Finally, my MOD mod

[Ropeman]

I haven't a clue how long it is since Andy sold me this MOD Survival blade but it must be at least two years.

I don't have much of a history of making knives, I put together a Brusletto Falken kit once and that's it. I'm good at the design but very bad at getting started on the actual metal to abrasive interface.

Anyway, as I finally got round to sorting out my workshop I though I'd get some progress made on my M-O-D blade. I'd already roughed out a bit of design in marker, I wanted to thin the handle, add some curves to it and introduce a drop point as a way to get more point and less shovel to the front end.

All the shaping was done with 1mm cutting discs and a P60 flap disc in a B&Q budget angle grinder (rough and ready dirt cheap knife-modding at it's roughest )

Because of the angle of the cut I made into the front curve of the handle I went too deep and it's ended up too narrow, I have a solution though

As I was making the cut to bring the point down I thought it looked quite good as a bowie so I flapped on a swedge.

The blade has been in my garage for a good long while and the air in there is a bit damp, this meant that a good bit of patina had built up and, rather than try to polish this off, I'd work with it and introduce a high level of patination. This was achieved with a paste made of vinegar and milk powder (the first absorbent powder that came to hand that would make a paste). I left the patinapaste on for a ouple of hours or so, wrapped in a damp towel.

Here's a shot of the blade:



And one of the whole thing:



The handle would feel and look terrible if I used scales so it is going to get a paracord wrapped handle, this will let me fill in the areas that are too thin and will be in keeping with the Chute knife look. Something like a SpecOps sheath ought to work with the design.

Horrid, I know but it's step two on the road to actually making a knife. Six years may be a long time between knives, I'll try to get the next one done a little quicker

[Ropeman]

Here's a picture of an original blade from Andy's sale thread:

http://www.britishblades.com/forums/...ad.php?t=80368

[recurve]

Hi there Ropeman,

Really liking that. How about squaring off the handle end to make more of a square tang, redrilling and putting on a guard and some scales. Or alternatively if you grind it to more of a stick tang you could fit an antler handle...............

Just a thought, after looking at some of the Bowie blades on the Sheffield website at www.sheffieldknives.co.uk.


Cheers recurve

[monkey_pork]

(rough and ready dirt cheap knife-modding at it's roughest )

Horrid, I know but it's step two on the road to actually making a knife.

Rough and dirt cheap is the way to go. I've been looking at mine (of a similar vintage) on and off, wondering what can I do with this trowel?

Horrid that one might-well be, but it looks great, the blade-into-handle transition especially.
+1 on the wrapped handle - that would be the ideal way to finish it off.

If it wasn't a Sunday, I'd be tempted to get my angle-grinder out too.

[Ropeman]

The mortice tang idea is one that appeals. Is a good mortice tang handle fit possible with a Dremel and a tungsten carbide cutting bit?

[Saint-Just]

It's actually a mod's MOD mod



Well done

[dtalbot]

As I'm sure Andy will tell you what it really needs is pink bike handlebar tape for the handle!
Shape looks really good though Ropey

[Sam Salvati]

Try leaving it in a zip lock bag coated in spicy mustard, might leave a rougher patina. Looks cool!

[Ropeman]

Thanks for the kindness gents, undeserved though it is. The differences between what the eye can dream up and the hand achieve are more marked in this knife than any other

Try leaving it in a zip lock bag coated in spicy mustard, might leave a rougher patina. Looks cool!

The surface was taken to 1000 grit on a waterstone so may have been slightly resistant to the acid, it was definitely evenly applied though. I may apply some thicker paste such as mustard to give a 'dabbed' pattern later.

That would be a maybe, after I have applied a better effort to the grind. I found myself lamenting the roughness a little so bought a Rexon grinder at B&Q just now

[mojofilter]

The mortice tang idea is one that appeals. Is a good mortice tang handle fit possible with a Dremel and a tungsten carbide cutting bit?

A good mortice tang fit is possible with a penknife mate!

Or cheat and do it with 3 layers and use a coping saw!

I would just buy a router bit and do it with your pillar drill though, I've done a few that way, works a treat.

[rapidboy]

Nice work, get a paracord wrap on it tonight .

I started one but lost interest and passed it on to another forum member a while ago, they are bloody hard to work.

I increased the grind a little and altered it to accept the morticed handle - DavidH machined the scales that Mojo had drawn up and he also applied the baked on paint finish

[jabussard]

Looking good, I especially like the decision to put in the swedge!

The mortice tang idea is one that appeals. Is a good mortice tang handle fit possible with a Dremel and a tungsten carbide cutting bit?

I'd normally either cut the handle slab lengthwise, and use small chisels to channel the out the slot for the tang. Or like Mojo says, you can use 3 layers.