What's your opinion on customizing your knives?
What's your opinion on customizing your knives?
Hey everyone, I wanted to see what you all thought of customizing knives i.e. aftermarket parts, regrinds, anodization, mirror polishing, acid washing, that kind of stuff. Do you love the idea or hate it are there some things that you will do to customize your knives and others where you draw the line, and will you only use custom parts and mods that you did yourself, or are you fine with buying aftermarket parts and mods from someone else? Also what are your guys thoughts on lanyards?
Just a man with a plan and a knife in hand.
My knives: Para 3 S110V (customized), Para 3 M390, PM2 S110V, Manix 2 CPM 154/S90V, Dice, Rubicon, Vrango, Native 5 CPM 154/S90V, Manbug ZDP-189, Ladybug, Chaparral LW, Kizer Megatherium
My knives: Para 3 S110V (customized), Para 3 M390, PM2 S110V, Manix 2 CPM 154/S90V, Dice, Rubicon, Vrango, Native 5 CPM 154/S90V, Manbug ZDP-189, Ladybug, Chaparral LW, Kizer Megatherium
- knivesandbooks
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Re: What's your opinion on customizing your knives?
About the only customization I do is reprofiling the levels to something more acute. I don't do this on every knife but I do it on some.
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- steelcity16
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Re: What's your opinion on customizing your knives?
When I first started I liked the idea of things like custom scales, scale swaps, rit dye, etc., but I am now fully in the unmodified stock only camp. All of my modified knives have been sold or are in the pile to sell. There are so many I like in their stock configuration, that having the freedom to modify things was causing my collection to get out of hand. Only buying ones I love in stock form has allowed me to keep my collection to a reasonable level. This is one reason why I wouldnt like a custom shop! :eek:
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Re: What's your opinion on customizing your knives?
I won't carry a knife I haven't customized.
Bare minimum is reprofiling the edge to a thinner angle, and also giving it a sharper apex than it left the factory with.
Additionally I might regrind the primary grind, mod the handle shape, regrind the tip to a thinner point, remove a blade coating, grind off humps or points on the blade (ground the spyderohole & hump off my Ark), drill new holes in a sheath so it takes g clips, polish liners for improved corrosion resistance or smoother opening, polishing lock interfaces if they feel gritty etc.
Bare minimum is reprofiling the edge to a thinner angle, and also giving it a sharper apex than it left the factory with.
Additionally I might regrind the primary grind, mod the handle shape, regrind the tip to a thinner point, remove a blade coating, grind off humps or points on the blade (ground the spyderohole & hump off my Ark), drill new holes in a sheath so it takes g clips, polish liners for improved corrosion resistance or smoother opening, polishing lock interfaces if they feel gritty etc.
Re: What's your opinion on customizing your knives?
It isn't always necessary but I typically do something to almost everything I carry even if it's something as simple as polishing the pivot or detent path.
I have on occasion gone to great lengths to make a knife more personal..
viewtopic.php?t=70091
I have on occasion gone to great lengths to make a knife more personal..
viewtopic.php?t=70091
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Re: What's your opinion on customizing your knives?
I like to make my tools “my own” in some way. Knives always get sharpened, sometimes thinned out, convexed, and/or mirror polished. I have waved a few folders, tweaked G-10 handles for comfort, etc.
Re: What's your opinion on customizing your knives?
I'm all for getting the scales you prefer, thinning out the blade as you wish, modifying the tip to make it stronger (drop point at end), polishing washers and other hardware to your liking, etc. Very few spyderco's need mods imo, but if you're paying over $100 for a knife you should like it. If the mods truly make the knife more useful or more enjoyable, go for it!
Re: What's your opinion on customizing your knives?
It's your knife. Do whatever make you happy. Having a excellen foundation to start with doesn't hurt.
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Re: What's your opinion on customizing your knives?
Changing the pocket clip orientation on my PM2s, as it comes the 'wrong' way from factory
If adjusting action and centering is considered customization, then there is that. Once in a while, custom pocket clip or modified stock clip. Scale swap on my PM2s to match my style. And although I tried custom scales on couple occasions, I have always reverted to stock scales. Not planning on doing that again.
If adjusting action and centering is considered customization, then there is that. Once in a while, custom pocket clip or modified stock clip. Scale swap on my PM2s to match my style. And although I tried custom scales on couple occasions, I have always reverted to stock scales. Not planning on doing that again.
Peter
Re: What's your opinion on customizing your knives?
Sometimes, I just have to adjust something to my liking.
http://www.spyderco.com/forumII/viewtop ... =6&t=43214
http://www.spyderco.com/forumII/viewtop ... =6&t=43214
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Re: What's your opinion on customizing your knives?
I like deep carry clips. I also like to sand G10 so it’s smoother to the touch sometimes. I think custom standoffs can be cool. Switching the orientation of the clip to preference is pretty mild customization in my opinion but it’s certainly something I would do if I preferred a different placement. I have tried some custom scales and I may again but currently I have only stock.
