My experimental Buck

[eveled]

i have an experimental 121. I call it that because I experiment with it. It came to me for cheap money because it has a major chip in the blade.

First step was to use a small file to turn the jagged chip into a smooth sharp Seration. This hopefully removes any starting point for a crack and by sharpening it, it no longer catches material when slicing.

This was a couple of years ago and still not broken. I just sharpen over it and it is shrinking as the blade wears.

Second thing I have always wondered. Can phenolic handled knives survive the dishwasher? I turns out yes they can. But the pommel gets oxidized rough and discolored.

Third. I never liked the bump on the pommel. File in hand I attacked it. Big mistake 10 strokes later I had busted through into a hollow spot.

So don’t do this!

Fourth. I have always wondered if I could add a lanyard hole with basic tools. This came out amazingly well. I think.

Hope this stuff helps others.

 

[kossetx]

It sure helps me. Thanks!

 

[jbmonkey]

didnt think of if pommel was hollow or not. now I know. good info Sir, thank you

 

[st8yd]

The hole for the tang may be oversized and he ground into it.

 

[jbmonkey]

The hole for the tang may be oversized and he ground into it.

ahhh......makes sense.

 

[eveled]

I’m sure that is the case but I thought it would be more than ten file strokes deep. Still maybe calling it hollow wasn’t right. Obviously it is not hollow at the lanyard hole. I forced in some epoxy and it’s all good again.

Funny thing is this is my beater because of the chip. But because I use it so much it is becoming a favorite.

 

[Wowbagger]

My first thought, after sharpening the chipped area, would have been to thin the blade by half but then I do that to most all my thick knives. e.g. Pendleton Hunter at a stock 5mm . . . a little while later WHAMMO 2.2mm . . . now we're cutting stuff.
Good knives in the dishwasher . . . now that . . . that . . . would have NEVER occurred to me.

 

[eveled]

I thin my flat ground blades. But Bucks convex grind doesn’t seem to need it as bad.

 

[eveled]

Larger copies of the above pictures and updated pictures of the blade modifications

Last summer I decided to turn it into a flat grind to see if it could be done. It was part of another thread, but I wanted to update this one too.

Next is to try checking the handle. Stay tuned.

 

[Jsega51]

Next is to try checking the handle. Stay tuned.

I’ve never checkered anything but I’m wondering if the files will gum up more or less when compared to a wood handle. Looking forward to seeing how it goes and turns out!

 

[jude_061]

Let us know how the checkering goes. I’ve checkered 110 handles (by hand with triangle files) and have been wanting to do my 119.

 

[eveled]

It went ok, but it is not an easy material to checker. It’s offers less resistance than wood and the chisels do not track well. The stop cuts did not help. The chisel just skates past. Wood is much easier to control. The chisels did not gum up.

I do not recommend it.

I used real gun stock checkering chisels.

 

[eveled]

This was with a triangle file and a round file. Also not recommended.

The phenolic just doesn’t react well, it is very different than wood.