HI AK Mods

[fod]

I got this as a deal of the day a while back from HI.

The handle had a poorly fixed cracked handle.

I ground the handle down somewhat (it was too big to start with anyhow).

I also modded the sheath by removing the auxiliary scabbards for the little knife/sharpener. I trimmed the leather to refit.

Then I used some basalt fiber sleeve to wrap the handle and the sheath. I used my standard laminating epoxy to hold it in place.

The frog is still a bit loose, I'll need to fix that then I am going to town on the blade...this thing need to lighten up

More to come as I bother with it...

 

[Jason B.]

looks cool, almost like carbon fiber.

 

[fod]

Thanks.

The basalt fiber is very similar to carbon fiber....it is what the soviets came up with to meet the same engineering issues the west developed carbon fiber for. It is a dark brown in the cloth form, but goes almost black when wetted with epoxy.

 

[Jason B.]

How's the grip though? does it get slick when wet?

 

[fod]

It has plenty of texture for grip. It can be finished smooth in a couple ways, but I like it with this texture. First impressions are very favorable, with and without gloves. It is essentially sealed with cured epoxy, so there should be zero water saturation and from the other things I have done they should stay grippy and not get slippy.

This one has not seen serious use and won't until I take some weight off the blade. It is too heavy for me just now. We'll see.

 

[Jason B.]

That's cool because I really like some of the HI's but hate the handle's and sheath's. If I ever get one I know who I'm contacting.

 

[fod]

Please do...perhaps when I am done with this one, I'll see if it trips your trigger.

I took a few ounces off the blade yesterday and it made significant difference, more than I expected.

Regards,

-Todd

 

[nagod]

love it..lets see what you did to the blade

 

[Carolina River Rat]

That's one of the coolest khuk mods I've ever seen.

 

[fod]

Thanks guys, here is a couple quick pics. I rounded the hump at the spine and basically blended the spine into the fuller.

here is the unmodded brass cap on the pommel.