WIP- Becker Bushcrafter, formerly a BK16

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SpikeHawk

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Jan 3, 2013
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Many thanks to Tradewater for his Big Becker Bushcrafter, and to The Warrior, for his Photoshop renderings of a Becker Tweener Bushcrafter. They have inspired me to take my BK16 and transform it into a Bushcraft/Woodlore/Bushlore shaped blade. This is one of the FFG models. The First Production Run might be better suited if one wants to make a Scandi grind Bushcrafter.


Here are my two subjects: a Condor Bushlore, and my Becker BK16. The Condor has a slightly longer blade, but I am going to try to mimic the blade shape.

Becker BK16 and Condor Bushlore by OptimanBene, on Flickr

Traced the Bushlore's blade in cardboard, and then used some Sharpie magic marker to put this outline on the Becker.

cardboard blade tracing by OptimanBene, on Flickr

Bushlore pattern by OptimanBene, on Flickr


After some work with the belt sander, slow, slow work, spent more time in the can of water than on the blade, here is the final shaped blade.

blade2 by OptimanBene, on Flickr

right by OptimanBene, on Flickr

Lots of work still to do. Edge, blade refinishing, handle, sheath. I will post more as I progress with the knife. Thanks for looking, and all comments and critiques are welcome.
 
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It already looks good. I'll bet it looks fantastic when you're done.:thumbup:
 
A 1x30 belt sander.

As for the handle, I am undecided on some tan/natural micarta, or something like Olivewood or Black Palm.
 
BTW, I love my Bushlore. One of the few knives I have that actually fit my hand.
 
So here's my update. Kind of hard to see, but I added a little jimping to the end of the handle, for the heel of the hand area. Of course, the last one you file into the handle is the one that is slightly off, but what's done is done.

palm jimping by OptimanBene, on Flickr

Here's the blade, done with 220 grit wet/dry sandpaper. I debated totally removing all traces of the older patina, but why waste the time, because I am going to re-patina the blade anyway. Squared off the spine as well.

raw blade by OptimanBene, on Flickr

Next step- scales.
Here's a tough choice: Black Palm or Olivewood? Both will be Tweener handles, one for this, and the other for my 15. Right now, I am leaning towards the Olivewood for the Bushcrafter (renamed the Becker 3:16? Remember Austin 3:16? haha). So I am sure that I will change the scales between them, and back again until I am tired of pulling out the allen wrenches.

black palm vs olivewood by OptimanBene, on Flickr

So this is my progress to date.
 
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