How did you custom your SS Police

FREDERIC K

FREDERIC K

Joined
Aug 4, 2000
Messages
111
Hi !
I really like my new PE VG10 SS Police but I find the handle a little slippery...
Any advice ?

Thanks !!
 
Once upon the time I had an SS Delica and Dragonfly that I found slippery, so I slapped some wooden scales on them. Ended up with Padauk Delica and Bloodwood Dragonfly.

DelicaSmall.jpg


DragonSmall.jpg


Another idea was to put leather "scales" on both sides of a stainless handle. That is more damage prone, but even less slippery than wood and can be carved with just about anything... :)

EnduraFront.jpg


Just a thought... :D
 
Dang, Vess...Those wood scales look EXCELLENT!! What kind of glue did you use to fix 'em to the stainless scales?

(Do you happen to have an extra set of the wood scales to fit my Police model laying around that I can have?.:D.).
 
Those are really nice pictures... :)

Okay, what I usually do is scratch the heck out of the handle with a diamond file, leaving deep cross-secting grooves, and then use simple epoxy (DevCon 2-Ton is pretty good for this). I also drill the inside of the scale in some places, so epoxy gets in for an additional grip.

To test it, I glued scales on a cheap kitchen knife and then tossed in on cement and ceramic floor a few dozen times until the blade's tip broke, but the scales stayed on tight. I started just dropping it from abiout 2 m, handle-first, but then started tossing it into a cement wall with considerable force, and scales held on. So, the setup should work. Hidden pins are another alternative, but epoxy pseudo-pins work just fine... :)

I am thinking of putting some scales on one of my Police knives too, but I don't have any scales just now to fit a handle that big... :D
 
Thanks Vess for sharin' yer trade secrets!

Edited to add:

Yes, beautiful pics! Very nice work.

I remember seeing those on ebay a while back and almost pulled thr trigger!

I've been thinking about converting a lefty SS to ambidextrous by taking off the clip and putting on some new scales to cover the screw holes.

Might just try it now that I have a clue which cement to use...:)
 
Originally posted by jhillas
...I've been thinking about converting a lefty SS to ambidextrous by taking off the clip and putting on some new scales to cover the screw holes...:)
Click to expand...
jhillas...Now wait a darn minute here...If you have a lefty SS Police model, I have a "righty" SS Police model that I'd trade you for it!! (I'm a "lefty", and I've been looking for one of the lefty Police models for "quite awhile".).
 
Hey Dann

No, no LH police, but I do have the following lefties:

SS Mariner
SS PE Hunter
SS SE Hunter
CF PE Delica

It's probably a hunter that I'd try something with.
I'd trade the Mariner for a righty, but it would have to be another Mariner.

I bought the lefty PE CF Delica when I was afraid they would all disappear. Its in the safe til I decide what to do with it.

I do still have the PE delica we traded a while back. I don't want your FRN model though. Anything else?
 
I don't know... I just don't think I have enough time and materials now to make something like that. Between the job and sheathmaking, knifemaking takes the back seat... :) But I do plan to customize one of my Police knives with padauk scales eventually, and then it'll probably end up on EBay.

Taking orders for custom knives is something I'm not emotionally ready for yet. I prefer to make them as I see fit, and sell them afterwards. It's only in sheathmaking that I know I can make something to the client's specs and not screw up and destroy the product in the process... :)
 
Vess,
Great work!! :)
Question for you; How did you cut the pattern for the leather piece?? I want to do something like that, but with a piece of Stingray. Just an idea. Thanks for any info.




Blades
 
There's a tool, the exact name escapes me, but maybe a groover? I just don't know the proper name for it. :)

But what I use is a part of a cheap manicure kit. It's a small piece of metal that looks like a "V", and sharpened at the bottom. Then I take some leather and sketch the design on it with a pen (black ink if I will dye black later, or red ink if I later dye it brown). And then I cut freehand with that "V" shaped thingy. And then I go over the design with a smooth metal thingy from the same kit to "finish" and flatten the cut in the leather. Then I dye, apply the finish, and whatever else is needed.

Never worked with stingray, so I'm not sure how thick/hard/grainy it is. Cutting freehand might be a problem if it's too grainy, or not thick enough.

My Endura has that leather handle on both sides, it's easy to do, provides excellent grip and holds up pretty well. That is just high-quality regular leather, pre-cut for bookmarks, at C$3 apiece... :)
 
I used a carbide punch to "Dent" the SS scales on my Harpy. I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out. You need to be very careful around the pivot pin to avoid peening the pin (which makes opening/closing alot harder).
 
I have heard of people putting Agrip on SS handles. It's a very thin, self-stick, velvety material available in sheets.
It's commonly put on Glocks.
 
FREDERIC K,
I'm sorry, I forgot to answer your question. I have put some 3M grip tape on my SS Police. It is almost like skateboard tape, very "grippy". It likes to scrape my hand when I reach in for my keys. Ow. :) Mr. Janich suggested traction tape like you would use on your bath tub. More like rubber, less like sandpaper, but I'm getting use to the 3M tape. Slowly.
Good Luck!


Vess,
Thanks for the info. I was afraid you were going to say "freehand". :)
Thanks!!



Blades
 
Nice job, Hawkbill. Definitely a "One-of-a-kind." I've been thinking of doing something like that to one of my ss's.
 
Thanks! I bought a spring-punch & just went at it. It's pretty satisfying adding your personal touch to a carry-piece.
 
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