- Joined
- Dec 27, 2010
- Messages
- 6,852
I'm guessing stripping, for most of you. I couldn't wait, personally, so I made up my own BK16 look-alike to tide me over. Unfortunately, I only had 1/4" stock, so it came out a good bit heavier, but I went for a bottle opener mod. From the pics, all you really need to do is use an angle grinder or something to cut up into the bottom of that flat lanyard hole. The Warrior was kind enough to make me a mockup with the 11 and 16:
I ended up changing it slightly, and came out with this.
Next I printed out the render in approximately life-size, basing it off of the 9.25" OAL from the database, and traced it onto a piece of 1/4" 1095. I would have used thinner stock, but I didn't want to use my 3" wide bars. Cut out with angle grinder, and used a drill press and the angle grinder to cut in the bottle opener (actually, that came during the drilling phase). Used a bench grinder and my various belt sanders and files to do a high flat grind, and drilled holes. When I'm making my own blades, I find it easiest to make my handles during this phase. I basically cut out a rough shape with a jig saw and scroll saw, clamp to the blade, and drill the holes through the scales and the tang in one shot. Then I counter bore each scale, screw them on, and then finish shaping the scales to the tang. Makes finishing work easier. I ended up drilling 3 large holes in the tang to balance it out some, since otherwise it would be very handle heavy, and I want the POB to be over the pointer finger. Scales were made out of cocobolo. Still need to heat treat and put an edge on, but you can get the idea.
When I get my BK16 (this summer maybe, if they're out then), I'm planning on stripping it, stonewashing, doing the bottle opener mod, and making some scales out of amboyna burl if I can find some, and doing a full epoxy + mosaic pin job on the handles. The BK16 is the Becker I most want out of all of them. What will you do with YOUR tweener?
For your reference, here's marathonman's BK2 with amboyna. That's gorgeous looking wood, although I do love my cocobolo.
I ended up changing it slightly, and came out with this.
Next I printed out the render in approximately life-size, basing it off of the 9.25" OAL from the database, and traced it onto a piece of 1/4" 1095. I would have used thinner stock, but I didn't want to use my 3" wide bars. Cut out with angle grinder, and used a drill press and the angle grinder to cut in the bottle opener (actually, that came during the drilling phase). Used a bench grinder and my various belt sanders and files to do a high flat grind, and drilled holes. When I'm making my own blades, I find it easiest to make my handles during this phase. I basically cut out a rough shape with a jig saw and scroll saw, clamp to the blade, and drill the holes through the scales and the tang in one shot. Then I counter bore each scale, screw them on, and then finish shaping the scales to the tang. Makes finishing work easier. I ended up drilling 3 large holes in the tang to balance it out some, since otherwise it would be very handle heavy, and I want the POB to be over the pointer finger. Scales were made out of cocobolo. Still need to heat treat and put an edge on, but you can get the idea.
When I get my BK16 (this summer maybe, if they're out then), I'm planning on stripping it, stonewashing, doing the bottle opener mod, and making some scales out of amboyna burl if I can find some, and doing a full epoxy + mosaic pin job on the handles. The BK16 is the Becker I most want out of all of them. What will you do with YOUR tweener?
For your reference, here's marathonman's BK2 with amboyna. That's gorgeous looking wood, although I do love my cocobolo.
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