vantage pro mods

[fishface5]

Before & after pics - I removed the flipper and reduced/rounded the handle, added traction grooves for the thuumb and index finger, and it is SOOOO much more comfortable! The handle scales are overlays of Karillian Birch from Mark at Burl Source - the pic comes nowhere near doing the complex figuring of the wood justice. It's shiny since the tung oil is drying. This one is a gift but I am going to get another & do it again, this configuration just feels right on for an EDC.

 

[Galeocerdoshark]

That is way cool man. Congratz on that awesome piece of art!

 

[Javelin]

Wow thats nice! Whoever is getting this is VERY lucky.

 

[MTHall720]

Great job! How did you make the new scales?

 

[marcinek]

I like it! It's now a much better looking knife. Nice work. :thumbup:

 

[GLDNDomer]

Interesting idea removing the flipper, do you like using the thumbhole more with this model? Very nice work, looks great from this "vantage" point. Har har har

 

[chevy_racin]

Very nice mod. How is the clip attached, same as the originals? Oh yea, more pics

 

[fishface5]

Hi - Glad you guys like it as much as I do! I find that many production designs can be improved by a little customizing.

I didn't find the flipper very effective and I wanted to reduce the overall knife size for the recipient. I tried to get the handle down as small as possible while still retaining good ergos. I basically milled down the existing scales, but leaving the top portions at their normal height so they became bolsters, then gluing the wood scales on top of the thinned portion of the G10. Unfortunately this meant that the weird curved trench remains in the bolsters, if I do it again I will do the handles from scratch. The clip still fits on as it did before.

Here's an in-hand shot, before all the final finish work (like cleaning up the locking liner).