Tips for adding jimping to a Buck Vantage Pro

[johnnytoxin]

I'm gonna add some jimping on the spine of my buck vantage pro. I know some of you have done this to other knives with factory-like results and that's what I'm going for. Anyone care to pass on any knowledge or tips? Types of files? Measurements? Etc......? So far I've got a small file set, a vise and some beater knives to practice on. I'm going for some strider type jimping. Any help would be much appreciated, thanks.

 

[Justin King]

If you can file it with a regular file that dosen't speak very well for the hardness of the blade. Diamond files work on hardened blades but wear out fast. A carbide grit rod saw (sold in Home Depot in the tile section) that fits in a hacksaw will cut coarse round-bottomed notches and is cheaper/easier to find than a set of diamond files.
A cutting weel in a Dremel works on hard steel also but takes more practice to get good results.

 

[johnnytoxin]

Thanks for the response. I do have a set of diamond files and I played with them a little today. I had seen some pictures that some members had posted of some DIY jimping in a another thread. They claimed to have done it with a diamond file and without a vise. It looked pretty darn good. Maybe I'll try that hacksaw blade you recommended. Hopefully the guys who did their jimping with just a file will see this post and enlighten me.

 

[billygoat78]

I used the dremel method for most of mine, just slap a cutting wheel (i usually use 2, right on top of each other to cut a wider swath) on there, get a ruler and sharpie, mark out the intervals on the blade and go to town. slightly easier than it sounds however. The files are great for cleaning up what's left. good luck

 

[KennyB]

If you can file it with a regular file that dosen't speak very well for the hardness of the blade. Diamond files work on hardened blades but wear out fast. A carbide grit rod saw (sold in Home Depot in the tile section) that fits in a hacksaw will cut coarse round-bottomed notches and is cheaper/easier to find than a set of diamond files.
A cutting weel in a Dremel works on hard steel also but takes more practice to get good results.

A file worked well to sharpen the jimping on my ESEE izula, but I think that's only 57 HRC. I don't have much more to add, just thought it might be relevant.

 

[johnnytoxin]

A file worked well to sharpen the jimping on my ESEE izula, but I think that's only 57 HRC. I don't have much more to add, just thought it might be relevant.

Ya I'm trying to cut into an s30v blade, don't know what hrc, but I'm starting to think a file may not be the best tool. Thanks for the response.

 

[Phydeaux]

I like to mark off the spacing first. Color the area with a sharpie. Use a scribe to mark off the spacing.

then I use a small triangular file to make a small groove across the spine at the marks. Take your time here, make them accurate. These small grooves are used to guide the file when starting the groove.

Get some "junk steel" and get a feel for what you are doing before you work on your Buck.

If you use a Dremel, practice on some junk steel. The hardened steel will feel and grind a little differently than the soft stuff.

I like to put some file work or jimping on the some of my keys, this helps me know which one unlocks the dead bolt.

Have fun.

Ric