Pulled the trigger on a BK14 - Questions for owners.

CamH_16 said:
I've been using the factory zytel which is decent for the money though sometimes a little slick and thin for me (btw, the stock scales use 6/32 x 3/8 screws. I posted the measurements somewhere but can't remember 100% so don't quote me on that).

But ultimately I think my favourite material would have to be G-10 or micarta like the ones I made below which came out a little thicker at just under a .25" and IMO a little more comfortable. As for the actual shape of the scales, I do prefer it when they cover the entire handle over say, the izula style ones which just cover the middle webbing.


003 by CamH_16, on Flickr
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That is a very impressive set of scales. I can see a hole drilled to accommodate a lanyard; did you make those?
 
Congrats on your new 14... It's a great choice and will be one of, if not THE mainstay of your working blades. I love mine.
 
Alnamvet68 said:
That is a very impressive set of scales. I can see a hole drilled to accommodate a lanyard; did you make those?
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Yeah I did :). I didn't include a lanyard hole since underneath the scales there's still the hollow tang space so if you were to drop the knife in water or gut something with it you'd be walking around with a knife who's handle would be dripping out fluid for the rest of the day.
 
Just received my BK14 in the mail today. Love it. Great size, razor sharp out of the box, cool little knife. Grind looks pretty even, too. My only nitpick is that it's ever so slightly bent in the handle. Enough that I imagine it's going to have a noticeable space when I go to attach scales. Anyone have any tested methods of how to bend it back? Would straight steel shims and a vice work? I'd have to wait until I etched it though, since I don't want to scrape the coating off before that.

I could send it back to the company I bought it from, but I'd have to pay the shipping costs, and at that point I would have spent as much as I have on my BK2, so I'd rather try and fix it myself.

Any advice on safely bending it back?
 
SpencerCE89 said:
Just received my BK14 in the mail today. Love it. Great size, razor sharp out of the box, cool little knife. Grind looks pretty even, too. My only nitpick is that it's ever so slightly bent in the handle. Enough that I imagine it's going to have a noticeable space when I go to attach scales. Anyone have any tested methods of how to bend it back? Would straight steel shims and a vice work? I'd have to wait until I etched it though, since I don't want to scrape the coating off before that.

I could send it back to the company I bought it from, but I'd have to pay the shipping costs, and at that point I would have spent as much as I have on my BK2, so I'd rather try and fix it myself.

Any advice on safely bending it back?
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Don't think so, once its HT'd in that position it will stay that way. You have any pics of the bent tang? By 14 (and also my BK-9) is slightly bent at the roll stamp though it's never been a problem. If you haven't modded it in any way call Ka-Bar and I'm sure they'll help you out. Pretty sure they'll send you a prepaid shipping label too.
 
Yeah, I'd heard that that could be a problem with the ones that were stamped, which is why I paid more from a site that had the etched ones to try and avoid it.

Here are the pics of the knife:
zftmdB4.jpg


OvyhcXx.jpg


To me, that's slight, but noticeable. If Kabar actually sends prepaid labels, then I may send it back. And I'd rather send it to them than the company I bought it from, since they would probably just blindly pull another off the shelf, and Kabar would probably look and make sure I got a decent one. I have no doubt that it'd still be a sturdy knife, but since I plan on stripping it I wouldn't want moisture to get underneath the scales and rust. What does everyone else think?
 
I've seen lots of shots of scales that don't line up 100% perfect, for whatever reason.
To me, that's one reason to keep 'em removeable. If it gets a good dunking, take 'em off and dry it.
Maybe I missed it, but I don't know which scales you're planning to get. If you're making your own, or having it done, have the inserts made slightly undersize and crank 'em down.
If it was one of my prize possesions or something exceedingly valuable, I'd send it back and get a straight one. To me, though they are worth more than their cost in actual dollars, Beckers are tools to be used - I'd work around it best I can.
That's just me, though.
 
Interesting. Kabar had some slightly bent ones like this at Blade they were selling super cheap. Mine is fine, and stamped. I'd check with them and see, but to me it's not a big deal, especially if you're going to use it a lot and use it hard.
 
SpencerCE89 said:
Yeah, I'd heard that that could be a problem with the ones that were stamped, which is why I paid more from a site that had the etched ones to try and avoid it.

Here are the pics of the knife:
zftmdB4.jpg


OvyhcXx.jpg


To me, that's slight, but noticeable. If Kabar actually sends prepaid labels, then I may send it back. And I'd rather send it to them than the company I bought it from, since they would probably just blindly pull another off the shelf, and Kabar would probably look and make sure I got a decent one. I have no doubt that it'd still be a sturdy knife, but since I plan on stripping it I wouldn't want moisture to get underneath the scales and rust. What does everyone else think?
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You can mask off underneath the scales with some tape or crank the scales down really tight before you strip the knife so the coating is preserved underneath. That's how I've been doing it since I'm not to big on the blade coating. Especially the new one when its on the smaller Beckers however I have no problem with keeping in on the handle.

minkeyman said:
Interesting. Kabar had some slightly bent ones like this at Blade they were selling super cheap. Mine is fine, and stamped. I'd check with them and see, but to me it's not a big deal, especially if you're going to use it a lot and use it hard.
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Yeah but the ones at Blade were factory seconds, I'm guessing this guy pail full price for his.
 
That slight of a bend (for me) is a non-issue, but I understand where you are coming from.

I'll take it off your hands...for $20 bucks! LOL
 
Yeah, full price. The bummer for me is that I could have waited for a sale elsewhere and got it for around $30 with free shipping. My total for this one is around $50, which I was cool with since I thought the etched ones wouldn't have the bend problem I'd heard about. I e-mailed Kabar to see what my best option is though.
 
Got an e-mail back. Pretty much what I expected to hear. I'd still have to send it to Kabar at my expense. Same situation as if I send it back to the company I bought it from. That's entirely reasonable, but I'm just not willing to sink any more money into this than I already have. Especially on something that's apparently considered to be a factory second. I guess I'll just chalk it up as an expensive lesson in deciding where I order my Kabars from and see if I can work with it as is.
 
SpencerCE89 said:
Got an e-mail back. Pretty much what I expected to hear. I'd still have to send it to Kabar at my expense. Same situation as if I send it back to the company I bought it from. That's entirely reasonable, but I'm just not willing to sink any more money into this than I already have. Especially on something that's apparently considered to be a factory second. I guess I'll just chalk it up as an expensive lesson in deciding where I order my Kabars from and see if I can work with it as is.
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Try and ask Toooj about this in the Ka-Bar forum. I've seen him help out people who've voided the Ka-Bar warranty and still get a new knife...That's some pretty cool customer service.
 
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