Jag Handles

WOW!!
Such an informative post, Clubworm!! Thanks for sharing!!!








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I have PC International Series, the Utility and Weehawk. Can you make the handle and ship over? The chance of losing it to customs is less that way.
 
Every blade is a little different and the chance of something not working is too great. I wouldn't want to send you something that I wasn't sure would work. Email me and we can talk more about this.

Mer
 
but people could email you a blade tracing on 1/4 inch graph paper.

that way you would have something to work with.

what do ya think?
 
Let me explain,

For the most part, 90% of balisongs have the same basic dimensions, hole spacing, and tang pin spacing. that is where it ends. Since the tang pins are "peened" after being put in place, the depth of the "cups" in the handles will be different. If you take 10 new Jaguars that have never been flipped and set them out closed but not latched you will fine that the handles are allstopping at different points. The aluminum wears quickly and conforms to each individual pin so the gradually even out. With stainless there is no wear and I need to adjust the depth of the "cups" to get a tension that is just right when the knife is closed. I use .125" handle gap at the ends in the closed position and .1875" in the open position. The cup depth can vary from .040" to .070" depending on the tang pin. This I found gives the perfect tension in both positions. Now, the "kick" on the blade. If you look at Jaguar blades you can see they are stamped out of steel and then the profile is ground to form the edge. The rest of the blade is pretty much left alone and there are a lot of burrs and shearing around the edges. I have to make the slots of each handle a different depth so the blade edge won't rub on the inside of the handle and so there will be proper tension when the knife is closed. This slot depth can be from .380" to .410" depending on the blade. Just an example, on some blades when the slot depth is .380" the handles are 1" apart in the closed position, in other cases they are .250" apart. I hope you can see that these are truly custom knives made for their specific blades and there is really no way to "mass produce" handles and send them out. If every blade was identical it would be easy. I only want to produce a product that I know will work and the customer will be extremely happy with.

Hope this answered your questions.

Eric
 
all i can say is 'whoa!'.

Yet another prime example how much thought and effort has been put into making good handles. Eric has probably gone through way too much trial and error in order to get those dimensions within a reasonable operational tolerance.

Surely, you can make a set of handles. However, the keyword today is 'perfection.' I think that Eric takes pride in making an exceptional product that you and I would enjoy. And, he's not going to let a poor product to get out his door to be slaughtered and slandered on this forum... LOL :D

-j-
 
Wow that really is devotion. Do you think if u made a deal with a blade maker that makes good, consistent sized blades, so that you can mass produce handles, the price would go down?
 
Right now a lot of the time is spent planning what to cut and how much to cut. What really makes it hard is when you cut the cups in the handles it is the last operation done and if you screw it up there's nothing you can do but start all over with a new handle. It's a small operation but probably the most important because it determines the latching tension when open.

Take Care,

Mer
 
I think in order to produce the kind of quality I want the price would not go down. With the amount of time put into each set I'm working pretty cheap. Once you start mass producing there is a certian amount of attention to detail that usually goes down and I'd rather not sacrifice the quality. The time put in is really my own learning of the process also. I know that as I get a better routine down and learn a few more short cuts in set up and finishing that it will become easier. Until you get into CNC macnhining there is really no mass produced handles. There are also alot of different requests for hole patterns, slots and inserts. These are some of the first steps that have to be done before you cut the tapers and mill the slots so If you look at it that way, there is really no way I could have handles almost finished except for the pattern or insert cuts. I've got more on the way with styles you've not seen before so stay tuned for more pictures to come in the next few weeks.

Thanks,

Mer
 
I just realized I wasn't to clear in my original post to this thread. I have 10 sets of brand new "factory" Jaguar handles, never fliped available. If someone wants a cheap alternative or needs original replacement handles let me know.

Thanks,

Mer
 
Mer,

are you smoking crack? You probably couldn't give jag handles away. And of all people to suggest that. LOL.

You've already shown us fine examples of what skills you can machine. Why would we want anything less superior? ;)

-j-
 
Mer,

Can't agree more on that. It's only that shipping the knife there would be ok, but for you to ship back here is a problem. Corrupt Customs.
Your reply really echo what Chuck says about the most tricky part of having the alignment right (in his Gemini review)

Thus I was thinking having the handle shipped here would have less problem.

Ah, the Jag handles: can I have 2 pairs?
Thanks a lot.
 
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