Looking for custom Micarta handles for a Fallkniven F1

[gentemanndvm]

hi all, looking for some advice on who could make a set of micarta handles for my F1. anyone know someone that i could talk to/send it to to have it done?

great blade, i just can't make myself like those thermoplast handles, and i've been trying. i know, i know, great in freezing conditions, grippy, no exposed metal other than hammer at end of hilt which is ideal for working in cold weather, etc, etc, etc.

but it's just too small and just too blah for me. i don't want to get rid of the knife, i love both the quality and the lines of the blade. if it had different grips, it might be up there with the Busse's or BanTangs or Martin knives i've got. so i'm thinking about a set of thicker red/black or black/grey micarta grips, or even a classic green canvas micarta. just a little bit thicker for my big ole meat hooks, a little more comfortable in the hands as a user for me personally, and just a lot less blah to my personal tastes (i don't really like the aesthetics of IKEA furniture all that much, either ).

so i've been looking around a little on BF and can't find anyone to contact and/or send it to to swap out handles. i need help. anyone interested or know anyone who'll do a set of custom handles for an F1?

thanks for the help in advance!
mpg

 

[Tx Bass Tech]

You might want to take a look at Knivesshipfree. Bark River did exactly what you are looking for to some F1s.

 

[foxx]

There is a difference in the tangs. The stock model has a more narrow tang, allowing for the full wrap of the handle material. The micarta customs were ordered from Fallkniven that way.
You may find someone to do some scales, but I'd check out the KSF customs.

 

[james terrio]

Here's a thread where folks put new handles on F1's and similar knives. There are a couple ways to do it depending on which type of tang yours has. I do that kind of work but I'm pretty booked up currently. How soon would you need it done?

 

[gentemanndvm]

not in any big hurry. i'll pm you....

 

[rayban]

I did these, but as stated above, they are full tangs.....
I have no experience with swapping out the stock handles.

 

[gentemanndvm]

beautiful work! see, now that's just a way better looking F1. i'd love to talk to you about time, cost, how-to, etc. i'll pm you here in the next couple days.

i can't figure out how to easily grab a pic from another thread to post, but the F1's with the stock handle do have a slightly thinner tang. i'll try something new, if it works, it's a pic from the thread listed above.

so if that pic shows up, it looks like you'd have to drill a couple holes in an already HT'd handle, plus i guess it would end up being a hidden tang, wrap around deal b/c of that thinner tang. colored spacer as a fix, or just wrap around edges on the micarta? no real preference there, a colored spacer to match the handle would look good, i think....

as long as i'm trying something new to post pics, let's try this one. i love this red/blk handle (if it shows up, it's a ban tang BT4, stole this pic from his website here on BF). i think something like that would look great on an F1, or blk/gry colors in a similar style...

 

[james terrio]

...it looks like you'd have to drill a couple holes in an already HT'd handle, plus i guess it would end up being a hidden tang, wrap around deal b/c of that thinner tang. colored spacer as a fix, or just wrap around edges on the micarta? no real preference there, a colored spacer to match the handle would look good, i think....

Right, it could be done either with mortised scales or flat scales with enough spacer between them to match the thickness of the tang. About the same amount of work either way really. The drilling can be done with a solid carbide bit, without affecting the existing heat-treatment of the tang.

Browse through the tks and usa supply sites, there are lots of cool choices in micarta and G10 to choose from, including contrasting layers like the ones in your pic.