Tim's Kershaw Ricochet FrameLock conversion

STR

STR

Knifemaker/Moderator
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Next up will be this Kershaw knife which is the 1520 Ricochet in CPM 440V blade steel. Tim's request was for me to rough cut this one out and mill the lock leaving it unfinished because being a knifemaker himself he wants to do the final bevels and clean up to a satin finish as I recall, which is fine by me. My condition was that he show it off here in a new thread when he gets it all done so we can have something to look forward to. :thumbup:

The plan is to cut out both sides in .125 titanium, drill and mark all holes bead blast the inside, set the detent ball in place and spring the lock after fitting it properly to the blade. I also hope to do no permanent modification to the folder so that it can always be put back to the factory liner lock and scales in the event that one wanted to.

This is a very good looking little knife and I certainly see ahead here that its going to be one hell of a great looker and user when we are done with it.

It weighs in here in factory clothes at exactly 3 ounces is 3/8" thick and sports a 3 and 1/8" blade in a 4 and 3/8" handle when closed. OAL is 7.5".

Stay tuned.

STR
 
Wow, that got out to you quick! This is going to be fun!
 
Yeah it should be. Tim when you get the chance let me know if you wanted me to tap this for a pocket clip again. I forget the details. Also, if yes, I'll need to know if I am to do it tip up or tip down, right or left hand of if you want to do all that yourself including the lanyard hole.

Also, I'll need to know the style of clip and if I am making it or you are, or if we are using an aftermarket one.

Thanks

STR
 
Nope, I have the drills and taps for the pocket clips, so you don't have to worry bout that! I never use a lanyard, so I will slip that hole, too.
 
Ok got it. Getting ready for bed at the moment but look here tomorrow as I expect to get started on your knife in the morning. Should be at least a couple progress pictures up sometime around noon or later.

STR
 
Got the Ricochet project underway this morning as planned.

Ran into my first small snag but no problem. The pivot barrel once out looked to be a 5/32 but upon closer inspection its actually bigger than that. 5/32 being .156" and the barrel being .163 so I'll be ordering a number 20 and a number 19 drill to test a couple holes for fit in some scrap tomorrow or when they get here and I'll go with the one that fits best. Being that I get these from Jantz I hope to have them tomorrow so it should not hold things up much Tim.

I'll absorb the cost on them. I have to order some stuff from Jantz anyways, and the bits are only like a buck and a half each.

Otherwise its going well. I'll go ahead and cut these scales out next, probably set up the stop as I want and I will do the rest once the bits arrive.

Oh yeah. Looking close at the lock on this Ricochet I see that its been repaired the same way as we were talking about yesterday in the thread on Stan's lock for his Camillus. Note the punch marks on the lock face in the close up. Tim did you do that or is it a factory fix??

STR
 
Never had that knife apart before! It looks like they do that to lock the blade up tighter to the stop pin to keep it locked up more securely? Or the liners/blades have enough tolerances built up that they don't lock well, and then have to play with the liner and lock piece to get it to work.

I hate it when parts are never a normal size. Why do companies insist on doing that?? Like when the Torx heads aren't exactly a certain size, almost in between a 5 and a 6??? Hopefully thats the last little blip for this project!
 
I hope that is the only stumble we have. The stop appears to be a true 3/16 and the other holes for the rear are #44 which I always have. This one had some slight blade play in it so its time for a new lock since its already been adjusted once anyway.

Ok I think I've gone as far as I can really go on it today and we will pick up on it when the drills arrive. I decided to wait on anymore drilling or milling until I can get the pivot in the slabs to mark it precisely and also Tim, after measuring this one the .114 thickness matched up a bit better for keeping all the original hardware the correct length so I went with that over .125.

Stay tuned though. We'll not be too long I don't think. Jantz said they were mailing out my drills right away. Thats why I love those guys. They treat me so well.

STR
 
Sweeet! I got a jantz catalog years ago when i first started making knives from kits, and I just downloaded their new one. Wow, what a difference! They have some of the best pics of handle materials in any of the print catalogs I have seen, VG-10 laminated liner lock kits, VG-10 laminated w/damascus kitchen knife kits, etc. I think i'm gonna be spending some more $$$ with them if I get the 11 hours of double time this weds!
 
They have always had the lions share of my business and even more so since they bought Koval. They really have to be the biggest in the industry for us right now. Their new catalog is great. Get one.
STR
 
Well Tim, the drills did not arrive today as I'd hoped so probably tomorrow. I guess it was too late in the day by the time they got it out.

I'll pick up on it when they get here.

