Something like the 605 designed by darrel, has a handle kit available where all the peices are pre drilled and cut out. Basically all thats left then is finish work so very few tools are required, mostly sandpaper. But if you get into making your own scales from different materials and other steps you need more tools.
I'll try and come up with a list of the basic necessities for your average fixed blade or folder kit. Where the blade, gaurd and pins , or springs etc. in folders are supplied.

A file- rough cut on one side, double cut on the other works well.
It can be used to do rough shaping of handle materials,trimming pins,rough finish of bolsters /gaurd after pins are peened or soldering is done etc.

A drill of some sort with appropriate bits. A drill press is the really the best thing for the job here, especially on folders. You need to be pretty precise on you holes so that everything lines up right. Hand drills will get you by but you'll really have to be careful.

A hacksaw- Most handle materials come in a block thats close to the right size. You'll need to cut it down close enough that you can use the file to make it a good fit. If you start with larger peices of material, you'll probably want something better like a bandsaw to cut it down.

Sandpaper/sanding block- shaping and finishing handle/scales, bolsters, blade. You'll want lots of grits. 80-400 with fairly small steps in between will make the job easier.Start with coarse and get it shaped how you want, remove file marks etc. Progressively move to finer grits removing scratches from previous grit. Smaller steps make this easier. 400 will take a damn long time to remove 80 grit scratches.

A hammer- for peening pins. A nice polished ball peen hammer is great. Any hammer with a smooth polished face will work. You'll need a hard surface to work from for this a vise,anvil or scrap of steel will work.

Epoxy glue- slower curing is better. It gives you more time to work and bonds better. Use it to attach scales in conjunction with pins or screws. Even if it pulls free it will seal the insides of the scales and prevent them from rotting form the inside out.

If you kit uses screws reather than pins for assembly, you'll need the appropriate drivers. Torx are the most common, they can be found at most hardware stores, make sure you know what size to get.

Clamps or a vice- sometimes you'll need more than 2 hands to get the job done. You'll need soemthing to hold stuff in place while the epoxy cures.

Power tools that help, but aren't absolutely necessary:
Bansaw- better for cutting out scales. A scrollsaw will work too depending on the handle material.

Beltsander- takes alot of the work out of shaping things and initial finishing.

Disc sander- Good for porfiling scales.

Drill press- more precise holes. Things will fit up more easily.

Dremel- a million and one uses. Cutting, shaping, finishing

I think thats pretty much it. Hopefully someone else will add to this if they can think of something.
 
Hello,

I have also built a DR 605 kit and it gets a big thumbs up. There is another Custom knifemaker who produces a folder kit. He is Mike Vagnino, I looked at the kit and it appears to be very well made with a instruction booklet included. Mr Vagnino just won Best Forged knife at the BAKCA show. It is on my purchase list.

Jeff Pelz
 
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