I have a red handled BM550 Griptilian!

JDMSMBACPA · May 30, 2003

I recently lost one. I think it fell out of my pocket while I was raking up bark. Since it was black I could not find it. When I replaced it, I also bought a BM550 Trainer with red handles. I thought it would be easier to find. Tonight I swapped the blade to get a red handled FrankenGriptilian and a black handled trainer/spares package.

As a bonus, I discovered that unlike the knife I lost, my new 550 has bronze washers

The red handles make my 550 look like a giant AXIS lock SAK

Diamond Cut II · May 30, 2003

Well, there goes your warranty.

Cool nonetheless. Can you post pics? Thanks.

AntDog · May 30, 2003

Hey, that's pretty cool!

How tough was it to swap out the blades? I have used axis lock knives and made minor adjustments to them, but I am not familiar with the inner workings of the axis lock. Did you have to work with any intricate parts or anything or just unscrew the blades and switch them out?

JDMSMBACPA · May 30, 2003

Warranty shmoranty

No pics for now, either. No digicam

It is easy to switch the blades. You only take out the pivot screw, pin, washers and blade. The handles and AXIS mechanism stay intact. To reassemble, put the pivot pin part way in and get one washer on it. Then get the blade in and get the pivot pin part-way through. Then put the other washer in, line it up and slide the pin the rest of the way through. Finally, insert and adjust the screw. Done!

I knew I could do this because I voided the warranty on my 806D2 by removing the blade to take off the BT2. Now I have a nice brushed finish. Eventually I'll polish it to a higher shine, but D2 is a beeoch to polish.

dylan_d · May 30, 2003

So you found the knife you lost?

JDMSMBACPA · May 30, 2003

Nope. I bought a new one and a trainer (and a Benchmade Blue Box, and a Sharpmaker and a pair of ultrafine hones

) I think the old knife is probably in one of the three 3' high 6' wide bark piles in my back yard. It could also be around the house somewhere. It will either turn up or it won't. If it does, great (especially if it turns up in the house rather than as a corroded mess in an acidic bark pile). If not, I have my new red one

AntDog · May 30, 2003

Thank you for the info. It's neat to know the blades and handles interchange so easily.

I really wanted a camo griptilian, but it seems to be only offered with the half serrated blade. I really don't like half serrated blaeds, so maybe now I'll get the camo model and one with a plain edged blade and make the swap...

aXed · May 30, 2003

i remember when i first got into knives, the BM Griptilian was my favourite one, i only didn't purchase it because it was just way too bulky... but that's solved now since the mini Griptilian is out. now, if only i can get the handle in Camo, that would be so sweet

aXed

JDMSMBACPA · May 30, 2003

The next thing I want to try is using my "extra" parts to make my own handles. My brother-in-law is a really good wood and metal worker with a nice shop. With his help, wooden or aluminum handles would not be a problem--just carve or machine them to accept the AXIS module.

What I really want to try is G10. The sides of the AXIS module are about 1/16" thick. If I can find 1/16" G10, I could cut the shape of the sides of the module out of 1/16" G10 to get a G10 "female" part that the AXIS module would nest into. Then I would use 3/16" G10 to make slabs slabs carved/machined to accept the screws, clips, AXIS buttons, etc. I think I'd also might need a 5/32" spacer along the back of the handle. I could mix colors for a cool "laminated" look. The result would be a customized G10 handled Griptilian that would only be as thick as my 806D2.

Another alternative would be to machine recesses for the AXIS module into thicker G10 slabs and drill holes for the screws and buttons.

I'm sure I'm oversimplifying. I've never done anything like making a handle for a folder before. To date my knife mods have been limited to removing black coat and polishing blades and this AXIS blade swap.