Refinishing a knife - Link with lots of pics

Nice job, Heber. You can almost be forgiven for possessing a non-khuk blade.

I agree that it looks better after your work on it.
 
Is that the same type of finish that Cold Steel puts on some of their knives? Also... How did you keep the acetone from getting on the handle? I reckon it would have done some nasty stuff to it.

Good stuff and thanks.
 
Originally posted by BruiseLeee
Is that the same type of finish that Cold Steel puts on some of their knives? Also... How did you keep the acetone from getting on the handle? I reckon it would have done some nasty stuff to it.

Good stuff and thanks.
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Bruise, it is simmaler to what Cold Steel uses, but more durable. To keep the acetone off of the handle, I wrapped just the blade in paper towels, soaked that in the Acetone then stored it tip down so the Acetone would not drip onto the handle. But that was not necicary because the Acetone had no ill effects on the handle. It held up really well.
 
I have a feeling acetone would turn kraton into mush. Maybe I'll try it someday if I get the hankering to make a new handle.
 
Originally posted by Aardvark
Nice job, Heber. You can almost be forgiven for possessing a non-khuk blade.

I agree that it looks better after your work on it.
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Thanks Aardvark, I'm glad I'm not in to much trouble.;):p he he he This is a fun knife, but when I need to do some chopping, I grab for one of my Khukuris. They are more lively in the hand and better choppers.

But customizing the CT was fun.
 
Originally posted by BruiseLeee
I have a feeling acetone would turn kraton into mush. Maybe I'll try it someday if I get the hankering to make a new handle.
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Bruise, Acetone probably will attack Kraton. But the Camp Tramps handle isn't Kraton, it's some other substance that Acetone doesn't hurt. :) I've almost considered removing the handle on this knife and putting a wood one on.
 
Cute little knife... :)

The temper line looks so even...a benefit of machine operations I guess? Are all of the Swamp Rats convex ground?
 
Originally posted by Nasty
Cute little knife... :)

The temper line looks so even...a benefit of machine operations I guess? Are all of the Swamp Rats convex ground?
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I have two of the Swamp Rats myself, a Camp Tramp and a Bandicoot. I'm pretty sure that all of the SR's are flat ground with a convex edge. That's the trouble of keeping knives locked up so they aren't easily handled.:o
I carried the Bandicoot for quite some time and still do when I'm wearing a belt which isn't often.
I Highly recommend the Swamp Rats for a non-khuk knife!!!!:D
 
Originally posted by BruiseLeee
Are those knives made of some sort of fancy stainless steel?
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Most are a brand of High Carbon 52-100. One of my favotite steels!!!!
They have recently started making some out of D-2 which I understand is close to being a stainless, never used it but it gets great kudoes from several famous knifemakers.
 
Nice work Heber, much better looking IMO. It looks like they did a triple quench on it.
Regards,
Greg
 
And here I was just going to link this over here...glad I looked at existing threads first!

The big Rats (this and the Battle Rat) are differentially tempered. The smaller ones are thru tempered. If people are interested there's a whole thing on how they make them on the SRKW website.

Swamp Rat was my first foray into "high-end" knives, and while I've also picked up some more expensive ones, it really was solely for enjoyment purposes, not necessity. Rats are my favorite, modern, hard use knives.

And hey, before anyone shouts, you'll note I said favorite MODERN! :)
 
Hey Heber..

beautifully done and documented...thank you.

Now, how are you going to bend that blade down and, will you stamp the cho or grind it?:)
 
I tried doing that with a Buck Nighthawk. No problems with the kraton, but the Fiberglass Reinforced Nylon ( FRN ) that backed the kraton defeated me. One of these days I'll have access to a grinder or belt sander. Then it'll come off. Or I'll die of a knife thrown by power machinery. I'm not taking bets on which. That FRN should stand for - don't look!






(*)ing (*)at's (*)s (*)ightmare.
 
Nice work, Heber:)

i think i might use the same process on some of my old scratched up epoxy-coated beaters. thanx for the pics and tutorial!

~Jake
 
Originally posted by Yvsa
Most are a brand of High Carbon 52-100. One of my favotite steels!!!!
They have recently started making some out of D-2 which I understand is close to being a stainless, never used it but it gets great kudoes from several famous knifemakers.
Click to expand...

yep, D2 is partway inbetween. Semi-stainless if you will.
Has about 7% Chrome I think, unlike 13+ for true stainless.

Heber; hmmm, you're not concerned about rusting?
Also I noticed you left the temper lines visible on the finger guard there.. nice touch.
They sure were some nice lines though... tis a shame they couldn't be preserved..
 
Originally posted by SilverLighT
yep, D2 is partway inbetween. Semi-stainless if you will.
Has about 7% Chrome I think, unlike 13+ for true stainless.

Heber; hmmm, you're not concerned about rusting?
Also I noticed you left the temper lines visible on the finger guard there.. nice touch.
They sure were some nice lines though... tis a shame they couldn't be preserved..
Click to expand...

SilverLighT, yes, it's a shame about the temper lines. But I'm going to try and patina it to bring them back out. Am hoping that that will also help prevent rust forming. Besides, it's a user so I'm not to concerned about discolorations.:)
 
Originally posted by Steely_Gunz
Nice work, Heber:)

i think i might use the same process on some of my old scratched up epoxy-coated beaters. thanx for the pics and tutorial!

~Jake
Click to expand...

Jake, go for it. It's quite fun and really looks cool.;)
 
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