quiet in here....

The place to show off and discuss factory manufactured knives customized with scrimshaw, inlays, file work, etc...
Post Reply
User avatar
Darksev
Posts: 759
Joined: Sat Jan 05, 2008 6:07 pm
Location: NE Ohio
Contact:

quiet in here....

Post by Darksev »

I think I need to correct that with my latest project-that-almost-killed-me.

After the fun I had with my last Spyderco ( the Kopa Kustom ;) ) I spent a few weeks carrying two knives. my slippie in the back, and the kopa up front clipped on the pocket. I'm not saying I NEED to carry two knives, just that um.... OK. I want to carry two knives :P Being a huge advocate for the "Little Big Knife" concept, I forked over some $$ for another Spyderco, a sexy little beast called the Lava, designed by Chad Los Banos. Short, stubby blade, awesome ergos, I can see why people love spydercos, if they are all like the ones I've had. Anyways, the Lava is a solid stainless knife, handles and all, which was a bit on the heavy side, and frankly not the best looking knife on the block.

Completely disassembled the knife (no easy task, thing was built like a tank) and built a whole new frame for it from .05 sheet titanium. Let me say right here: this crap is not easy to work. I burned through more belts, discs, and sanding bits than I care to think of. While trying to drill it, I decided to be an idiot and not secure it to my worktable. I nearly lost my thumbnail ::dang::

I played around with screw type construction for a few days, just couldn't quite get things working the way I wanted, so I went back to good ol' pins. Anyways, I know all you guys just want pictures :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

Ti liners, black polished G10 handles, Steel pivot/lockbar pin, NS everything else. Filework up the back, 550 lanyard with a homemade bead from some leftover sambar stag tips. Lemme know what ya think :mrgreen: ::tu::

Image


Image


Image
User avatar
useem
Posts: 1046
Joined: Fri May 11, 2007 3:56 pm
Location: Southern California

Re: quiet in here....

Post by useem »

I like it ::tu:: I think its a real beauty ::nod::
User avatar
justold52
Posts: 4459
Joined: Tue Aug 01, 2006 2:47 am
Location: Bloomington, ILL the sick state

Re: quiet in here....

Post by justold52 »

kool looking... ::tu::

How long is the handle ?
A sign In a Chinese Pet Store: 'Buy one dog, get one flea.'
User avatar
Darksev
Posts: 759
Joined: Sat Jan 05, 2008 6:07 pm
Location: NE Ohio
Contact:

Re: quiet in here....

Post by Darksev »

the closed length is 3 7/16, the blade is just under two inches. It's not a big knife by any means, it really just disappears into your hand. There's not alot of modern type knives I really like, but the flat ground, leaf shaped blade is really easy to get used to.
spyderco_inhand.jpg
User avatar
orvet
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 19901
Joined: Tue May 16, 2006 6:23 am
Location: Willamette Valley, Oregon

Re: quiet in here....

Post by orvet »

Nice work!

Dale
Dale
AAPK Administrator

Please visit my AAPK store: www.allaboutpocketknives.com/orvet

Job 13:15

"Buy more ammo!" - Johnnie Fain
“Evil is Powerless If The Good are Unafraid.” – Ronald Reagan
DocRon
Posts: 23
Joined: Sun Aug 05, 2007 4:35 am

Re: quiet in here....

Post by DocRon »

Very nice. Do you have any photos of the disassembled pieces, old and new?
User avatar
stancaiman
Posts: 346
Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 5:38 pm
Location: Paris - FRANCE

Re: quiet in here....

Post by stancaiman »

very nice, great work ::tu::
User avatar
Darksev
Posts: 759
Joined: Sat Jan 05, 2008 6:07 pm
Location: NE Ohio
Contact:

Re: quiet in here....

Post by Darksev »

You know, I thought about taking a few pictures, but you just know I didn't :lol: ::dang::

the original handles were a single piece of 1mm thick (ish) stainless steel. everything was riveted together (very very well) and ground off flush. I couldn't even wedge a razorblade down into the frame to split it apart like I normally do, I ended up having to drill out the rivets once I figured out where they were.

http://www.spyderco.com/catalog/closeup.php?product=237

is the before. My version is a bit lighter than the production model, and a little bit thicker as well, which, in my opinion, allows it to fill the hand a bit better. My lava might not be AS strong as the original due to construction differences, but I think the strain required to cause failure would far excede normal (and abnormal) use (kinda like the old Schrade LB tests)
User avatar
Gunsmoke47
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 1921
Joined: Fri Mar 09, 2007 10:41 pm
Location: Texas Panhandle

Re: quiet in here....

Post by Gunsmoke47 »

I love that filework Adam! ::tu:: ::tu::
User avatar
johnnierotten
Posts: 9303
Joined: Sun Jul 23, 2006 3:29 am
Location: Tucson AZ.

Re: quiet in here....

Post by johnnierotten »

Nice job!! ::tu::
johnnierotten

So far,So good...So What!!
User avatar
OldToenailCollector
Posts: 52
Joined: Wed Sep 01, 2004 3:38 pm
Location: Heart of Dixie

Re: quiet in here....

Post by OldToenailCollector »

Nice work!
Scott
http://www.elephanttoenails.com
http://www.iKnifeCollector.com

...having more fun than I did as a kid collecting rocks!
Post Reply

Return to “Customized Factory Knives”