super-size BK-2 choil?

daizee

daizee

Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Dec 30, 2009
Messages
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Has anyone enlarged their BK-2 choil?
I'm feeling the itch, but am conservative about modifying factory knives.
I feel like choking up on the blade would be great because the handles are quite thick, but a bigger choil that fit a finger would help, and I could leave the edges of it sharp enough for a firesteel without being too dangerous.

Opinions? Pictures? Pictures are worth 1000 opinions. :D

-Daizee
 
daizee said:
Has anyone enlarged their BK-2 choil?
I'm feeling the itch, but am conservative about modifying factory knives.
I feel like choking up on the blade would be great because the handles are quite thick, but a bigger choil that fit a finger would help, and I could leave the edges of it sharp enough for a firesteel without being too dangerous.

Opinions? Pictures? Pictures are worth 1000 opinions. :D

-Daizee
Click to expand...

I have never done it, but I don't like choils. I do believe that if you feel it will give you more control on the blade and allow for better work, go for it. I do use the choils on my ESEE knives, I guess because they are there. My hand tends to creep up on the on the handle when I am doing fine work, and the only time I grab and hold the blade, is when I'm gutting trout. Most times, I have a smaller knife for that, but there have been a few times where I used my BK2.

I say go for it, take is slow, keep the metal cool, and post up about it when you're done. I have seen it done on a 7, recently, actually, and it worked out for him, so, have at it, amigo.

Moose
 
I say go for it. I think it would be a good idea, but as Moose said, keep it cool...

Beyond the functionality of a large choil, I think it would look pretty sweet too!

Pics, man...pics!! :D
 
Cool won't be a problem - I doubt I can file fast enough to wreck the temper on this beast.
checking out the Esee version...

-Daizee
 
FILE?? You better have arms the size of tree trunks. How bout a Dremmel? Either way have fun and post some picks. Good luck.
 
I agree with Moose, the only time I use a choil is on my Ontario RAT3 and only because it's already there. When choking up for fine carving, my fingers naturally rest in the choil. On other knives, like my Moras or my BK11, the choked up finger or fingers just hover away or pinch the side of the blade. To each his own I suppose. I prefer more working edge if given the choice.
 
I like choils myself on larger knives.. 7 inch and longer. I find the way the bk handles are designed it easy enough to choke up on the guard and get your finger right under the cutting edge, This is what i do with my bk7 for fine carving and it works well.. also as a suggestion, instead of modding the knife, maybe start playing with different grips, i find with a larger knife controlled us of a chest lever grip, can give great control. Good luck!
 
I would say use the file until you get past the heat treat, then go at her with the dremel. It would probably take quite awhile doing a finger sized choil with a file.
 
Aren't these blades through-hardened/tempered?
Hm, maybe I'm talking myself out of it.
Maybe I could anneal and re-heat-treat the knife! ;-D
(just kidding)

-Daizee
 
I'd be scared of messing up the heat treating of the edge. It'd take a long time to do it cautiously enough for me to try.
 
You have to heat it up past uncomfortable-to-hold to ruin the temper.
Furthermore, with such a HUGE thermal mass, it's probably really hard to hurt it without taking a torch directly to the edge or forgetting it in the oven on high.


-Daizee
 
daizee said:
You have to heat it up past uncomfortable-to-hold to ruin the temper.
Furthermore, with such a HUGE thermal mass, it's probably really hard to hurt it without taking a torch directly to the edge or forgetting it in the oven on high.


-Daizee
Click to expand...

Your correct about the thermal mass of beckers dissipating heat. I have cut three bk7s down to bk10 size using a 1/16" grinder wheel and as long as you go alittle then let it cool or absorb the heat into the rest of the blade you should be fine. It's addictive to mod knives have fun be safe.
 
ooohh..... a 7 mod'd down to a 10 with a choil and no ramp! that would be hawt.

-Daizee
 
Real men use the skin of their enemies when they are done, not band-aids!

Anywhoosles, you shouldn't have any problems. If I was doing it, I would go about it like this:

1. File down the sharp bits where I wanted my choil to be, just enough to make work with a dremel go a bit easier.

2. Dremel out my choil, taking time to go slow, and either marking before hand with a sharpie or taping off where I wanted the choil, that way I have a visual reminder of where I am going to end up.

3. Hold knife by the metal with my bare hand, and when it starts getting warm, dunk it in water. That will ensure you don't mess up the heat treat as it will never get to a temp where it could cause problems.

4. Post a ridiculous amount of pictures in the knowledge that if I didn't someone would find me and make me post a crap ton of pics. Better to be safe than sorry. Moose knows where you live, and Bladite is standing behind you right now, so really posting a ton of pics would be in your best interests.
 
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