WIP - Making one good Boker out of two.

Kbrasmodeler

Kbrasmodeler

Joined
Mar 18, 2008
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Howdy fellow Traditionalists! It's time for me to do another project, and this time, I've remembered to take some pics during the process. I hope you enjoy it, and any constructive feedback is welcome.

Last week or so, I got these two Boker jacks of the "Auction Site" for a song:

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They are the same pattern, same size, and have the same broken pen blade in the same place. I figured I could possibly take the main blade from both knives and make a muskrat style two blader. I will put it back together using the bottom knife in the picture, as I think the scales look nicer.

So, first, I have to get them apart.

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I used a small punch that I made even smaller, and knocked out the pivot pin. This was not easy, because they were well piened, so I ended up knocking it one way a smidge, grinding the pin off a bit, then going the other way, back and forth until the spread out part of the pin was ground off, and I could knock it all the way out. To take the middle pin (name) out, I first ground the end off with a diamond pit and my rotary tool.

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I'm practicing on this knife, so that I can see if I can get the knife apart without damaging the scales on the other. It seems to be working.

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Then I knock the last pin out using the same method as I used on the first. Now, I have all the parts separated.

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And, here it is with the other knife.

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That's as far as I've gotten to now. I'll get more done later, and get more pictures. If anybody (hint: experienced makers) has any tips for me, I appreciate hearing them.

Stay tuned!
 
Quick note: I'm looking for suggestions on a way to re-grind the more worn-out blade. I was thinking of grinding it into a wharncliffe style, but maybe a pen would be better? Tell me what you think.
 
Very cool project! Looking forward to seeing it come together. A homemade Boker will definitely be something special to carry around.

Will
 
I think a long pull pen with a swedge kinda like a mini version of the main blade would be just as slick as a wharncliffe
 
Okay, I'm fascinated. I'm of no technical help whatsoever, but look forward to seeing how your project progresses.

Thanks so much for taking the time to take pictures and explain what you're doing.

~ P.
 
Looks good so far.

You asked for feedback? When taking a knife apart, I use a single edge razor blade or thin junk kitchen knife. I hammer that somewhere between the "parts" (blade and liner, for instance) with a dead blow hammer. It usually makes short work of the brass or nickel silver pins. To me it's easier popping the pins out from the inside, less chance for damage on the scales or bolsters.

Oh, and the blade? I'd leave it as is, maybe just profile the tip down a bit so it doesn't stick up above the liners.

Can't wait to see the finished product!

Glenn
 
Some nice work, as for the blades, I think it would be better to leave the nicer one alone and grind the second, slimmer one into a wharnie for some blade diversity. However ou did say muskrat so at the end its your call
 
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Thanks for the input, folks. I've made some more progress, and need to upload some pics to photobucket. I also ran into a snag making it "muskrat style". Updates to come...
 
Kbrasmodeler said:
Thanks for the input, folks. I've made some more progress, and need to upload some pics to photobucket. I also ran into a snag making it "muskrat style". Updates to come...
Click to expand...
I'm going to guess and say when the springs were reversed end to end everything didn't line up.
You can always make it back into a Jack.
Ken.
 
That´s really a cool project. I hope it will be ok, making a Muskrat out of these. I fear, the antle on which the two blades will run next to each other (I can hardly explain in english what I mean), will be enough not that both blades will meet them anywhere in the middle.

I´m sure, it will be good, when it´s done :) Great idea!

Kind regards
Andi
 
kc custom said:
I'm going to guess and say when the springs were reversed end to end everything didn't line up.
You can always make it back into a Jack.
Ken.
Click to expand...

Yeah, that's pretty much it. It kinda kinked over when I piened the pins. Also, it looks like they are "equal ended", but the pivot end is a bit wider, so the spring that I flipped didn't fit perfectly. I should get the pics up.

Edit:
Here's a teaser...
P1010036.jpg
 
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Continuing...
So, I disassembled the second knife using the same process, with no problems. Then I cleaned up all the internals, including smoothing and polishing the tangs of the blades, the inside of the springs, and all of the brass liners. I discovered a bit of uneven wear on the tangs of the blades. The more worn blade also had the more worn tang.

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This was cleaned up on the belt sander and then polished. Here is everything cleaned up.

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(Forgive the pictures. I'm experimenting with macro modes.)

Then it was a matter of reassembling the knife with the blades at opposite ends. Again, I used small finish nails for pins.

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I cut the nails off about 1/8" above the surface, then piened.

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The knife is together now, and somewhat functional, but I need to take it back apart, and put both blades on the same end. When I piened the pins, it kinked the sides over, and the walk and talk is terrible, along with no snap. I think it's because of the unequal springs.

More to come.
 
Thank you for posting these pics. The knife already looks great :) I´m looking forward seeing more of that beauty.

Kind regards
Andi
 
Okay, I re-did it. Pulled it back apart, put both blades on the same end, and re-ground the one blade into a wharncliffe. Sharpened her up, she takes a great edge. Enough talk, here it is...

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I learned a few things on this one. I learned that I need to do more test-fitting, and pay more attention during the test fit. I also learned that I need more practice piening pins. Maybe a little (a lot) instruction. Anyway, this was another fun project, and I got a useful knife out of it, again. Thanks for all the comments and tips!

Ken
 
Thank you very much for the WIP and it turned out great. Were you able to get some snap on both the open and close?
 
Not much snap on either blade, although I"m working on smoothing out the action. It's partially because the tangs had to be ground down a bit to even them out, and partially my poor piening. Thanks for the kind words.

Ken
 
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