Modified the handle of my ESEE 4 and 6

[Pea-Ta]

Hey everyone! I got bit by the modification bug... What do you all think? Grip is greatly increased.

Now I'm working on the 6

*****EDIT*****

I finished the 6 in the same fashion, I'll let the pics tell the story.

I used Vaseline to coat the entire knife and it darkens the micarta, It only makes it a little slipperier in the beginning but as you use it it just feels like regular used micarta. With the modifications, even with the Vaseline on there there is loads of increased grip.

I coat the blade/ handle. let sit for a few min and wipe it off, there is barely any on there but still leaves a nice looking handle.

 

[softrockrenegade]

Nice !! Has a Kbar kraton look to it now !

 

[lazerboy2000]

Very simple and nice. You just use a round file?

 

[TAGannon]

Looks nice. I like the dye job.

 

[jforbush]

Looks good!!!

 

[Pea-Ta]

Thanks! All I used is a round file from a chain saw sharpener... @ Tom: that's actually only Vaseline on the grey micarta. I love the way it makes it look.

And a pic of the 6 handles :

 

[formtight]

Looks nice. I like the dye job.

Me too. Just what did you use to dye it...?

 

[peterj]

Vaseline? Wouldn't that defeat the purpose?

 

[Pea-Ta]

Well... The micarta will absorb a little of pretty much anything that comes in contact with it so I just coat the entire blade with the Vaseline, let it sit for 30 min and get a rag to wipe it off... (literally buff it off) the very little that saays will make grey micarta look like that... It's not a greasy feel ether.

 

[formtight]

Vaseline? What does that do to the texture?

 

[Pea-Ta]

It honestly doesn't affect it too much. Before it would probably make it 5% more slippery the first use and then feel like used dirty micarta (we all know that feeling). Now with the mods it's very grippy even with a thick layer. I do get as much as I can off the scales and it still leaves them darkened.

 

[Pea-Ta]

Decided to make a vid... Bear with me, camera phone...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiQnycTSVJE&feature=youtube_gdata_player

 

[GhostWolf]

Bet that would look good on the Izula scales as well. :thumbup:

 

[vba]

Thanks for the pics especially the 4 and 6 together as I just ordered both blades.

Vin

 

[paolino250]

Nice !! Has a Kbar kraton look to it now !

This is exactly the first thing I thought!

BTW nice mod and thanks for sharing the info on the effect of Vaseline on the grey micarta!

 

[ESEERATFAN]

Have you tried the vaseline on Canvas Micarta scales????

Looks very cool.


Great job

 

[ajbuckelew]

Nice !! Has a Kbar kraton look to it now !

Same thing popped into my head haha. But it looks very nice and I'm sure it would add greatly to the grippiness. I might do something similar to my 3 when i buy it

 

[wgrabia]

now, if I do this to my 5, then clean them properly with hot water and dish soap and such, do you think all the vaseline will come off? what I mean is, is this process 100% reversible? if i want the grey scales back.

 

[adaman04]

now, if I do this to my 5, then clean them properly with hot water and dish soap and such, do you think all the vaseline will come off? what I mean is, is this process 100% reversible? if i want the grey scales back.

I'd say so. Warm water and Dawn dish soap gets most of the oils out. Might take a couple washes but I think they'd be good to go after you cleaned them. Doesn't make sense to me to grease knife handles. If you want them dark, dye them.

 

[Pea-Ta]

yup 100% reversible, It actually comes off with use as well, I don't keep them greased ether, just when I feel like looking at black handles, they are dirty most of the time anyways...