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TCF's FPR BK16 with bocote handles and stripped bevels.

crimsonfalcon07

crimsonfalcon07

Joined
Dec 27, 2010
Messages
6,852
Got my BK16 in today. The Zytel I like more than the usual, but still not enough to make me want to forego making wood scales. Made up a set of bocote scales, and, because I nicked the bevels a bit while I was fitting and polishing, I went ahead and just stripped the bevels. I like the two-tone look, so I just stripped the bevels, but left the flats and the tang black. I love the way it looks now. I'm especially happy that I got the saber grind, because it just wouldn't look the same otherwise.

Decided to get some natural light for a couple shots:

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Here's what the handles look like. Finished to 12000 grit, so they have a pretty nice luster.

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And, a couple shots from my favorite perspective, blade first:

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I also touched up the edge with a slotted paper wheel, so it's got a nice mirror edge to go with the 1500 grit bevels, and can push cut newsprint.

This is a SWEET knife. I'd say it lives up to the hype. Easily my favorite Becker to date. Love the 10, love the 9, looking forward to the Machax, but this little guy is perfect.
 
Very nice man, that wood had a beautiful grain to it. Did you do anything to seal up the wood? If so what did you use?
 
Took about an hour and a half. I've been doing quite a few handles lately, what with my own knifemaking. Thanks for the kind words. I really like how they turned out also.

@NSven, I've got a coat of tung oil on it right now. Will add another in a few hours. Probably will add around 5-10 coats over the next week or so. Then I'll hit it with a cotton wheel on the buffer and do a little final finishing. That's what I usually do with my handles, and I'm pretty happy with how they've been turning out. May do a bit of minwax clear finish as well.
 
What do you do - put a mic on the original scales and make yours exact - or just get a feel/look and copy...do you carve both sides before you cut them in half? Or do you bolt them on the knife and then shape? Thanks.
 
Whuff. This could take some 'splainin. Short version, third option.

I start out by laying out the original scales (or the tang of the knife, in some cases) on the wood, and trace with a sharpie. Then I cut out a rough outline with a portable jig saw, making sure not to go inside the sharpie line.

Once I've got the scales cut out roughly, I use a small c-clamp and clamp the original scale to the wood. Then I drill the holes. I usually have to put a new clamp on the side that I've already drilled. I repeat for the other scale, then use calipers to size the bolts and nuts. Then I drill to countersink the nuts and bolts. Make sure to pay attention so you're drilling the right size hole on the right side of the right scale. If you screw up in this step, you've just junked your wood.

I then screw the scales on, and make sure I've countersunk deep enough, drilling deeper where necessary. After they're on, I touch up the overall shape with my 6" bench grinder. Gotta be REALLY careful here not to nick anything on the tang. I do a rough rounding on the scales on the bench grinder, and grind a line at the forefinger and pinky locations to serve as a guide for when I sand.

Then I touch up with the rounded end on my belt grinder, going from 36 grit to 800 grit, making sure to erase the previous grind marks. I usually wipe off the handles with an oiled cloth in between each belt to see where I stand.

After I've taken it to 800 grit, it's time for hand sanding. Start back at 600 grit, work my way to 12000 grit, again, oiling the handle between hand sanding. It doesn't actually take nearly as long as you might think to hand sand if you've taken it to 800 on the belt sander. Attach handles, if you haven't already, and enjoy!
 
Cool!! Damn, that looks good. Reminds me of something....

CF, why not drill through the tang of the knife instead of the old scale? that's what you need to mate it to in the end anyway.

-Daizee
 
I've done that before too, but if I want to copy the scales, I drill through the scales. It makes it easier to get the shape right. I'm within a millimeter on this set to the original, in terms of overall outline. I don't usually get that close if I use the tang, for whatever reason. So far I haven't had any scales that were far enough off to make enough of a difference in fitting the scales to the knife.
 
Did some dinner prep with the 16 tonight. Trimmed chicken breasts, sliced tomatoes, made some toothpicks. Chicken cordon bleu with a white wine mustard sauce, arugula and mixed greens salad with pine nuts and aged romano.

Chicken breasts, pounded flat, with prosciutto and swiss cheese, trimmed with BK16:
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Getting the salad ready, cutting up the tomatoes. I could pretty nearly push cut those tomatoes. Very sharp!

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Dinner ready to eat!

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-edit- Also, here's one of the BK16 with my faux 16 that I made a couple weeks ago. My version is made out of 1/4" stock, so it's a good bit heavier.

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wow, man that is pretty impressive! i need to get me some power tools and learn how to do this. key emphasis on the "need" part. good stuff...
 
I can't wait to see what F'aler does with his tweeners. One of these days I'll get my skilz to his level. Course, by then he'll have way surpassed me again. Especially in the custom micarta-making department. I'm kinda thinking about hitting up Mr Burl Source for some amboyna burl. If that happens, these are gonna go up for sale/GAW.

Also, I am utterly in love with the BK16. Ethan really nailed it on the tweeners, particularly the 16. It's been a long time since I've purchased a blade that I'm 100% satisfied with, and to have it come at such a bargain price (despite the complaints about how we're paying a "premium," it's still very affordable, and also, the sheath is great, although I will be making some leather pants for it), just really clinches the awesome. I may end up cerakoting the plunge with my clear cerakote, so I can keep my two-tone finish longer. I am seriously loving this knife.
 
These are the best looking scales you have done yet! Good job buddy!
 
Very nice, man those scales would have taken me months to complete!

-orangish ducktape
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“Simplicate, and add lightness”
-Colin Chapman
 
Thanks! Great to hear from the master himself! You sure outdid yourself with the BK16. Truly gorgeous. I love wood, and a knife that perfect really needed some wood in my book.
 
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