First an overview of my changes that were made to make the knife my own (and that I would offer as suggestions in the interest of CQI):
The example I received had very sharp lines, edges, and angles. Aesthetically, this design feature was pleasing to the eye, but practically it could be uncomfortable in use. Most of my changes were made to create a more comfortable experience.
- The spine of the blade was very sharp, so I rounded the spine off similar to a Slyze Bowie or Techno 2.
This was also true of the Spydie hole, so I sanded its edge as well.
- Because of the sanding I had done not matching the rest of the knife I then sanded the entire blade using 220 grit sandpaper to create a uniform finish. I then lightly stonewashed the blade to give it a satin appearance. This effect is subtle and hard to photograph in my available light, so it's difficult to see in the photos.
- By far, the biggest changes I made to the knife was in shaping the scales. It may not be obvious, but I rounded off the sharp(ish) points at the ends of the scales. Again, this change is subtle.
- Using a diamond file and 220 and 400 grit sandpaper, I gently shaped the lock bar opening to allow greater purchase on the tab. I was mindful of the nested liner, and there is still adequate scale material to support it.
The final result looks like it was straight from the factory, but the improvement to ergonomics and comfort is HUGE. If Taichung could just make this one change to their CNC machine shaping this one scale, it would be a significant improvement to the Amalgam. They don't even need to change the liner.
I'm interested to hear your feedback, but especially so, Brian's. I think I tried to remain respectful of his phenomenal design while trying to create a more comfortable knife.
