The BK-5: Stripped and Stippled

wasatchdan

wasatchdan

Joined
Jan 6, 2007
Messages
1,379
It took two attempts and two days to get my BK-5 to this point, but she's coming along quite nicely.

BK-5.jpg

BeckerStippling.jpg

BecekrStippling2.jpg



I stippled the scales this afternoon. This is my third stippling job, and I think I'm getting the hang of it. The texture is rough enough to get a solid, utterly non-slip hold even when wet, yet it's not so rough as to leave blisters. The stippling completely changes the handling characteristics of this knife. With those scales, you can chop with confidence and they allow for fast and whippy blade techniques. With a sharpened swedge and stippled scales, the 5 could be made into a hell of a nice fighting knife.

Next up for the 5 will be a good Cliching and then it will most likely be outfitted with some of Marathonman's flat cocobolo scales. I've got a set on order from him that should be done in a couple of weeks. And Skystorm will be sheathing this thing as soon as the funds allow.
 
Looks great, im currently doing the same to my bk2 and bk3. How did you do the stippling on the handles?
 
If you don`t mind me asking, how did you get that awesome texture/pattern on the stipling?
 
Stippling is awesome. I plan on ''soldering'' every grivory grip I get from now on.

Looks great Dan. not helping my beckeraddiction

I will not order a BK5 I will not order a BK5 I will not order a BK5 I will not order a BK5
I will not order a BK5 I will not order a BK5 I will not order a BK5 I will not order a BK5
I will not order a BK5 I will not order a BK5 I will not order a BK5 I will not order a BK5
I will not order a BK5 I will not order a BK5 I will not order a BK5 I will not order a BK5
I will not order a BK5 I will not order a BK5 I will not order a BK5 I will not order a BK5
I will not order a BK5 I will not order a BK5 I will not order a BK5 I will not order a BK5
 
Stippling is the easiest thing in the world, but it has one serious drawback. Time. This one set of scales took me two hours. There are reasons that some companies charge so much money to do this to your Glocks and XD's.

The technique is simple as can be. Go to Harbor Freight and buy a $5 soldering iron. While you're at it, find an el cheapo screwdriver with a plastic handle to practice on. I found one that cost me a buck that had a black handle similar to the grivory scales, although it melted easier that the grivory. Use the screwdriver for practice first. This is essential. I probably would have screwed up my scales the first time had I not done some practice first.

Take the scales off the knife and plug in the soldering iron and let it heat up. Although you can set the scales on a workbench or something, I found it easiest to just hold the scale in my left and the iron in my right.

The technique is easy. With fast, woodpecker taps, just hit the scales lightly and cover the whole thing, back and forth. Or up and down. Or even in sections; it really doesn't matter unless you're OCD.

Make sure you don't let the iron sit on the plastic for any length of time. Just fast, light tapping, unless you want that heavy, aggressive stippling some guys like on their Glocks that make your hands bleed. I really didn't want that for a chopping blade. Cover the scales until there's no more smooth left, or you can do it in a pattern if you like, just on the sides of the scales or whatever. Go over any spots you don't like the look of and make sure you hit the high points and corners, which are easy to overlook.

I haven't figured out how to do borders yet, but I'm working on it. I've got a couple of Glocks that need the finger grooves ground down and the grips stippled, so I need to figure out how to do the borders.
 
BK9.jpg


Im a heavyhanded ''woodBecker" I guess. But I like it, lol ''hands bleed'???? callouses fix that, works wonders for "palmolive-hand syndrome'' LMAO
 
Very nice stipple job. Looks like it came from the factory like that. ;)
 
thrillbilly said:
Im a heavyhanded ''woodBecker" I guess. But I like it, lol ''hands bleed'???? callouses fix that, works wonders for "palmolive-hand syndrome'' LMAO
Click to expand...

lol. That's just a little hyperbole on my part. My hands are pretty heavily calloused from work, but some of the textures I've seen out there for pistols look a little too abrasive for a working knife, even for me. The texture on my knife, btw, will sand the callouses off your hand a bit. I have to wipe off the scales after chopping because the scales have exfoliated some of the callous off my palms and fingers and left a white residue behind.
 
That looks awesome. I think I'm going to try doing stippling like that on my 9. Along with stripping and stone washing the blade. I think that would look good together.
 
Great job! I'm fighting getting the 5 because I have big Beckers and want a 15 more, I think. However, you're making me think I may not be able to wait.
 
Nsvens89, I'm supposed to be saving money for my vacation next month, and I just bought a couple Izulas today, one for me and one for my GF.
 
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