Mods to Traditionals

Gary W. Graley

Gary W. Graley

“Imagination is more important than knowledge"
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Mar 2, 1999
Messages
27,472
Recently picked up this Boker Congress, a bit different with the stepped bolsters and long main pen blade, but the pen blade would strike the back spring putting a dent into the edge. Easily remedied by some sharpening and careful closing, I normally close these shut by hand myself and I've not got the nerve to let this one slam shut to see if she'll do harm to herself...yeah I'm a big chicken at heart ;)

But the mod that I am making reference to relates to this situation but in a different manner, the sheepsfoot was quite high riding, which was not comfortable to sit that high when using the other blades. So I knocked down the kick slightly to lower the blade into the frame. Now I did this with great care as I could easily end up having the same dent into yet another blade, but, it turned out well.

But also, the nail nick on the sheepsfoot blade was on what I consider the wrong side, I'd have to spin the knife around and wrangle with it to get it into play to use. So I noticed that there was ample room on the other side to grind in a 'new' nail nick and so I did, which now makes it a pleasure to be able to open any of three of the four blades from the same side.

sheepsfoot before the grind

Untitled by GaryWGraley, on Flickr

and using a Dremel and cut off wheel, 'carefully' ground in the new nail nick

Untitled by GaryWGraley, on Flickr

It's a great knife, I've not seen one like it,

Untitled by GaryWGraley, on Flickr

Untitled by GaryWGraley, on Flickr

So, if you have a situation like this, and it bugs you enough, I'd say go for it or contact your local handy guy/girl and get-r-dun ;)
G2
 
Beautiful knife and nice job with the mod, Gary. I too agree that if there is a modification you want to make to a knife, don’t let the fear of ruining it prevent you from doing it. I remember watching Bob Ross once, and when he had mostly completed what would have been a pretty decent landscape as it was, he said that you were supposed to paint a huge tree in the foreground. He said it was time to be brave, and not let the fear of ruining the preceding hard work hold you back (paraphrasing). I always think of this when approaching a task like yours. Of course I HAVE actually ruined a few things, but fear did not hold me back!
 
Here's a few Case blade mods I've done recently ...

Formed the pen blade into a mini sheepsfoot...

wkye6Ox.jpg


The Ratcliffe muskrat mod ...

i9mtWd6.jpg


Taking the excessive belly out of a trapper blade ...

IoHuemT.jpg


Tidied up the point on the spey blade ...

OlZVzB7.jpg
 
Thanks I had searched before making this one but didn’t locate any recent threads
G2
 
My BF Buck Forum knife has been a work in progress since I got it. Complete regrind to thin the blades (0.015" BTE now), gently grind down the sharp corners of the bolsters, smooth down the sharp spines of the blades to make them more comfortable in hand when cutting with the opposite blade, wiggle the main blade in a vice to get some semblance of snap (I'm not done yet!), potassium permanganate on the slabs to match up the sides and give a more impressive gnarly bark to them.

After blade regrind.

buck_1.jpg


Same side after burning in the Elk somewhat and then buffing for polish.

buck_7.jpg


Still a work in progress but I'm having fun and that's the main thing right? :D
 
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