All About Pocket Knives

I got this beater in a lot of 40 knives off EBay. I wanted something to practice rebuilding on... It was a pitted shell handled knife with the shells peeled off the handles, UGLY! It was also like the first knife my Grandpa gave me when I was 10.

So I bead blasted it with baking soda, decreased it in acetone and dropped it in my parkerizing solution. It was still UGLY! I remembered that I had some Talon grip tape for pistol grips and surprise! It's the same thickness as the shell covering was! I cut to fit stuck it on, heated with a heat gun. Now I've got a custom tactical Hammer Brand knife!

That's what happens when you're retired and have too much time on your hands!

I wonder if my local gun store has that Talon tape?

Great job! I threw some electrical tape on an old Richards once, since the leftover handles were a bit slick with just the bare metal. Old shell-handle knives aren't pricey (I think most are, pretty much worthless financially), but when it comes to users, I don't think one can do much better. I have a couple Kamp-Kings, quite a few different Jack patterns, and a Stockman that I use hard.

I got this from Brownells or Midway, you might even try Amazon. It's pretty good stuff very "grippy". I'm thinking it's perfect for these old shell knives. The thickness is perfect.

Byrd, that just looks like a work knife. It says,' let's go do something'. Dirty job?, I'm not afraid. No beauty queen but made for work pants pockets.

There's lots of scenarios, where I carry a cheap knife, to beat on...and not worry about losing. I enjoy getting them sharpened and looking as best possible. Now it has a new life!

I like it!!

Byrd wrote: That's what happens when you're retired and have too much time on your hands!

No..no.... not TOO much time.... Just enough time on your hands. Enough time to do nice things like this!

Great job.... a good learning experience.

It was a learning experience. I was actually parkerizing some gun parts and remembered this knife so I processed it and tossed it in the tank. I really wanted to see if it would take the solution. It didn't take well I think because the blade steel and the composition on the shell handles are harder and a different alloy that guns. Gun steel is pretty soft and is easy to park.

Since I was messing with guns I remembered the Talon tape and a new knife was born. Appreciate the positive feedback!