Modified Production Knives (traditional only)

Added cap lifter to Northfield barlow it had to be ground down to fit the thinner secondary back spring, with a cutout for the nail nick which wasn’t necessary but I think it adds to the finished look. I was going to recover in mammoth but ended up using lilac wood from my backyard that had luckily been curing for about a year from a different project that I ended up using something else for. The mammoth ended up breaking. I think you can see it in the glare on the cap lifter swedges but I ground down on side more than the other to preserve the GEC TIW tang stamp. this is probably my favorite so far that I’ve done.
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jsdistin said:
Added cap lifter to Northfield barlow it had to be ground down to fit the thinner secondary back spring, with a cutout for the nail nick which wasn’t necessary but I think it adds to the finished look. I was going to recover in mammoth but ended up using lilac wood from my backyard that had luckily been curing for about a year from a different project that I ended up using something else for. The mammoth ended up breaking. I think you can see it in the glare on the cap lifter swedges but I ground down on side more than the other to preserve the GEC TIW tang stamp. this is probably my favorite so far that I’ve done.
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Great job!!!
 
jsdistin said:
Added cap lifter to Northfield barlow it had to be ground down to fit the thinner secondary back spring, with a cutout for the nail nick which wasn’t necessary but I think it adds to the finished look. I was going to recover in mammoth but ended up using lilac wood from my backyard that had luckily been curing for about a year from a different project that I ended up using something else for. The mammoth ended up breaking. I think you can see it in the glare on the cap lifter swedges but I ground down on side more than the other to preserve the GEC TIW tang stamp. this is probably my favorite so far that I’ve done.
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Lovely!
 
I used my 82 micarta for some time and then switched to the elderberry last week.
To adapt the thickness of both I decided to sand down the jigged bone handle a little.
The result for me is very nice: the knife feels more compact and smooth,
the bolsters and shield don't look so shiny anymore.
Of course the bone is still heavier than the micarta, but not so much.
YXeC5Gb.jpg

WXMYAKc.jpg
 
I really like what you did to that elderberry 82 - I had one & aside from the weak snap of the wharncliffe, the secondary reason I got rid of it was the bold texture of the jigging pattern - just couldn't get used to it. Your mod makes it alot more comfortable I bet... nicely done.
 
jsdistin said:
Thanks guys, I appreciate it. I’m hoping the lilac wood holds up well, it has a density and hardness at the lower end of what seems to be commonly used in knife handles, similar to ebony but we’ll see I guess, I’ll be using it for a while I think. Thanks again,
Jeff
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It looks great! Certainly a unique piece. If the splintery, unstabilized old barn chestnut on my modded Navy lambsfoot is holding up, I think that lilac will be good to go. Very cool that it came from your place.
 
nifebrite said:
I used my 82 micarta for some time and then switched to the elderberry last week.
To adapt the thickness of both I decided to sand down the jigged bone handle a little.
The result for me is very nice: the knife feels more compact and smooth,
the bolsters and shield don't look so shiny anymore.
Of course the bone is still heavier than the micarta, but not so much.
YXeC5Gb.jpg

WXMYAKc.jpg
Click to expand...
Looks cool, kind of like a well used animal path or something with a lot of different tracks overlapping.
 
Lansky1 said:
I really like what you did to that elderberry 82 - I had one & aside from the weak snap of the wharncliffe, the secondary reason I got rid of it was the bold texture of the jigging pattern - just couldn't get used to it. Your mod makes it alot more comfortable I bet... nicely done.
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Thank you, Lansky1.
I have done this mod on some of my user knives and mostly liked it. Besides the lighter texture, the color also brightens.
In this case I guess it moved a little in the indian paintbrush direction, which is nice.
Sorry to read about the weak spring action of your #82. After some flushing and oiling mine has become perfect.
 
Just finished and sent out a knife to a guy here on bladeforums. It was one of the newer 77 barlows that he didn’t like the handles on. I took a few pictures while I was working on it which I always intend to do but always forget. I thought it might be good to post the progression of it.
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Taken apart
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Cleaned up
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Light epoxy to hold scales until drilling holes and peining
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Drilled and peined
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Beginning shaping
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Making sure the liners are smooth and flat
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Back together.
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Basic shaping
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Completed with satin finish
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The blades had some pepper spots I believe from the dye job, when cleaning everything up I left them as is backside in my experience they are almost impossible to fully get rid of without removing a large amount of material.
 

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This also brings up a question of membership status for me. At what point should someone spring for the craftsman/service provider membership. I did this knife and someone else is sending me one to work on as well I have no idea if there would be more or not. So I guess my question would be how many before someone should pay for the upgrade.
 
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