STR
 
No rush! We have our students arriving shortly, and life will get chaotic for a while, so I won't be able to do much in the next few weeks, anyway! Helloooooooo, overtime! :)
 
coming along nicely I see. Hmm, funny with the lock though if you never took it apart. I thought it was punched/peened only when wear was evident. STR, since ti is quite expensive, could there have been miss on tolerances? Perhaps the factory "fixes" it that way as it would be ashame to throw it away. Taz' reasoning makes sense.
 
Maybe it was used when Tim got it and had already been sent in for service work at least once. Its obviouly been serviced by someone before Tim got it whatever the case. As for if it was when new. I doubt it but anything is possible I guess.

STR
 
I bought it from a gun/knife store a few years back, they said they found it on a shelf in the back room, the box was pretty dusty. It was supposed to be new, but I'm not sure. Maybe someone sold the knife back to the store after the work was done on it? They do trades for guns and sell custom knives there, so anything is possible! It's not uncommon for someone to send a knife back to the factory for repair, and then turn around and sell it and buy a new one! Same with guns, too.

I had trouble sharpening it until i got diamond and japanese waterstones, and didnt like the assisted feature on it, so it never got used really. That will definetly change soon though!
 
I did get the drills in the mail this morning finally. Unusual for them to take three days but that is the case. Anyway, I can't get to the shop today due to somethings I promised the wife I'd take care of. I might get a little more time out there if I am lucky later today but nonetheless, I still expect to have your knife done by Monday Tim and in the mail to you.

I managed to find time to drill the two holes to the right size for the pivot and its a perfect fit. I was just getting ready to drill the stop pin holes and mark for the milling machine cut out of the long cut for the lock when the wife caught me cheating in some shop time. I was supposed to be picking tomatoes not working on a knife. :eek: I know, I'm a bad boy. :rolleyes:

STR
 
Making a little in the way of progress today.

Got it all together to my liking. Just need to mark and cut out the lock now. Its going together nicely though. I really had to do some focus to get that stop pin right. I tell ya Tim on these older style stops. Use loctite on the pivot once its where you want it. Otherwise these are the type that I've had to replace at times. Its in better than it was from the factory now though so hopefully it will never give you any issues.

There is no blade play, and its dead center before the lock cut out so thats a real good sign. Next step will about take me where I'm planning to leave it but I'll recess the screws for you and then this one is about where you wanted it I think. I'll let you take it from there once the lock up is there with it which is right around the corner if I have my way today. Just depends on if the wife tracks me down or not. :D

STR
 
Getting these one on out of here tomorrow is looking better. I need to bead blast the inside of it slap it all together then once I set the detent and its as far as I'm taking it.

The blade has no detent hole drilled in it as is typical of many of the older and most all the flipper models with locks in the rear for the blade on assisted opening knives so I'm going to do that also.

STR
 
Tim I'll mail this back to you tomorrow. I took it to the stage you ordered it and the rest is up to you. Here is a lock up view and another after the lock heat treat and detent hole install. Detent is set, the inside is bead blasted and it seems to work nice for not being completed yet.

It will need final edge bevels and even edges but I am sure you can handle the rest. Be advised that the stop pin is the tricky part about getting these type back together. They are Royal PITA at times so don't stand where it can get away from you or it will surely run off on you. :D Its been trying to escape me for four days. :eek:

Oh yeah. It weighs in at 3.7 ounces as seen here. Also, nice edge you have on this blade. I meant to compliment you on that if I have not already.

STR
 
Drool! I love that nice thick lock!! Thanks for the edge complement! I have gone to freehand sharpening as of late, instead of belt sander/strop. I discovered diamond plates and waterstones! 325 grit diamond for the bevels, then 1000, 2000 waterstones, then strop, or up to 6000 water stone and strop. I picked up a DMT diamond plate in 8000, yes, 8000 grit to use as well. The diamonds and waterstones work very well on the CPM steels, as well as most softer steels. I have several Japanese kitchen knives in the mid 60's rockwell, and the waterstones work well for them too.

I got your other emails. I really appreciate the in depth research you did! I have plenty of materials, micarta, G10, and some Al and Ti scraps, so I may just make a spacer in stead of the stand offs. Lots of options! Blue G10 may look pretty cool with the blue heat anodizing. I also have extra washers from other knives (EDI genesis) that I can canabalize, or order some more. Thanks for the heads up, though!! With all of the things you found, it definetly looks like someone has been inside the knife, whether it was Kershaw, or someone else before, we will probably never know! It would be interesting to see how old this one is, and if Kershaw did any of the washer/lock adjustment changes at the factory ever. I may have to give them a call one of these days!

I'll let you know when it arrives!
 
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