Ranger Green...TOPS in my book!!! :)

T

The Sun

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Mar 29, 2009
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i've been waiting to pimp this knife for two years! i finally couldn't stand it anymore so i took an hour and pimped this one for me . i don't have a lot of time to pimp my own knives since i've been so busy with the new knives, and all the Pimp Work over the past couple years, but i couldn't stand it anymore!

Plus, in the city of San Antonio there's an ordinance about not carrying folding knives that lock (unless it's work related, which obviously in my case it is...BUT). i could definitely carry a folder, but i'd rather not risk a "tell it to the judge" scenario with my XM...or any other nice folder for that matter.

I've been carrying a folder since we moved to SA (about a year now), but it's always in the back of my mind that it could get confiscated due to the horror stories i've heard at the local knife shop. I've had this TOPS MIL SPIE III for a couple years and i used to carry it everyday when i lived in Beaumont working as an Engineer for the county. but, i've always hated the handle on this otherwise AWESOME knife................soooooo, i took that aggression out on a nice hunk of coarse texture G10

Not really sure of the reasoning behind allowing the carry of an up to 4" bladed fixed blade in lieu of a locking folder, but i'm compliant now regardless if the work related question comes into play or not. so, now i'm not paranoid when i go into town . ....silly lawmakers!!!...

if you're not familiar with the TOPS MIL SPIE III here's a few basic spec's:

* 3/16" stock thickness
* 3.5" blade, 8" overall
* 154CM Steel
* Paul Bos HT'ed to RC 58-60

all that translates into a great little fixed-blade! i usually carry it horizontally right next to my belt buckle and it's very comfortable! even with my knife making rest (read: fat gut) while sitting it doesn't "dig."

anyway...pic's


Before:
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After:
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Very nice, too me thats a better looking knife now (color contrast and handle styling) and it looks like it would be better in the hand to. The only downsides I could see is the thicker profile and added weight but its worth it by the looks of it.
 
the added weight is negligible, and the extra thickness was what was needed to really get a good grip on this knife. that was my number one reason for modding it. the width of the handle is now 9/16"...not to thick, not to thin.

the aesthetics of the knife were actually secondary in this case. function was definitely over form on this one. this is a whole different animal now...definitely for the better! :)

the reason i hated the stock handle design was because it was too thin. your finger-tips would hit the palm of your hand before you would start to actually grip the knife in any hold position, so the added width was needed. but, it's not excessive, like i said, it's just over .5" wide at the handle.

....it's been on my belt ever since! :D

thanks!
 
Nice work bro ! The colors go together perfectly.

I just finished modding my Mil SpieIII a week or so ago , thinned the entire blade down so it is quite the slicer now. I hated how thick the blade was and the obtuse edge too. I was planning on going with no scales on mine but after seeing yours , I change my mind.

Once more , great job ! :)

Tostig
 
thanks

i kept the thickness of the blade on mine, but i did throw it on the grinder and thin the edge a bit but still left it strong. it's laser sharp now but still has the extra strength to do what it was designed to do. i like it a lot more now, that's for sure!;) it's a great little all-around'er!
 
Cool modification. The new handle looks great. The first TOPS knife I bought was a black FDX XL. I love the handle on this knife, but hate the blade. It seems useless for anything other than shanking somebody.

I would like to have it reground with a full flat grind, have a bigger choil added so I can sharpen the whole blade, and have it bead blasted. Is anyone aware of somebody skilled who would do this?

These guys are definitely on to something but I feel many of their designs have some shortcomings.
 
i can do all of that for you, except the re-grind. i usually do re-grinds as well but my grinder is down right now and i'm waiting for a back-up and a new motor.
 
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