Try This !!

A

averageguy

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It took me awhile but I finally made it over to my local bead blaster with whom I've developed a good working relationship over the years. I like to "restore" older and used blades and handles. I handed him the slabs from my BK7 and told him I needed a grippier surface. Wow, did it turn out great. They now have a very nice matte grey appearance and a texture that is the equal of sand blasted G10 or canvas micarta. Awesome. I sincerely wish the factory would take this extra step. It might increase production costs by a buck but it is well worth it. If you haven't tried this yet - have no fear you won't regret it. I can't recall which medium he used. But it is my experience that there is not a big difference between glass, ceramic or plastic beads. Sorry, no picture but they did turn out quite attractive. ;)
After rinsing and mounting the scales, they are actually matte black and the handle feels as good or better than any I have ever held. I am now holding as fine a knife as I have ever handled - and I have been collecting for 7 years. Too ***king sweet.
 
I did something similar by hand, and it turned out very nicely. Get some course grit (250 grit) emery paper, and scuff the handles. Don't sand with a typical back-and-forth motion, but push the emery paper into the handles sharply with a jabbing motion. It took me about 1/2 hour to do both grips, and they look very similar to what sandblasting would accomplish.

Interesting sidebar: when the grips are wet (with sweat, water, etc.) after this treatment, they are even "grippier" than they were dry.
 
It is definately very grippy wet. I never got the handle wet before I had it bead blasted it so I can't make a comparison there. But certainly dry it is like a totaly different handle and the large size of it feels perfect now that it is no longer slippery. It is truly a perfect knife now. I will eventually get a picture up but I have only 35mm equipment and I'm too busy right now to fool with it. But it is cosmetically probably more attractive than the original (doesn't look like plastic) and functionally far - far superior. If there is any drawback it is that it stays wet for awhile much like sandblasted canvas Micarta does. A small price for a grip you can depend on when an emergency is at hand. Busse doesn't use textured canvas micarta - or in the case of the Basic or Swamp Rat line, rubber - for looks. It's because these grips work. To keep production costs down (thankfully) Camillus uses injection molded handles. These when bead blasted look great, are still tough as nails and provide as good a grip as I have ever used. Thanks Camillus for the best, cost effective fixed blades ever made. :D
 
Just where does one find their "neighborhood bead blaster"? (This is a serious question.) I am interested in the BK9 and the C/U-7. Since their handles are the same, both can be done. Where/what section under the yellow pages does one look?
Thank you in advance for your answers,


Mongo
 
Mongo,

Check your local yellow pages for auto-body repair shops or metal fabrication machine shops. Most of them will have a snadblaster or two. Depending on how nice you are, and the amount of work you want done, they may do it for free (if all you want is a quick blast or two on each of the handles).
 
The guy at my local machine shop is able to bead blast for me. In the yellow pages they are listed under "machine shops" so it's easy to remember where to look. Your local machinist can be a really handy guy to know if you are interested in modifying commercial knives.
 
You guys are great. Thanks for the info. I have definate plans to get either a BK-9 or C/U-7 and have the handles done. Thanks for your help.


Mongo
 
I blasted the plastic scales on a Cold Steel G.I. Tanto, as well as removed the guard on the spine of the blade, and added gimping.

Now, its grippy as hell and functional as a camp chore knife.

Another way to add grip is to get a roll of "rubber electrical tape". NOTHING is grippier, cheaper, easier and quicker than wrapping a handle in that stuff.
 
averageguy said:
I sincerely wish the factory would take this extra step. It might increase production costs by a buck but it is well worth it...
Click to expand...

If your knife was made by Camillus, the factory closed in February, 2007, so wishing they would make design and process changes is a bit late, regardless of assumed cost changes. If, however, you are refering to the current maker of the Becker line of knives, you are posting in the wrong forum.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=827
 
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