Steve Johnson and JAB Blades.......

[ocnLogan]

y'all just have to snag a Potbelly, and a zombie knife, and use the spare black scales

i had doubts until i held one, and chopped some logs at a camp but it seems to work a treat. you could say they're "beefy"

but as well, one COULD mod it, i suppose. definitely a good blade but i hear ya, the handle is the part you work with.

Really?

I have thought that the handle scales on my ZK War Sword have always felt very thin to me, and that is one of the most uncomfortable parts about the knife personally.

And like I said before about the handle, I don't personally find them "bad", I just don't really see how the pointy thing really helps you choke up, or choke back on the blade. You could do either one of those without it, and it wouldn't really affect the function at all.

And I've been thinking about trying to mod the handles a bit on mine, and make some micarta for them (more of a longer term thing actually), and think that would change the feel of the knife by a lot.

 

[Bladite]

perhaps some liners? thicken it up a bit?

 

[Switchblade61]

Really?

I have thought that the handle scales on my ZK War Sword have always felt very thin to me, and that is one of the most uncomfortable parts about the knife personally.
....

I think, perhaps the blade on the Potbelly is a bit thicker (.25") than on the War Sword and that's why it feels different.
I never handled any of the ZK knives, but I like my Potbelly.

 

[Bladite]

definitely precision cut liners then out of anodized metal :> though plastic would work in a pinch for an experiment

 

[ocnLogan]

I've thought about adding liners to it, that is for sure. It will most likely happen, as this is easier than the micarta. Once I find something more suitable for liners that I've got laying round (not cardboard ) I'll probably give it a go to see how that changes the feel of the blade.

The ZK blades are supposed to be .20in thick, so not TONS thinner than the Potbelly, but a bit larger than the baconmaker.

Right now my War Sword is in the midst of being modded. I'm getting rid of the coating, trying to get rid of the grind marks (by hand == not fun), and then eventually want to get some bluejean micarta made up for it along with a leather sheath. I think those changes would COMPLETELY change the look and feel of the blade.

All I know right now though, is that SK5 is much more vulnerable to corrosion, as it seems sensitive to even fingerprints .

If Mr Johnson is out there right now... just let him know that we'd love to see some more designs from him.

 

[SEJ73]

I've thought about adding liners to it, that is for sure. It will most likely happen, as this is easier than the micarta. Once I find something more suitable for liners that I've got laying round (not cardboard ) I'll probably give it a go to see how that changes the feel of the blade.

The ZK blades are supposed to be .20in thick, so not TONS thinner than the Potbelly, but a bit larger than the baconmaker.

Right now my War Sword is in the midst of being modded. I'm getting rid of the coating, trying to get rid of the grind marks (by hand == not fun), and then eventually want to get some bluejean micarta made up for it along with a leather sheath. I think those changes would COMPLETELY change the look and feel of the blade.

All I know right now though, is that SK5 is much more vulnerable to corrosion, as it seems sensitive to even fingerprints .

If Mr Johnson is out there right now... just let him know that we'd love to see some more designs from him.

Well thanks a million, the designs are forthcoming. I'll be doing more semi-customs this year, I'm pretty stoked about the D2 one that we're currently working on and hopefully we'll have at least one new KA-BAR/JAB production knife at BLADE Show and I'm VERY excited about that design.... I'm open to input and ideas too.... I'm reading and taking in all the comments about the Potbelly handle, although I believe I'd be wise to get my butt in gear and get some "how to" videos put together that describe how I designed the handles to be used.

 

[ocnLogan]

Thank you for the response Steve, I really appreciate you taking the time to read through threads like this. It means a lot to the community .

I'm excited to see the new design then, although summer seems SOO far off right now (in the thick of grad school ).

About the handles. Like I said, I don't have anything against the handle designs (more the texture and feel), but I have been having a hard time figuring out how the design lets me choke up or choke down better than the same shape, minus the part that sticks up. I mean, if I'm choked up, having my fingers split apart like that isn't bad, but I don't see how it helps. Same with holding way back for chopping, when I'm that far back on the handle, I'm away from that portion of the handle anyway (using a lanyard to keep my hand on the knife of course). Thats all that I'm saying, but if you can explain that or make a video showing proper technique, I would be delighted .

Also, in terms of new designs. I think I really like the 6in blade length, but there aren't many choices out there in that length. I think a JAB blade in that range (3/16 thick, hollow grind?) would certainly help differentiate it a bit, and I would likely buy one .

Thanks again Steve, we really do appreciate it .

