Maddog's Custom SN-1 - I Got It Today!!

Blackdog · Dec 6, 1999

A few weeks ago, Maddog 2020 finished up a custom handle job on a GH Service Number 1. It's unlike any knife handle I had ever seen. He built it from a beautiful piece of cherry wood to fit the natural shape of a closed hand. For those of you who haven't seen it yet, there are pics of it on the Custom Khukuri Gallery at :
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumList?u=104694

As things worked out, Maddog and I were doing some horse trading and I ended up as the proud caretaker of the Custom SN-1. I got it in the mail today and it is, in a word, AWESOME!!

The handle is one hell of a piece of work. It feels like it grew on the end of my hand. It's very hard to describe in words, so I made a couple of sketches to help compare it to the standard SN-1.

It really fills the hand and gives the knife a whole new feel. More later.

Thanks Ray.

Blackdog

Craig Gottlieb · Dec 7, 1999

Very cool! Who drew the picture? By the way, I think that handle design, while not appealing from a shape point of view to my eye, is the epitome of "form follows function" and is therefore a GREAT piece of work, despite my silly sense of aesthetics.

Way to go, Mad Dog!

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Craig Gottlieb
Gurkha House
Blade Forums Sponsor

maddog2020 · Dec 7, 1999

Blackdog,

LOL.....you are making me blush. Nice sketch - what you did use to make it with? I took some b&w photocopies of the the SN1 handle for future reference.

Let us know how you like your new tool after you take it outside and test it out. Glad you like it.

Ray 'md2020'

Blackdog · Dec 7, 1999

Maddog,

I haven't had a chance to chop anything with the SN-1 yet but can't seem to stop myself from picking it up. It's really an extremely comfortable and secure grip.

There are several steps involved in making the drawings. I'm sure there are easier ways to do it, but this works for me.

First I traced around each handle on a piece of writing paper.
Next, I faxed the drawing from a standard fax machine to my computer's fax program (I use Bitware Fax).
I save the Fax as a Bitmap.
I use MS Paint to clean up the drawing, fill in the coloring & patterns and move things around as required.
I convert the finished bitmap into a .jpg file with a graphics program (I use IrfanView)

It sounds a lot more complicated than it is.

Blackdog

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Visit the GH Photo Gallerys at:
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumList?u=104694

Steven F · Dec 8, 1999

Ray, your custom handle is significantly longer than the original handle, yet it appears that your custom handle has its buttcap secured in the traditional manner; i.e., by flattening the exposed tip of the tang. My question is, how did you lengthen the tang to acommodate your handle?

maddog2020 · Dec 8, 1999

Steve F.

I didn't lengthen the tang - if anything is would be about 1/8" shorter because I had to take/grind the old peened end off to take it apart. I didn't think to measure it in a before and after thing.....UNLESS it is because I staightened the tang (originally it has a bow/bend to it).

If you are a skilled welder/you could add on some material, but it is tricky - you over heat the metal it becomes brittle, and so on.... IMHO, you can cheat and move the handle forward on the blade a littel.

LOL.

Sorry, no secrets here....LOL.

Ray 'md2020'

Craig Gottlieb · Dec 8, 1999

Mad Dog: Since you are the resident handle customizer, here's a question: would there be a market for full exposed tang handle-less khukuris, and if so, would you like them better than the stick tang khukuris? I was thinking of ordering some in January for the project-minded, and have the sneaking suspicion that the full tang variety would give people like you a chance to play with scales, and people like me (who could never fashion a spike tang handle like you did) the chance to do SOMETHING creative!

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Craig Gottlieb
Gurkha House
Blade Forums Sponsor

Steven F · Dec 8, 1999

Craig, I really, really, REALLY like the idea of "project" blades. I used to be into serious furniture-making and wood carving and would love to have a full-tang khuk blade to play with. I'll place my order now -- just in case your idea becomes reality. I want two, perhaps three, of the handle-less, full-tang khuks, and I would prefer them to be of the 18" OAL, AK type. Please, please order them. I'm fully prepared to do further begging, and even groveling, if necessary. In fact, I'm going to start another thread right now to drum up support for the idea.

[This message has been edited by Steven F (edited 08 December 1999).]

maddog2020 · Dec 8, 1999

Craig,

FULL TANG would be AWESOME for some wanting to build their own handle IMHO!

You can ALWAYS remove material, BUT adding material is a bit difficult more the average person.

If you could leave the tang from the end of blade on like a rectangle: 0.25" thick x 1.5" wide x 6.5" long, I think that should cover the span of sizes.

I am honored that you consider me the " resident handle customizer "....LOL. My wife just thinks I am procrastinating in the basement.

Ray 'md2020'