Stainless steel grip hardware swap. Just to clarify, for those interested.

[bsmith_shoot]

After putting a few hours in with my 2 as my primary bush blade, I decided to stipple my grips for better traction and control of my knife in real world conditions. When I removed the scales, I noticed that there were a slight build up of surface rust on my grip bolts. I could have probably used the same bolts for years, with no problems, but being that it is insanely simple to switch out the stock hardware for stainless, and fix a problem that probably will never occur, but could, I did.
I made a trip to my local Ace Hardware, to match up the bolts, and came up with these:

10-24X5/8 socket head cap bolts, in stainless, are a perfect match. I believe the OEM bolts are fine thread, but course will work just fine.

Now for you guys that use liners underneath your scales, the 10-24X5/8 will come up just a little short. I reccomend using 10-24X3/4 bolts for this application. They are the ones on the left.

If at any time your bolts are a little too long for your taste, just thread the nut all the way on the bolt, cut of your desired amount with a hacksaw/file/grinder etc...and then unscrew the nut. This repairs the ends of the threads.
Stainless bolts are a simple fix, for a very unlikely problem, but it does add peace of mind in some cases. To me, the real value of stainless hardware is aesthetic. They just plain look good, but that of course, is subjective.

This is the simplest modification that can be done to a Becker, and one of the cheapest, by far, only costing me $2.42 total(KY sales tax is 6%). It adds a little peace of mind to the heavy user, and a good deal of beauty for anyone.
I hope this helps someone out a little, thanks for letting me share!

 

[Murphnuge]

Thanks, that was helpful! So the nuts and bolts hold on the handles?







Kidding!

 

[bsmith_shoot]

Thanks, that was helpful! So the nuts and bolts hold on the handles?







Kidding!

Fixed the title for ya brother lol

 

[K9-Handler]

I decided to stipple my grips

Is that like shivering your timbers?

 

[Murphnuge]

Fixed the title for ya brother lol

Appreciated Really though, knowing the right bolt size helped. Now I've got the right size when I call fastenal.

 

[bsmith_shoot]

Is that like shivering your timbers?

Close, but not exactly lol. Seriously though, do I need to explain stippling? Don't mind one bit.

Appreciated Really though, knowing the right bolt size helped. Now I've got the right size when I call fastenal.

Good to know it helped one person!

 

[K9-Handler]

Seriously though, do I need to explain stippling? Don't mind one bit.

Nope. I think I've got it covered...

 

[orca8589]

I switched the handle bolts out on my old Camillus BK7 a few years ago, to stainless slotted screws; that way the screwdriver on my SAK can be used to take the scales off. The only thing I keep in there is a few matches and a small wad of dryer lint.

I put the screws in a gas flame on our stove, then dropped them in cold water. they turned a nice dark purplish color.

~Chris

 

[oXide]

I switched the handle bolts out on my old Camillus BK7 a few years ago, to stainless slotted screws; that way the screwdriver on my SAK can be used to take the scales off. The only thing I keep in there is a few matches and a small wad of dryer lint.

I put the screws in a gas flame on our stove, then dropped them in cold water. they turned a nice dark purplish color.

~Chris

Pics? Since you can't blue stainless, this might be a quick screw mod to the stainless I already have.

Great thread, but I think I've seen it somewhere before.... Ah well, great thread, thanks for the info.

 

[panzertroop]

Now if we could find them in Ti!!!! Yehaw!

 

[orca8589]

We'll see how well these show up:

I'll see if I can get better pics of just the screws later. They are actually a darker color than the pics show, the lighting just makes them look lighter.

~Chris

 

[LeeBower]

I found them in Ti and anodized Ti, but I remember from working on motorcycles that we always had to use anti-seize when installing Ti hardware on bikes. Also the weight savings would be next to nothing, so the increase in price would not really justify the weight savings anyway.

What I am looking for is a nylock nut so there would be no chance of the handle getting loose during use..

 

[tfields]

I found them in Ti and anodized Ti, but I remember from working on motorcycles that we always had to use anti-seize when installing Ti hardware on bikes. Also the weight savings would be next to nothing, so the increase in price would not really justify the weight savings anyway.

What I am looking for is a nylock nut so there would be no chance of the handle getting loose during use..

could ya just use a small lock washer under the new bolts too keep them tight looks like theres room? i'm not sure still waiting on my becker so i dont have a onhand comparison.

 

[Murphnuge]

I believe the ones Derek gets have the nylock nut. Maybe pm him and ask.

 

[DerekH]

Yup, nylon lock nuts for the win. In stainless.

And one of these riding on the back of the sheath.

 

[bsmith_shoot]

Yup, nylon lock nuts for the win. In stainless.

And one of these riding on the back of the sheath.

Hey bro, on my last trip to get stainless, I almost bought some of those nyloks. I've always put a drop of blue thread locker on my screws, both knife and firearm related, and never had an issue, and thats with some crazy hard use in carbine classes. Does the nylok nuts have any advantage over standard hardware with thread locker?