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Modified my Benchmade Mini-Grip (first real blade mod)

Joined
Jun 8, 2007
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I've had this Benchmade sitting around cursing me for a while for the abuse and neglect I've given it. I busted the tip on a deer pelvis, failed to clean it up all the time, and actually dropped it in January and found it when the snow melted in March. So, I figured, before I spend the money to replace the blade, why not have a little fun trying my hand at modding it. Please let me know what you think and if you see anything that you would do differently. Also, if anyone knows the pivot screw size for these, I'm looking for that information, because I lost it after the post-snowmageddon cleanup.

I started out by grinding the top swedge down and grinding off the sharp edge to make it meet evenly at the tip. After that, I decided to do a little sanding on the blade to make it look a little more my style. Then, it was on to the sharpening stones and strop. All I have right now is a Sharpmaker and a strop with black on one side and green on the other. After 5 hours (over 2 nights) of watching old X-Files shows on netflix and working away with the Sharpmaker and strop, I have a nice new blade on my Mini Grip! I think it was definitely worth the time, because I learned quite a bit and realized that perhaps griniding steel is something I can do.

Anyway, here's the before / after pic. It reminds me a bit of the posters you see in a dentist's office...

BMMod.jpg
 
Dang, man! That's a GOOD looking job, the two-tone looks very good.

I'd almost be tempted to take the highpoint off of the swedge, it'd leave an almost spyerco-looking blade spine then, but that's a personal taste thing. I'd call that a darn well-executed mod right there. :)
 
Thanks! Yeah, I am looking at it today and will work the swedge down a little more. The good news is that it'll bring it down to the thickest part of the spine, so I shouldn't really lose any strength.
 
That does look pretty good.

I'd use it like that for a while.

My luck, if I replaced the blade, I'd break it again.
 
Very nice! If that's your first job, I'd be awfully happy- maybe you've got talent?
 
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