Mod-ducci's - is this possible?

Dennis in MA

Dennis in MA

Joined
May 31, 2005
Messages
6,860
Probably a simple answer. But given that I can't hammer a nail I'm coming for info.

I've got a SHBA. And with AZ's SHBA thread, I've got to thinking. It's just a bit too handle heavy. Wondering if skeletonizing the handle would help shift some weight. Yes, that part I'm pretty sure is not a big deal to do. (Well, be done by a professional.)

But I'm concerned about the handles. Can you remove (and re-do) smooth bolts without destroying the handles? Not that they are any great handle material (black micarta), but the classic Busse smooth SHBA handle is one I love and would hate to lose.

Thanks!
 
I've thought about doing the same thing to my swamp rat mini uncle mojo - I like the recurved blade a lot, but the knife is definitely pretty handle heavy, and honestly overly heavy for how long it is.

Mine has the flared tube fasteners, though, so they should be a lot easier to drill out and remove the slabs.
 
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Well, I suppose anything is possible. Skeletonizing the handle sounds easier to do than it is. The hardened A2 steel is real tough to drill, you would have to use a carbide drill or end mill to do it.
As far as removing the smooth bolts go, since there is no slot to use a screwdriver to remove them, you would need to drill them out. Now that would destroy the bolts, but not the handles (if you were careful). But once you have lighten the blade tang, you have to re-attach the handles. If you want to have smooth bolts again, the process is to put new ones on (the new ones are slotted so you can screw them together and are longer than the thickness of the handles) and sand them flush to the handle. It is next to impossible to make them flush without touching the micarta handle a little around the bolts. You can be real carefull to minimize the material removal to the handle, but really have to sand the whole handle to make it all the same color. You do loose the "aged" look of the micarta though.

The SHBA really isn't all that long, does the balance really bother you that much?
 
Ducci - that's what I was afraid of.

The blade really just has that super-heavy handle that hints at fatigue.

But since it's probably gonna ruin the look/feel/size of the micarta a bit, I'll just live with it. :)
 
I have to admit, this is a question I wondered about myself, comparing my own SHBA "fatty" with the infi "skinny" SHBA. I find the weight differences are noticeable, and I just love the quick feel in the hand of the infi SHBA. This blade rocks! :D
 
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