Has anybody modded a BAD to make the choil bigger?

[Macchina]

I have a BAD that I really like, but the huge sharpening choil + guard with front hole take up a ton of space that seems kinda wasted to me. I normally don't like finger choils, but on small knives I actually use them. Has anybody made the choil big enough to accept a finger? If so, could you post a pic? How does it feel in the hand?

 

[P-Easy]

My AD has a modified choil. I will post a pic in a few!

 

[P-Easy]

Here is one to tide you over til I take some more.

 

[P-Easy]

 

[upsidedownviking]

There is a Hack GW with big choil replacing the front talon hole and small choil. Pic in the FS section today, not sure if I'm allowed to to reference a sale item here but I'm not trying to sell it... Was thinking of buying it.

It would be alot of metal to remove from a finished knife.

 

[Macchina]

That's what I'm thinking of but more. If the guard/front hole was also ground off to make a large finger choil.

Here is one to tide you over til I take some more.

 

[defaultuser]

I did the same thing as P-Easy (Meaner Street but still):

As you can see, I modded the butt as well so now the handle feels exactly like an Active Duty. I really like the bigger choil; feels great in hand! I'd prefer no choil at all on a knife of this size, but I find the finger-sized choil is the second best option (as opposed to an "in-between" like the current AD or Meaner).

 

[resinguy]

Somebody modded an Assault Shaker as you descibe. There were pics here maybe 2 years ago? Was it 360joules?

There is a Hack GW with big choil replacing the front talon hole and small choil. Pic in the FS section today, not sure if I'm allowed to to reference a sale item here but I'm not trying to sell it... Was thinking of buying it.

It would be alot of metal to remove from a finished knife.

That GW HACK feels great in hand with that big choil...if only it had been skinny, I would have kept mine. :grumpy:

 

[J. Oeser]

Somebody modded an Assault Shaker as you descibe. There were pics here maybe 2 years ago? Was it 360joules?




That GW HACK feels great in hand with that big choil...if only it had been skinny, I would have kept mine. :grumpy:

How thick are they?

 

[Jaxx]

I requested a choil mod to a LrMr LE that I sent in for some blade modding & edge work. Works well. :thumbup: Also have an original AD with one.

Photo credit: Jdunks

 

[J. Oeser]

This photo makes me sick.

I hate you.:thumbup:

 

[ThunderUnderKilt]

Here's an ugly mod I made to my Milganza AD. I removed the talon hole. This allowed me to keep the full cutting edge.

 

[sleevefullofaces]

I did the same thing as P-Easy (Meaner Street but still):

As you can see, I modded the butt as well so now the handle feels exactly like an Active Duty. I really like the bigger choil; feels great in hand! I'd prefer no choil at all on a knife of this size, but I find the finger-sized choil is the second best option (as opposed to an "in-between" like the current AD or Meaner).

I really like that! Nice work.:thumbup:

 

[Macchina]

This is EXACTLY what I was talking about! How does this feel vs. the original? I was worried the handle may be a bit short (edge to spine) in that area, buy yours looks good. Good work.

Here's an ugly mod I made to my Milganza AD. I removed the talon hole. This allowed me to keep the full cutting edge.

 

[w.t. anderson]

I want Busse Combat to mod my SAR-4 by enlarging the choil to match the choil on the SAR-8.

 

[DWRW]

Here's an ugly mod I made to my Milganza AD. I removed the talon hole. This allowed me to keep the full cutting edge.

That is what I almost did twice.

I like a LOT of the design features of the AD - EXCEPT the NON-functional "Elf"-Choil and the Talon Hole. IMO, the AD would be great if only it didn't have those two hindering features.

I purchased two different AD's thinking I would make the mod. I bought one with the intentent and photochopped it a few different ways, but pretty much along the lines of above - where the choil is enlarged into the Talon Hole.

Too me, enlarging the choil forward of the Talon Hole and keeping the Talon Hole makes for a HORRIBLE knife with way too much handle and way too little functional blade - But, that is just my opinion.
I agree with trying to keep the full cutting edge.

I got in a situation where I needed some money and decided that I didn't want to spend all the time and effort needed to strip and properly satin finish a knife like the AD that was already around $235 or so. For me, I felt that for $235, I should GET a properly satin finished blade and without having to make modifications. So, I sold the first knife.

Then I thought I would try it again, bought another AD, tinkered with the idea some more and again decided that for the money, I shouldn't have to spend so much time and effort to "Fix" it.
So, I sold the second one too.

But, IMO, that is the only way I could see to make the AD better. :thumbup: And IMO, while I couldn't personally convince myself I thought the modification was aesthetically pleasing (Tried photochopping a few different times), the modified choil that replaces the Talon Hole DOES make the knife a LOT more functional IMO. :thumbup:

Further, while the recent Hack was "decent", I think .25" thick for a small GW/Hack is.... :barf: - biting my tongue trying to stop myself from using adjectives that might rub others wrong, but I personally have no interest in sub-5 inch blades that thick... let alone sub-4 inch blades. :thumbdn:

The AD thickness is the MAX thickness I would have any interest in and the BAD should be PLENTY thick. What is the point of having UBER-tough INFI if there is a need to have it so thick that it doesn't cut as well.

Ultimately, I decided that for my $235, there was only ONE way the AD should be... and IMO $235 should INCLUDE SATIN!

Still for someone looking for a good EDC user and doesn't mind hacking up an expensive Busse, IMO, the enlarging of the choil into the Talon Hole is the way to go.... Also, at that point, the handle is fairly large. So, ThunderUnderKilt's bobbed tail/pommel is a natural evolution to the modification. :thumbup:

.

 

[PeterPHWS]

Sorry...just to check...is the snakeskin pic above an actual modded knife or a photochop? It certainly looks an amazing modification job if it has been done.:thumbup:

 

[trukreltrog]

Sorry...just to check...is the snakeskin pic above an actual modded knife or a photochop? It certainly looks an amazing modification job if it has been done.:thumbup:

I would assume its a Photoshop job. Would love to have one like it though,,,

 

[PeterPHWS]

I did the same thing as P-Easy (Meaner Street but still):

As you can see, I modded the butt as well so now the handle feels exactly like an Active Duty. I really like the bigger choil; feels great in hand! I'd prefer no choil at all on a knife of this size, but I find the finger-sized choil is the second best option (as opposed to an "in-between" like the current AD or Meaner).

Now that IS a lovely job...:thumbup::thumbup: Did you get the custom shop to do that? The coating looks like it has been fully re-done to cover the mods? If so...would you mind giving a ball park figure?

 

[defaultuser]

Hey Peter - thanks bro.

Nope, did the mods myself. The trickiest part was to go REAL slow for the choil, keeping a finger on the edge and dipping the blade in a cold water bucket every time the slightest heat could be felt on the finger (every 15/20 seconds or so). The butt was a little easier, although I didn't let it get hot either. The slabs...well...no HT messing there

Here's some other shots, just for you (and the OP, of course)

Started like this:

Became like this: