How do you mod your Becker?

00ChevyScott

00ChevyScott

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Dec 3, 2010
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I've pretty much fallen in love with the BK9. I have two now, and have another on the way.

The first one, I stripped the coating, applied a mustard patina, and put micarta handles on it.

The second one, I stripped the coating, dipped it in acid to form a patina, scuffed up the handles, and recently polished up the blade.

Now for the third one, I'm not sure what I want to do with it. How hard is it to do file work on the spine? Any ideas on things to do to it would be appreciated. I've thought about leaving it "stock" but what's the fun in that? Also, post pictures of your modded BK9 if you'd like.

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How much further do you guys think I'd have to take it to get the grinding marks out of the blade? I started with 400, then jumped to 1200, then 2000, followed by Flitz polish. I was doing this in my spare time at work by hand, so it was a somewhat rushed job.
 
I would say you need one that is acid etched. Or maybe just etched on the flats and polished on the grinds. I am liking your polished 9!!!
 
00ChevyScott said:
How much further do you guys think I'd have to take it to get the grinding marks out of the blade? I started with 400, then jumped to 1200, then 2000, followed by Flitz polish. I was doing this in my spare time at work by hand, so it was a somewhat rushed job.
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I say start over, and go from 400 all the way back to 2k. It will get rid of the marks this time I think.
 
To get rid of the marks, you'd need to start over with a much coarser grit, the coarser you start, the sooner you finish... i'd try 60 If i could find it in something suitable to sand metal. sand until all the grind marks are gone, then go to the next higher grit in the opposite direction.

as for the next 9... I have a soft spot for the squared spine and PCB etchant look.
 
Agreed on the polished 9. I'm working on polishing mine up right now, too. I had a darker apple cider vinegar patina on it, and I just really prefer the way I semi-polished bk BK7... soo... I'm working on doing the 9 the same way.

Standard mods for almost all of my Beckers include stripping, micarta handles, and stainless hardware. Aftermarket sheaths are always a fun option too.
 
ThePointyEnd said:
To get rid of the marks, you'd need to start over with a much coarser grit, the coarser you start, the sooner you finish... i'd try 60 If i could find it in something suitable to sand metal. sand until all the grind marks are gone, then go to the next higher grit in the opposite direction.

as for the next 9... I have a soft spot for the squared spine and PCB etchant look.
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The polished one was done with PCB etchant first.

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Uncle Malice said:
Agreed on the polished 9. I'm working on polishing mine up right now, too. I had a darker apple cider vinegar patina on it, and I just really prefer the way I semi-polished bk BK7... soo... I'm working on doing the 9 the same way.

Standard mods for almost all of my Beckers include stripping, micarta handles, and stainless hardware. Aftermarket sheaths are always a fun option too.
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Where are you getting your stainless hardware from?
 
Wet/dry sandpaper while wet is the better bet for shiny metal. I would only go as low as 80, maybe even 120 though. Then work from there. Remember, you don't switch to the next grit until the only marks on the knife are from the grit you were using. And treat the sandpaper like it is free, otherwise you will be at it for a long, long time.

My person mods consist of the following:

1. Square spine. I want that thing to throw crazy sparks from a ferro rod, and be able to use it to make shavings with wood, really fine shavings.

2. Jimping. The way I typically hold my knife lends itself well to jimping so that my thumb finds better purchase.

3. Rust protection, usually in the form of a forced patina, however I have long since abandoned the fancy pattern and such as it doesn't really do much good and will disappear with use anyways. The knife will develop a patina of it's own that is deeper and tougher so once it is protected initially I leave it alone from then onward.
4. Handle scale liners. Not always needed, but on knives like the tweeners the amount of difference it makes in comfort is incredible.

5. Sheath. Whatever I can do to make it hold a firesteel and a very minimal survival kit. If that means a box, or a pouch, or a whatever, it gets bolted onto the side.
 
Nice polished 9! 9s look the absolute best with a polished blade


Man we need someone to get great at poloshing blades, And be willing to offer it as a service to others. It is alot of work, that i and others dont want to personally do. theres money in it.
 
Shaving off the thumb ramp was the best mod I ever did to my bk9. Since you already have a couple of them I'd suggest giving it a try. Makes a good knife even better IMO.

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Where are you getting your stainless hardware from?
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There's a guy on ebay that sells them as sets for a few bucks. You can get them with or without acrylic locking washers (like a $1 difference) and each set includes a hex wrench for them. I ordered a bunch. That way I can keep a wrench with each knife just 'in case'.


Also... I'm pretty sure I've seen these 2 BKs on /r/knives before, no? In face, there's one picture of the 2 blades stuck into a stump that is my wallpaper right now. :)
 
I like the "look" of it too, but so far i have failed in seeing it as functional. really it seems in the way sometimes. my thumb doest want to go there, it seems to want to sit right on the top point of the ramp which isnt practical or comfortable when cutting. to sit my thumb on the ramp i need to slide my hand down further on the grip loosing control.

On a smaller blade maybe its more practical, like the 10. but im not sure on that either i havent ever held a 10.

But im still not grinding mine off the 9, mostly cus i dont want to screw it up lol.
 
Uncle Malice said:
There's a guy on ebay that sells them as sets for a few bucks. You can get them with or without acrylic locking washers (like a $1 difference) and each set includes a hex wrench for them. I ordered a bunch. That way I can keep a wrench with each knife just 'in case'.


Also... I'm pretty sure I've seen these 2 BKs on /r/knives before, no? In face, there's one picture of the 2 blades stuck into a stump that is my wallpaper right now. :)
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Haha I'm pretty sure they're mine. Is it one of these?

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Only up to 120 grit so far. I probably wont take it past 600 or 800... but wanna get a good sheen on it... no need for mirror polish. The etchings really show up much better without the darker patina on it though.

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You could go and get all artsy on this one. Nice thing about etching is you can still use it and not mess it up.

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