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SURVIVAL KNIFE MODIFICATION: SCHRADE SCHF 9 RE-HANDLE

 
One of the series of knives released by Schrade (Taylor Brands) in 2015 that has created some stir, mainly due to their low price and choice of blade steel. Probably also due to their quarter inch thick spine. For this SCHF 9, well two more notables: Recurved edge (love it or hate it) and Flat-ground main bevel.
 
The TPE (Thermo Plastic Elastomer) handle is held together by 8 individual  Hex bolts threaded into the tang, though it looked like four bolts only.
 
 
 I noticed that manufacturer who stamped their marks tends to laser them later on their subsequent release. Perhaps to reduce cost? They usually cite material strength issues caused by hard stamps (A stamp applied forcibly on a ricasso may weaken the knife or bend it slightly. Well, for this Schrade, they stamp it where the fuller (blood groove) would have been, so it's not a material-strength compromise we are dealing with here. Looks more like cost issue. Well, at below $40, Schrade had a good reason not to stamp it. I totally dig it.
 My first impression holding the knife in the palm of my hands (I have average sized hands) is that the palm swell feels bulky. The feel is like someone wrapped an extra roll of Wilson racquet tape on a racquet handle which already had some existing tape.
 The hex bolts come in 3 different lengths, to compensate for the uneven TPE handle thickness.
A close-up view of the tapped recess to engage the hex bolts. Now, I have decided to play mountain man. (or Jungle man for SE Asian readers)


Above: some tools and materials I used to rehandle the handle in TEAK. The file handles were shown here to illustrate the finish I intend to achieve with the important looking Da



Above: The blade was cold-blued. The teak handle was peened with 1/8" brass rods.



Above: The laser etch is still visible after the cold-blue was applied.



The primary bevel was given a Kanaban Grind: flat piece of mild steel and some powdered Aluminium oxide mixec with water(crushed powdered carborundum stone, if you will) This produces a hazy steel look, like a laminated Japanese Hunting knife.


After the abortion, the knife felt much better in my hands.


I had a good supply of paracords, but this worn shoelace looked the part more as a lanyard. Also shown is the black Nylon sheath. (This knife does not come with a diamond hone and ferrocerium rod like the SCHF 51 & 52s)

All in all, I thought I made the knife more inviting to use, and more natural to look at. What do you think?

Regards from lion city.

Comments

  1. AnonymousAugust 3, 2023 at 10:50 AM

    Excellant! The original TPE plastic handle needs to go. Pleased to see that the tang is not skelatized like Eafengrow.

    ReplyDelete

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