Tweener Micarta Hardware, Too Short?

Sulaco

Sulaco

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Nov 15, 2003
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I put KA-BAR micarta on my BK-16 and the stock screws are too short. I stripped one of the nuts trying to tighten it down. Is that normal?
 
Confused on this one. If the bolts were too short to catch threads, how did you strip one?

That asked, however, the stock stuff should fit. Can you post a pic?
 
I was only able to hit the first thread on the nut and being heavy-handed I stripped it. Pic doesn't show much.
 
Should fit fine. I've got 4 sets of Tweener micarta and they all fit fine.

However, The problem might be that the holes for the nut or screw are a little tight. If that is the case then the nut may get wedged in at an angle and then you might be able to strip it.

Best way that I have found to seat the nut and screw is to first take the scale that fits the screw and put the screw thru the scale and the knife and put only the nut on the other side of the knife.
Then just tighten it snuggly to ensure that the screw is seated all the way in the hole of the micarta. Then take the screw out of the handle and put the nut on the other end and screw it down just till it sticks out the other side of the nut. Then holding the screw head as a handle, line the nut up with the hex hole on the micarta and gently push it in evenly. It may not go all the way in but that's ok. Now just unscrew the screw leaving the nut in the hex hole. Now put just that scale on the blade and then the screw only thru the other side and tighten down till the screw pulls the nut into the scale. Don't over tighten. Now that all the holes have been seated, take the screw out and put both scales on.

Another way that might work is screw the scales together with no blade in-between them to seat hardware in the holes. Might be easier. lol But I do it the other way.

Hope that helps and wasn't just a big ramble. :D
 
I just recently purchased micarta for my 16. I had to take it back. I had planned on using stainless as I normally do and I had the same problem. Tried every trick in the book to make it work. Stock hardware would not work, also. I sent the micarta back and they ended up taking the rest of the tweener micarta off the shelving (they had quite a bit of it along with the larger ones for the 2,9, etc.). The ones I returned were kind of green if you use your imagination. They had one set left in the more brownish range that they said would work. I accepted that, few days later they arrived and fit fine.

The holes are not deep enough, I ended up stripping a screw also. It would just catch the threads and I thought I had it started but ended up stripped.

I would return it and wait for a proper replacement. I have 3 other sets of tweener micarta scales and have never had a problem.
 
These are kind of green also. I'm not a moron and know my way around hardware. The screws aren't long enough or either the holes aren't deep enough. I seated the nuts all the way using a punch.
 
You might try contacting KABAR and maybe get it replaced quicker. Wherever you got them from may only have more like the ones you have.

Longer screws are an option, but the problem I also had was that the sockethead sat kind of proud. Was not recessed and you could feel it when gripping the micarta. My kydex sheath didn't like it either.
 
Yeah even if I just sit the screws in the scale they go in, the front and rear screw heads both stick out pretty good. They don't fit the sheath I'm using either. I'll call KA-BAR. Something isn't right with this setup.
 
KA-BAR is sending me replacement hardware. I hope it works. If not I guess I can go to the hardware store like someone said and just go ahead and upgrade to SS and get the length I need. I can't wait to get this thing in usable shape!
 
If the screws are too long and stick out of the nut too far they are easy to shorten. I just grab some sandpaper maybe 150, 220,etc. and do it by hand. I just hold the screw with my fingers and go at it. You could use a file also, but take it slow. On the ones I had the sockethead stuck out way too far, specifically the one nearest the blade. You could also shorten the head of that one some, make sure you have enough left to get it tightened down.

Obviously they made a mistake on a batch of handles. If it doesn't work out I would not hesitate to return them. The problem to me is the micarta.
 
Yeah I think it's the micarta also but the person who replied to my email just said she'd send me some screws. So we'll see. I figure I'll let them do their thing the first go 'round and see how it goes. Who knows, maybe there is something wrong with the screws I have.
 
I went by Home Depot today and picked up some stainless hardware. I went with 3/8" bolts instead of 1/2" and they worked. I had to cut off the extra but at least they were long enough. It looks like the micarta just wasn't milled properly.
 
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