Recommendation requested: top quality knife re-finish

D

Ddivince1

Joined
Oct 15, 2023
Messages
6
Hello,

I have a Thai machete that I really love, but it was crudely ground and inexpensive. I would like to have a micarta handle installed and have some of the grinds cleaned up without changing the way the knife feels much.

I’m interested in hiring a really skilled person to do this so that what I love about the machete doesn’t change much but it looks and feels like premium work.

Would someone recommend some good folks I should talk to about this?

I tried to add photos but had a hard time, this is my first post.

Thanks!

Daniel
 
No suggestions, but the more skilled the craftsman the higher the cost, so you want to figure out how much you want to spend on fixing up a low-cost machete, vs just buying a new and better quality machete with the features you want.

To save $ you could clean up the grinds yourself with files and sandpaper. That shouldn't change the weight/thickness/feel unless there is a ot of metal to remove to clean up lots of deep gouges.

For the handle, pics would help assess how complicated the job would be. If it's just taking off cheap scales and screwing on new ones the again you could do that with hand tools. If you don't have a paid account you need to use a site like imgur to post pics
 
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fishface5 said:
No suggestions, but the more skilled the craftsman the higher the cost, so you want to figure out how much you want to spend on fixing up a low-cost machete, vs just buying a new and better quality machete with the features you want.

To save $ you could clean up the grinds yourself with files and sandpaper. That shouldn't change the weight/thickness/feel unless there is a ot of metal to remove to clean up lots of deep gouges.

For the handle, pics would help assess how complicated the job would be. If it's just taking off cheap scales and screwing on new ones the again you could do that with hand tools. If you don't have a paid account you need to use a site like imgur to post pics
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Got a photo posted! Thanks for your help.

On the scales I’d like a really nice set ground so it’s flush with the tang. I probably can’t get the end result I’m looking for myself, and would rather at least assess how much the work would cost.
 
Yep. The blade is stamped steel. Out a sheet of metal of who knows what.

Good looking knife. But doing the things asked will drastically change the look.
 
+1 for having one of the smiths here make a similar machete. If you’re willing to spend the money. Someone else might be able to recommend a smith who would fit what you’re looking for. You could also make a post over in one of the knife makers’ sections asking the same.
 
Ok that is a Thai "enep" style machete. It looks like the edge is hollow-ground instead of flat-ground, in which case it requires a lot more skill to clean up without grinding away too much, or a lot it time with sandpaper. As for the handle, micarta will probably be heavier than the wood so it will change the balance.

If it were mine, I would carefully try sandpaper and/or Dremel (caution!!) on the grind to see what's reasonably possible. And if the handle scales are securely attached then instead of replacing them I would clean them up to make them flush (easy) and then maybe lightly contour them for comfort, and to change the look maybe add some checkering or similar and/or dye the wood and interesting color. Know anyone handy who could help with that?
 
For those suggesting that I have it remade, any ideas about who I should turn to for that?

I think the blade was originally a leaf spring, for those speculating. I’ve used this knife for about ten years now and chopped hard with it, on occasion. So far no big issues that I can see!

I’m open to the idea of hiring a smith to make something similar, I just would want to be very confident in their work.
 
Ddivince1 said:
For those suggesting that I have it remade, any ideas about who I should turn to for that?

I think the blade was originally a leaf spring, for those speculating. I’ve used this knife for about ten years now and chopped hard with it, on occasion. So far no big issues that I can see!

I’m open to the idea of hiring a smith to make something similar, I just would want to be very confident in their work.
Click to expand...

http://www.siegleknives.com/ - Bill Siegle would be my choice for a custom version. He does a lot of nice big stuff, that have been well though of for years.
 
I second both suggestions (& have owned both). Bill has made a lot of bolo-style blades but tends to work in thicker stock like 1/4" whereas David Mary tends towards thinner stock - how thick is yours? Looks like 1/8" or less.

But I just remembered that I think both makers do flat rather than hollow grinds. Josh Fisher at Edge Knife Works does some hollow grinds if that's important to you, and is a Forged in Fire champ so he should make a good knife.
 
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That's a nice looking knife. The odd thing is the riser on the top of the butt. I'd want it on the bottom.

Condor makes a nice Thai enep machete for about $60. eBay is full of Thai eneps. If the blade is from a leaf spring, you're probably talking about 5160, which is a nice steel for a knife like that. And if it has worked well for 10 years with hard use, the heat treat is probably good.

Lots of makers here could put on a new handle. You could look here: https://www.bladeforums.com/forums/the-custom-shop-services-offered.870/
 
Cleaning up the grinds is probably the easier of the 2 if you have a grind that can accept surface finishing belts/scotch brite belts. They can clean up the looks really quick as long as there aren't any big gouges in it.

The handles will be more work, depending on what's needed to remove what's there. If you can do some of the work yourself, that will save the cost.

IMO, if it's just the profile you really like, I would have someone make something with the same design but wholly new. You'll only pay a little more money and have better materials, likely. Namely, the blade will likely be better steel and better heat treated.

However, if it has sentimental value, I understand wanting to have it cleaned up for you. I think taking on the challenge yourself makes it even more sentimental as it has your sweat into it instead of someone else's. I like to do it by hand for my stuff, slow and steady. A little here and there, test it out, a little more, etc. I also enjoy such things, when time actually allows (rare these days) so there's that aspect.

Anyway, good luck on the project and I hope you end up with something you're happy with, which ever path(s) you take.
 
Twindog said:
That's a nice looking knife. The odd thing is the riser on the top of the butt. I'd want it on the bottom.

Condor makes a nice Thai enep machete for about $60. eBay is full of Thai eneps. If the blade is from a leaf spring, you're probably talking about 5160, which is a nice steel for a knife like that. And if it has worked well for 10 years with hard use, the heat treat is probably good.

Lots of makers here could put on a new handle. You could look here: https://www.bladeforums.com/forums/the-custom-shop-services-offered.870/
Click to expand...
Thank you!
 
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