Shortening and Blunting a knife

A

asdf12345

Joined
Jul 4, 2014
Messages
1,809
Hey Bladeforums,

I am planning to shorten the blade on a Benchmade 530 from 3.5 inches to 2.42 inches and blunting the tip to a pry-bar profile to comply with Boston regulations. What would be the best way to go about doing this? Would simply using a file work or would it take too long to be useful?
 
I would buy a new knife (always a happy event) rather than ruin that nice knife. There are a lot of good choices, both inexpensive and costly.
 
I've filed down a few blades that had damage to the tip. Use a new file or it might take a while. Or use a Dremel with a grinding wheel.

None of my work looked very pretty, it was just to make a knife useable again. Buying another knife for EDC with a compliant blade is a safer bet.
 
To take an inch off you need to do some cutting, a file isn't going to make good progress on hardened steel anyway. A dremel will get you there but an angle grinder with a cutoff disc will go faster. Then shape/cleanup with a belt sander.
 
I have a dmt diamond plate that I use to rework the tips and make some light mods on my blades. It is a SLOW process though. I would look for another knife unless you really want a personalized blade.
If you want to go the diamond plate route, get the XXC so it works a little quicker.
 
Just use it as a screwdriver, you'll blunt it quick enough. :D

Seriously, you might consider looking at something that already fits the bill, like a rescue style knife... many come shorter with no tip. I think if you do it to the 530, it probably won't come out like you're hoping, (and will probably make you sad when you look at it, remembering how it was). Just a thought.
 
Thanks for the replies, buying a new knife is not an option that I want to take especially because I have used the 530 for a very long time and the handle design works extremely well for me. Does anyone produce 2.2-2.4 inch wharncliffe or "water-knife blunt" blades that can be installed into a 530? Can anyone custom make such a blade?
 
My first reaction comes from the Clinton administration (in reference to the war on drugs) JUST SAY NO! But I'm all about making your knives the way you want em. So that said, if I wanted to do it, I would find a belt sander--got a couple in my basement--and run a fresh belt on it, around 36-60 grit and dunk my blade frequently in water. Sketch out the final shape you want on the blade with a pencil and work up (down) to the final shape you want slowly. I've done a few, and typically run a Trizact belt to do it, and they have turned out OK. Finish the job with finer grits as one would think, monitor your progress and go as fine as the end result you're after dictates.

Good Luck whichever way you go.
 
Last edited:
Cripes these lawmakers are asshats. Better hope nobody carries an icepick or screwdriver anywhere. Or sharpens a stick with their 2" blade. The laws around this country are beginning to get ridiculous. At some point hopefully someone will realize that one can't legislate against every single thing that can possibly be used to hurt someone. Punish the criminals, not the inanimate objects and their legitimate users!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top