Should It Stay, or Should It Go.....? Scagel/Barkie

Crag the Brewer

I make Nice, boring knives
Moderator
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Oct 18, 2018
Messages
8,011
Do you feel guilty about modifying certain knives?
I guess I'm looking for some advice?

I bought a knife from knives ship free site when I heard of Derrick Bohn's passing, and I wanted to send a little something their way.... I'm not a Bark River fan necessarily, but their Scagel branded line looked like something I'd enjoy.

I bought a little/mid-sized knife, and it's almost perfect.
I love the steel. A2. I love the size, and general blade shape/style. It's really almost perfect...... except, my hands are on the Larger size. And the lower guard kinda digs into my index finger.

I've done nothing with this knife, and I wanted it as a User, maybe edc.
* I should say, I've Used it....but find it uncomfortable.

Some time has gone by, and I'm to the point of Selling it, or wanting to Modify it.
I know it has no "Real value" it's not a REAL Scagel. But I'm wondering if I shouldn't just Grind it Up into what I think might be good? I'm pondering taking off the lower guard, and thinning the blade a tiny bit, and softening the swedge. Probably removing the logo. Making a kydex sheath, even though it has a really good leather one.

I have Other awesome knives in this size. I don't need to do it.
My daughter will get too many knives already, and she already has her own....
Most of the time we each have a BK62 to use in this capacity. And that is an awesome knife..... Mine is modded. I chop/grind up all my knives.

I've heard that people like/collect Bark River Knives?
Should I just sell it on the exchange to someone who wants it as is? It's not worth much.
Or grind it into something I might use for a few weeks, possibly get bored, and move onto my next adventure? Haha. :/ Or Love, it afterwards, idk?
I'm not a collector, I like to use stuff.











Other sized knives:



Thanks for all/any ideas.
I'm a gold member, so I hope this inquiry is ok for the general forum?
I appreciate your thoughts.
 
Pretty knife!
I don’t have any problems with modifying knives - even customs. That said I’d advise against removing the guard - imho it’s very much a part of the overall design and I think removing it would really diminish the look of this particular knife.

Could you maybe just round it off a bit? Unless you’re doing a lot of stabbing I recon that might be enough for comfort. (And if you ARE doing a lot of stabbing you also probably want that guard) ;)

Also nice Scrapyards!
 
I’d sell it. You already have plenty of better knives to use.

I feel like I'm Crazy..... I love knives. Yet, idk if I have Any that I love???
Nothing I have is perfect, yet.
Handles are my biggest problems.
I've had some popular names here, that I don't like (I won't name names)

The large Becker, with micarta on a 1/4" thick steel is close.... But I wish the handle is longer.

For a smaller knife the SYKCO WS-1020 is where it's at. I should be happy with That knife.

I like hearing what people with large hands like.....
Thank you?
 
Pretty knife!
I don’t have any problems with modifying knives - even customs. That said I’d advise against removing the guard - imho it’s very much a part of the overall design and I think removing it would really diminish the look of this particular knife.

Could you maybe just round it off a bit? Unless you’re doing a lot of stabbing I recon that might be enough for comfort. (And if you ARE doing a lot of stabbing you also probably want that guard) ;)

Also nice Scrapyards!
I've had a good variety of SYKCO knives this last year.
I just sold a TnT, which might of been one of the "most fun" knives of the year.
It wasn't what I wanted. Not what I like.
I'm planning on selling the mud mutt later this year too. But I still kinda like it
 
Quite, the dilemma.

I bought a little/mid-sized knife, and it's almost perfect.
I love the steel. A2. I love the size, and general blade shape/style. It's really almost perfect...... except, my hands are on the Larger size. And the lower guard kinda digs into my index finger.

I'd say go for the mod and see how you like it. You already like the knife for it's design, steel, etc and planned on using it. Might, as well make it more personalized and mod it to your liking if that's the only thing holding you back.

Nice LT Wright/ESEE V2 Collective knife. Never seen one before.
 
Last edited:
Think on it a little more, and if you still like the knife aside from the guard, trim it off. Just do it slowly and neatly, and it shouldn't be a big deal. If you really like the knife and you think it will be with you for a while, it's not a sin to modify it.

I wonder if you asked Bark River if they'd do it for you. Then it would be a factory mod ;).
 
Sell or keep...

First I ask myself, "Do I like the item, yes or no?"
If the answer is no - then it's gone and no further discussion on the subject. Life is too short to try to learn to like something. Just move on to something better.

If the answer is yes - then I ask myself, "Why do I want to get rid of it?"
What I do next depends on the answer.

To the OP - this sounds like a clear cut case (no pun intended) - of - you don't like the knife.
Time to move on.
 
I actually like the look of the knife ,as is . So , I'm biased . ;)

Be a shame to mod , IMO , unless you really feel like that would make it a user / keeper for you .

You seem sorta unenthused about this project anyway .

Pass it on and get something you like .
 
I actually like the look of the knife ,as is . So , I'm biased . ;)

Be a shame to mod , IMO , unless you really feel like that would make it a user / keeper for you .

You seem sorta unenthused about this project anyway .

Pass it on and get something you like .
I guess you are kinda Right.....I WANT to like it more than I do.
It's just so close. But I shouldn't risk ruining it

I have a feeling it's going up for sale soon.
Time to make room for new stuff coming in......
 
DocJD DocJD
I've made the decision.....let's see where it goes.

 
I love the look of that knife, but I’m not wild about the guard. It looks like you could trim it way down and still leave a bit of a choil that would serve as a bit of a stop.

Lately I have been giving a lot of use to my WS-1020. What’s your opinion of the handle? I love the Reseprine, but before I could use it much, I had to round off the sharp corner on the flared butt. It dug into my palm quite uncomfortably.
 
Back
Top