Couple of questions

[TheMightyMitch]

I am planning on getting a F1 fulltang blank and putting a handle on it. (you know the story, LOVE the knife but the handle is a bit bleh)

First my question is, I can't decide on whether to use Corby or Loveless bolts. I have a couple of both lying around, and it seems that the loveless have more of a size difference between the thread and the... other part, making it stronger. However, I don't know how you would tighten them! It would seem that once the bolt is snug, it would just rotate, as opposed to Corby's, where there are slots on both sides, so you can tighten a lot more, right?

Second, I plan on using black micarta (canvas or linen) as the handle. I can't decide yet on finishing. I'll either sand it pretty smooth (400 or so) or get a more grippy finish. Not as in file grooves texture, but the kind of finish that RAT / ESEE puts on their knives. Is that bead/sand blasted? I don't have a sandblaster, so is there something I can use instead?

Thanks in advance
Mitch

[MeetTheGeeks]

Personally for me at least loveless look a bit naff as they dont blend in as well, I prefer corbys as it clamps down the same but the finish can be better. For finish a bead blast is what you not not a shot blast. Shot is very rough and used to take paint off metal. Canvas micarta can be made to fluff up with a quick wipe of WD40 for grip, but the best result is a soft bead blast. 120-240 grit is more than enough when sanding to get a nice grippy finish if you dont opt for the bead

To get the bolts to tighten, first off dont over tighten them they will snap. Put the corbys in and tighten with two screw drivers, until they bite, then a quarter turn is enough. For loveless screw one half all the way up the bolt part and slide through the hole, meaning you have a screwdriver slot on one part. Does that make sense? The other part screw on by hand until its as tight as you can get, then just hold with some long nose pliers. Once again you dont want to over tighten.

Hope that helps

[TheMightyMitch]

Thanks so much! I actually like the look of corby's, so I think I'll use those.
Thanks for the advice on the finish, maybe someone in my area has a bead-blaster thingie.

By the way, another question, what color of leather stain does this look like? http://www.jreindustries.com/fkgs/f1gs1.jpg I really like the look of that.

[MeetTheGeeks]

To be fair on that color mate its hard to tell with different companies having different shades, its certainly a brown or chestnut but its hard to tell from the pic. Sorry mate.