Stipple or liners for the BK4?

V

valhalla2112

Joined
Feb 10, 2012
Messages
80
The stock scales are amazing on my BK2. Not so much on the BK4 for me. I'm curious if stippling helps. I'm thinking of using a Dremel with a small engraving bit and using tape as a depth gauge. I just want to do the center area and not the whole handle as the "hook" on the back is absolutely perfect design. I've never felt better. Ever! Thanks for that hook Mr. Becker! Perfection.

On the other hand I'm thinking I may add liners to add width to the handle and achieve the same amazing grip the 2 has. Not to mention red liners would be simply awesome I'm thinking.

What are some ways you guys have altered the thinner Beckers to fill the hand?

Thanks in advance too!
 
If you add a lanyard and use a more relaxed grip it will be less fatiguing in heavy use. I'm afraid the stippling would cause you some hotspots. My vote would be for liners.
 
I'd try the lanyard and liners before stippling.

It's easy to add liners and doesn't permanently alter the scales. Just cut up some plastic DVD cases, place mats, chopping mats, or file folders.
 
I agree with Trade and Travis comments.

Since the bk4 is .188" thick and not the bk2's 0.25" , just adding those liners may replicate the feel you are looking for.

I've learned from this forum that a bicycle inner tube placed over the handle works really well, fantastic grip that can be undone just like the liners.

Another item to consider is that lanyard is even more important on a long blade you intend to chop with for safety, I wouldn't consider swinging steel without one.
 
Thanks guys! Your absolutely right about the hotspots stippling would cause. Before the first use I added a lanyard. It took quite a few times to get it the proper length to be comfortable and maximize safety but I agree. With any large knife I always add a lanyard. With the learning curve of the 4 especially. There is a definitive curve to using it properly. I learned that here and when using the first few times. :thumbup:

I'll go with the liners instead and probably use inner tube as well.

Photos when done for sure. I would have posted one here but I had a thread showing it off yesterday...lol


Dan
 
Liners have worked well in the past for me.
I'm not a fan of aggressive stippling....
However, I have a BK17 that the pevious owner lightly stippled, and I must say, they are the most grippy scales I've ever had. They rival G10 honestly. And there are no areas that would bother the hand during extended use. It looks like a soldering iron was used, but just very lightly.



 
Another mod to the handle I learned from this forum is sandblasting the handles, it removes that slippery feeling without being aggressive and happens to look better. ( and is easy to do compared to using a soldering iron). Amazingly, they scales feel slightly gripper when they are wet after being sandblasted.
 
I finally got time to fatten up the BK4 handle. I found Red plastic folders in a clearance bin and brought a few home. I cut ten 2"x6" pieces, drilled the holes for the scale bolts and lanyard hole, bolted all ten pieces between the two scales, trimmed with an Xacto knife, sanded with 220 grit wet/dry paper, buffed with a Dremel, and thera ya have it. Not perfect but cool anyway liners. I dig em.



 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top