Straight Handled Steelheart question

Danbo

Danbo

Joined
Nov 28, 1999
Messages
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Does anybody know if the handle slabs are epoxied on? I have one of the older A2 fatties with slotted screw fasteners, and was wondering how much trouble it would be to remove the slabs and sand off the black coating. Can these screw fasteners be simply removed and screwed right back on afterwards?
 
Thanks, DN. I forgot I had asked that about the Mistress. I guess I will just try to unscrew the fasteners and see what happens.
 
Originally posted by Danbo
Does anybody know if the handle slabs are epoxied on? I have one of the older A2 fatties with slotted screw fasteners, and was wondering how much trouble it would be to remove the slabs and sand off the black coating. Can these screw fasteners be simply removed and screwed right back on afterwards?
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the handles are NOT epoxied on. the screws are red loc tighted on.
use a soldering iron and apply heat to the slotted screws in the center of the slot. use the best quality gunsmith drivers that fit right in thickness and width so you don't bugger the screws.
clamp the knive in a padded (leather) vice so you have complete control and heat and remove one screw at a time.
i use a fitted bit and a 1/4" ratchet driver to do this as it give me more streagth and control.

i number and mark each screw so that it can go back in the exact same spot, as the screws are ground with the handle contour on the knife.

to get the coating off use a glass beading cabinet ot glass beader that sears sells for 70 bucks.

might sound hard but it really isn't.

good luck and post a pic when you are done:cool:
 
i removed the handles the first time i blasted but haven't since. the coating under them certainly won't hurt and blasting won't hurt the micarta.
the only reason i would remove the handles would be to surface the metal under them.
 
Gotta go wit skunk on this. Coating that is under the scales is...well... under the scales. The only reason I can think of to remove coating from that area, is if it is delaminating and you need to recoat the entire blade.
 
have any of you guys used plastic blast media?? Cant remember what it is called but was exposed briefly to it in the shipyard. It leaves a nice shiney finish without the bead blast look.

Tim
 
Boy! Now THAT will be a project!:eek: Down the line I plan on blasting all my smooth coat straight handles. I doubt very seriously if I'll remove the handles. The coating underneath isn't hurting anything and will probably help in corrosion resistance. Since the micarta isn't affected by the bead blast I'll just leave them on. Especially the smooth bolts and hollow tubes.

Rob
 
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