- Joined
- Nov 14, 2005
- Messages
- 11,135
This might tick some Beckerheads off.
We all have preferances for a woods knife. Some like em fat, some like em thin. Some like em Scandi, some like em convex. Some dont give a rats ass. I gives a rats ass. In my Hardwoods enviroment, I like a convex edge, and a tip that falls pretty much in center. I like my blades without spray paint, and with a good sheath that is able to be carried a few ways. I also like a handle that fits my hand well without feeling like a 2x4. Thickness of blade stock is relative to tecnique in my opinion.
I recently did some leather for a friends BK2. While I had the knife I got to play with it a bit, and liked it. (his has a WICKED convex edge on it) I didnt like the paint, the factory sheath, and those Grivory bolt on scales. I dont need my knife handles to come off so I can store stuff in em. and I just dont get the painted blade thing. Im not a spec ops night ninja that needs my blade to be blacked out. However I did like the blade and the heft of the 1/4in 1095, and the shape for the most part... These Beckers also have quite the following for a woods blade. I looked at the blank without the scales and the gears started turning. I would require my own Becker to mod.
I ended up scoring myself one in trade. A gen1 Becker BK2. The Gen 1 has a solid tang without the cutouts. Something I think that still should be the norm for em. I got this one in trade for some work, so I have 0 dollars in it, just some labor. Before I go any further, this Becker is mine. It wont be sold, it wont ever see the Becker factory for warranty, and I will not do this job for anyone else for money. This thread is a work in progress, and is not complete yet.
Heres what I went out and bought for this project so far. Some stripper, scotchbrite and sandpaper. Bout 20 bucks worth of stuff from Menards.
Heres what I started with. A well loved Gen 1 BK2.
First up was to strip off the paint to see what is underneath.
I gotta say I wasnt impressed. Grind marks, well, more like grind gouges. The spine was wavy in spots, the edges of the spine were pretty chewed up and rounded, and even stripped it wouldnt strike a ferro rod. This is why they coat the blades. Not to keep it non reflective. To keep them from having to properly finish a blade. Saves time, which saves money. Now the price would surely go up if it was finished to perfection from the factory. I get that. However the condition of this one wasnt good by any means. I could deal with grind marks, but the rounded chewed up wavy spine is just unacceptable.:thumbdn:
Heres the becker fresh from striping.
I then needed to take care of the entire spine and handle. Squaring it, getting rid of waves and grind marks etc. This was all done with files and sandpaper blocks, and alot of time. I mean alot. If I had a grinder it wouldve been short work, but alas...
Heres some shots of the marks and waves. I didnt take em as I started, but after I had started with the files. Sorry for that, I forgot. You get the idea though. I was a bit shaky with the camera too....lol
Spine
waves in spine
Handle
After many hours of work, I got it mostly lined out, and it would throw a mean shower of sparks from my ferro. Im still gonna do some finish work to it getting rid of the last of the marks, but I had other stuff to do first.
Next up I took the blade to my buddy Iz Turleys shop to reshape the pommel. I didnt like the huge pommel hanging out past my hand. Felt like a warclub or a hammer or something to me. I had Iz help me cause hardened steel would bankrupt me in hacksaw blades, and Iz knows what hes doin. I didnt wanna screw up the most critical part of the job.
Here is what I have now after finishing the spine and handle, and starting the hand rubbed finish. Ive just started with the convexing of the edge cause I didnt want a razor blade to handle while I worked on it. Safety!!
I ordered some OD micarta, and it will be getting a propper epoxied on handle with stainless pins next. I will keep updating with pics untill it is finished completly. Im very happy with it so far. The reshape on the handle fits my hand perfect and makes it feel like a whole new knife. Balance was affected only a tiny bit, but the scales will bring it to perfection.
Stay tuned.........
We all have preferances for a woods knife. Some like em fat, some like em thin. Some like em Scandi, some like em convex. Some dont give a rats ass. I gives a rats ass. In my Hardwoods enviroment, I like a convex edge, and a tip that falls pretty much in center. I like my blades without spray paint, and with a good sheath that is able to be carried a few ways. I also like a handle that fits my hand well without feeling like a 2x4. Thickness of blade stock is relative to tecnique in my opinion.
I recently did some leather for a friends BK2. While I had the knife I got to play with it a bit, and liked it. (his has a WICKED convex edge on it) I didnt like the paint, the factory sheath, and those Grivory bolt on scales. I dont need my knife handles to come off so I can store stuff in em. and I just dont get the painted blade thing. Im not a spec ops night ninja that needs my blade to be blacked out. However I did like the blade and the heft of the 1/4in 1095, and the shape for the most part... These Beckers also have quite the following for a woods blade. I looked at the blank without the scales and the gears started turning. I would require my own Becker to mod.
I ended up scoring myself one in trade. A gen1 Becker BK2. The Gen 1 has a solid tang without the cutouts. Something I think that still should be the norm for em. I got this one in trade for some work, so I have 0 dollars in it, just some labor. Before I go any further, this Becker is mine. It wont be sold, it wont ever see the Becker factory for warranty, and I will not do this job for anyone else for money. This thread is a work in progress, and is not complete yet.
Heres what I went out and bought for this project so far. Some stripper, scotchbrite and sandpaper. Bout 20 bucks worth of stuff from Menards.
Heres what I started with. A well loved Gen 1 BK2.
First up was to strip off the paint to see what is underneath.
I gotta say I wasnt impressed. Grind marks, well, more like grind gouges. The spine was wavy in spots, the edges of the spine were pretty chewed up and rounded, and even stripped it wouldnt strike a ferro rod. This is why they coat the blades. Not to keep it non reflective. To keep them from having to properly finish a blade. Saves time, which saves money. Now the price would surely go up if it was finished to perfection from the factory. I get that. However the condition of this one wasnt good by any means. I could deal with grind marks, but the rounded chewed up wavy spine is just unacceptable.:thumbdn:
Heres the becker fresh from striping.
I then needed to take care of the entire spine and handle. Squaring it, getting rid of waves and grind marks etc. This was all done with files and sandpaper blocks, and alot of time. I mean alot. If I had a grinder it wouldve been short work, but alas...
Heres some shots of the marks and waves. I didnt take em as I started, but after I had started with the files. Sorry for that, I forgot. You get the idea though. I was a bit shaky with the camera too....lol
Spine
waves in spine
Handle
After many hours of work, I got it mostly lined out, and it would throw a mean shower of sparks from my ferro. Im still gonna do some finish work to it getting rid of the last of the marks, but I had other stuff to do first.
Next up I took the blade to my buddy Iz Turleys shop to reshape the pommel. I didnt like the huge pommel hanging out past my hand. Felt like a warclub or a hammer or something to me. I had Iz help me cause hardened steel would bankrupt me in hacksaw blades, and Iz knows what hes doin. I didnt wanna screw up the most critical part of the job.
Here is what I have now after finishing the spine and handle, and starting the hand rubbed finish. Ive just started with the convexing of the edge cause I didnt want a razor blade to handle while I worked on it. Safety!!
I ordered some OD micarta, and it will be getting a propper epoxied on handle with stainless pins next. I will keep updating with pics untill it is finished completly. Im very happy with it so far. The reshape on the handle fits my hand perfect and makes it feel like a whole new knife. Balance was affected only a tiny bit, but the scales will bring it to perfection.
Stay tuned.........