 

[Haze240]

a 6" blade would also fill a gap I'm looking for. If you're takin suggestions .

 

[C_Tanner]

I'm thinking maybe even a different MATERIAL for the handle slabs might make a big difference to me. I have considered having customs made for it. To be fair, I love Becker handles but think they are too slick too, which is why I wrap them all. One of the BIG reasons I love my new MK-I is the super grippy handle. I would love to see a picture of a potbelly stripped of the black coating. Has anybody done this?

I would be interested in a" Potbelly handle use for dummies" video.

 

[SEJ73]

ocnLogan - thanks for the kind words and not booting my sorry butt off the Becker forum. (grin)

RE: 6" blades.... What type of use are you guys envisioning for the knife? The KA-BAR/JAB that I HOPE we will have at BLADE is probably going to be in the 4" range... It's an awesome little knife...... the other option is semi customs... pretty much anything is do-able on that front, there just won't be as many and the price will be quite a bit higher.... but if there's demand, it's a great way to test prospective designs for possible, and I emphasize POSSIBLE, production units.

C_Tanner - handles..... I'm probably going to get slapped by Toooj for saying this in public, but I like aggressive grip textures. The second thing I do when I buy a Glock, right after putting 500 rounds on it, is send it out to my buddy Don Ellis (tggincorporated.com) and have him stipple the grips and do a trigger job. I've had him stipple a few knife handles and I really like them, they are very aggressive but after a few workouts with leather gloves they end up just about perfect for my taste. We made the texture on the Johnson Adventure Blade folders quite a bit more aggressive than the fixed blades, and they are awesome, it's hard to get a super aggressive texture when injection molding as getting the handles to release from the mold becomes tough.

I will get cracking on a basic YouTube channel that shows how I use the handle on the Potbelly and Baconmaker, it will probably take me a couple weeks to get it done as the schedule is going to be crazy through early March; it's been on the list of things to do for a while now.... I'll get it moved closer to the top of the list and make it happen.

Thanks again for all the interest and constructive criticism, please keep it coming, I appreciate it.

 

[Bladite]

Steve,

don't forget samples for MODs and contests even rejects, protos, and so on. oh yeah!

keep us apprised

 

[SEJ73]

Steve,

don't forget samples for MODs and contests even rejects, protos, and so on. oh yeah!

keep us apprised

worry not, Bladite, worry not.......

 

[Moosez45]

Jeebus, Steve Johnson posts here.

We should ask about some of his semi custom blades he makes in his shop.

Awesome.



Moose

 

[Bladite]

worry not, Bladite, worry not.......

we like jerky seconds too

 

[SEJ73]

Jeebus, Steve Johnson posts here.

We should ask about some of his semi custom blades he makes in his shop.

Awesome.



Moose

there are two of them staring at me now.........

Hell, I'm just amazed I figured out how to post....I'm a technophobe..... haha

 

[Bladite]

there are two of them staring at me now.........

Hell, I'm just amazed I figured out how to post....I'm a technophobe..... haha

shoooot, it's just like riding a cow. left horn goes left. right horn goes right. both for the MOO, and you CAN milk a bull, you just don't want to drink it [1]?


[1] apparently this is a popular bar thing now. shots. gods. i prefer my beef in steak form. not a hot beef steak.

 

[SEJ73]

we like jerky seconds too

I might know where to find some jerky..... We've got a bunch from our first run with an April code date that we're blowing out... let me know if you're looking for an "apocalyptic" supply and we'll make a deal..... we did a short code date on the first run to be safe....its biting us in the neck now....

 

[SEJ73]

shoooot, it's just like riding a cow. left horn goes left. right horn goes right. both for the MOO, and you CAN milk a bull, you just don't want to drink it [1]?


[1] apparently this is a popular bar thing now. shots. gods. i prefer my beef in steak form. not a hot beef steak.

you're shitting me....re the "shots".......................really?????

 

[Bladite]

I might know where to find some jerky..... We've got a bunch from our first run with an April code date that we're blowing out... let me know if you're looking for an "apocalyptic" supply and we'll make a deal..... we did a short code date on the first run to be safe....its biting us in the neck now....

i like the spicey sticks the most, but meat is meat

email me

course, m00se will be doing a bellow in about 3 seconds

maybe we can do 10 lb gift packs for registered Beckerheads? heh.

check out rasta fire hot sauce. you might like.

 

[Bladite]

you're shitting me....re the "shots".......................really?????

bull shots or something. yes.

though apparently "horse" is the flavor of the week, as they say.