I think it’s cool to customize and if you want to go for it!
I think it’s cool to customize and if you want to go for it!
:spyder: Shaman REX 45, Smock, Baby Jess Horn CE, Spydiechef, Schempp Bowie,Ti Fluted Military, Titanium Military, Native S30 V and G10, PM 2 in S35VN, and S110V, Manix 2 LW BD1 and SPY 27, Sage 5, Positron black CPM S30V, Chaparral w/Raffir Noble scales, SuperLeaf VG 10, Ladybug H1, Dragonfly 2 in ZDP 189 and Superblue/420J1 and H1, Delica in ZDP 189, Clipitool Standard, the Cook’s knife VG10, Santoku, paring and utility knives, all in MBS 26. :spyder:
Re: What's your opinion on customizing your knives?
I have no qualms about modifying my knives. I like making them my own and the experience deepens my appreciation for them. In fact I prefer knives that allow modification and that have a strong network of third party makers that can offer options.
Re: What's your opinion on customizing your knives?
I mod almost everything. My cars and trucks suffer my tinkering the most, but very few knives have remained stock either.
- The Mastiff
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Re: What's your opinion on customizing your knives?
Yep, me too. Even on knives that come very well done like the newer PM2 & 3 I've bought recently will eventually get my edge on it. Nothing unusual but at the least thinner and a higher grit finish.Bare minimum is reprofiling the edge to a thinner angle, and also giving it a sharper apex than it left the factory with.
Eventually I'll refinish the blade with paper and wool but that is only after I've scratched it up. I no longer have a shop area so I keep things simple.
Joe
Re: What's your opinion on customizing your knives?
Other than reprofiling, or maybe removing the clip and adding a fob, I have no interest in customizing my Spydies. I also have no interest in tweaking the action or centering the blade. I buy a knife, use it, sharpen it, repeat as necessary. If I want custom, I buy custom.
Re: What's your opinion on customizing your knives?
I've done some modding on Spydies but much more so on other brands that are less refined and need tweaking.
- MichaelScott
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Re: What's your opinion on customizing your knives?
I don’t modify my knives except to remove or reposition the clip, maybe add a fob. I don’t consider these to be actual modifications as they can easily be reversed.
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- Tucson Tom
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Re: What's your opinion on customizing your knives?
This is called "pimping out" your knives. Not for me. I do have warm feelings about sharpening them though.
I have no beef with people doing what they want with their knives, or in general for that matter.
If something bugs you and you can do something about it, do it !!
I have no beef with people doing what they want with their knives, or in general for that matter.
If something bugs you and you can do something about it, do it !!
- SpyderEdgeForever
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Re: What's your opinion on customizing your knives?
Regarding customizing and modifying your knives, would any of you do this or some variation of it?
There is a knife user I know who insists on any serious using knife having a decently-wide thong hole to tie a cord or paracord through, for various uses in the field such as attaching to a pole for an emergency spear in a survival situation, and, also to be able to hang on a tool hook or also in order to wrap a cord around the hand if on the water when fishing or engaging in water based activities, so as not to lose the knife.
Obviously this cannot be done on all models, especially certain folders. But if done correctly can it be modified in this way so as not to allow cracks or fractures to spread in the handle/scale material?
Also, would or have any of you ever sanded down texturing in a FRN or G10 or other grip, or, added texturing for a better grip?
There is a knife user I know who insists on any serious using knife having a decently-wide thong hole to tie a cord or paracord through, for various uses in the field such as attaching to a pole for an emergency spear in a survival situation, and, also to be able to hang on a tool hook or also in order to wrap a cord around the hand if on the water when fishing or engaging in water based activities, so as not to lose the knife.
Obviously this cannot be done on all models, especially certain folders. But if done correctly can it be modified in this way so as not to allow cracks or fractures to spread in the handle/scale material?
Also, would or have any of you ever sanded down texturing in a FRN or G10 or other grip, or, added texturing for a better grip?
- Naperville
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Re: What's your opinion on customizing your knives?
I'm all for making the knife your own. I had a CRKT M16 folder many moons ago that I took a grinder to the butt of the knife so as to sharpen it so that both ends of the knife could be used for defensive tactics.
I have scales to retrofit a couple of Spyderco knives, but have not yet taken the knives apart. It's on my ToDo List.
I'm waiting to buy a better knife sharpener and I'll reprofile all of my EDC knives to around 15 degrees. Since I don't tromp around in the woods, even my 1095 ESEE Junglass is going to get a 20 degree edge on it.
I have scales to retrofit a couple of Spyderco knives, but have not yet taken the knives apart. It's on my ToDo List.
I'm waiting to buy a better knife sharpener and I'll reprofile all of my EDC knives to around 15 degrees. Since I don't tromp around in the woods, even my 1095 ESEE Junglass is going to get a 20 degree edge on it.
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