- Joined
- Dec 9, 2003
- Messages
- 4,817
Here is a picture of the micarta handles i made for my griptillian. This took a lot of work! Its smooth now with a similar shape but not as grippy. It took some work because I had to keep shaping it then get it together and shape some more and keep working like that till it had a good fit. For example the thumb studs for the axis lock had to stick out far enough for you to get a good grip on it. The screws/holes had to be the perfect length so they can reach the threads but not go too far and every time i made an adjustment it meant more adjustments. It would have been easier if i just used a flat thinner piece of micarta but i like shaping curves and stuff. Also reduced the size of the handle around the front of the handle so the grippy part of the liner is exposed.
It is a 3d denim micarta from knifekits.com so it has a nice pattern to it and it matches jeans. It was a little flexible at the thickness i sanded it too but that might be normal for micarta. I used flatheads for screws because the hardware store did not have specialty screws. But thats ok because flatheads are easy to find if you need to clean the knife, but its open now so its easier to clean. The fat one at the end of the handle is a little too large, but ill figure that out later.
The liners are no longer nested inside the handle so the knife is a little thicker, and because the handles do not screw together like in the original I had to make my own spacer our of threaded aluminum which isnt the prettiest thing but is functional. I sanded it a tad too short and the liners taper slightly towards the tail of the handle so I need to buy a new one and resize it.
Also because the handles did not touch that mean less stability because originally there was just the bearing screw holding the blade and a screw for the liners, but without the plastic molded to hold the liners just right I wanted extra security. Luckily instead of having to tap the liners it turns out there is another set of threaded holes in the liners! So i just went and got screws to match and cut them to length. 4-40 size for the liners. That way the liners are secure to the handles.
Had to drill and shape the spaces for the axis lock studs which too work because it had to be thin enough for the studs to be exposed enough to grip. Also one of the hard parts (which turned out to be not that hard) was grinding out the areas for the axis lock springs to have room to do their things. I ended up using a dremel tool with a round headed bit and was able to just carve out a sort of circular area just deep enough for the spring to nestle inside and it worked well.
So all in all im happy. I think it looks good. Maybe crude in some areas though. It seems like it doesnt open quite as smoothly but i may still need to adjust the tension of the main screw as well as figure out possible spacer issues making it not meet up perfectly.
I jsut need to figure out how to mount a pocket clip on it. I dont know if the micarta will be very strong to hold screw threads. I could try to use the pocket clip from the old handle but not sure how to sink the threaded female ends, or i could sunk a bolt on the inside of the handle... I could just leave it without a pocket clip... jsut so use to pocket clips on knives now.
Later on I might order some thin g-10 or some thin micarta to make simple slabs for the knife instead of curved ones. This would be much more simple with screw depths and countersinking and whatnot. More like those expensive ones seen in this thread.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=595162
Well enjoy the pictures.
It is a 3d denim micarta from knifekits.com so it has a nice pattern to it and it matches jeans. It was a little flexible at the thickness i sanded it too but that might be normal for micarta. I used flatheads for screws because the hardware store did not have specialty screws. But thats ok because flatheads are easy to find if you need to clean the knife, but its open now so its easier to clean. The fat one at the end of the handle is a little too large, but ill figure that out later.
The liners are no longer nested inside the handle so the knife is a little thicker, and because the handles do not screw together like in the original I had to make my own spacer our of threaded aluminum which isnt the prettiest thing but is functional. I sanded it a tad too short and the liners taper slightly towards the tail of the handle so I need to buy a new one and resize it.
Also because the handles did not touch that mean less stability because originally there was just the bearing screw holding the blade and a screw for the liners, but without the plastic molded to hold the liners just right I wanted extra security. Luckily instead of having to tap the liners it turns out there is another set of threaded holes in the liners! So i just went and got screws to match and cut them to length. 4-40 size for the liners. That way the liners are secure to the handles.
Had to drill and shape the spaces for the axis lock studs which too work because it had to be thin enough for the studs to be exposed enough to grip. Also one of the hard parts (which turned out to be not that hard) was grinding out the areas for the axis lock springs to have room to do their things. I ended up using a dremel tool with a round headed bit and was able to just carve out a sort of circular area just deep enough for the spring to nestle inside and it worked well.
So all in all im happy. I think it looks good. Maybe crude in some areas though. It seems like it doesnt open quite as smoothly but i may still need to adjust the tension of the main screw as well as figure out possible spacer issues making it not meet up perfectly.
I jsut need to figure out how to mount a pocket clip on it. I dont know if the micarta will be very strong to hold screw threads. I could try to use the pocket clip from the old handle but not sure how to sink the threaded female ends, or i could sunk a bolt on the inside of the handle... I could just leave it without a pocket clip... jsut so use to pocket clips on knives now.
Later on I might order some thin g-10 or some thin micarta to make simple slabs for the knife instead of curved ones. This would be much more simple with screw depths and countersinking and whatnot. More like those expensive ones seen in this thread.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=595162
Well enjoy the pictures.
