My first ever knife mod.

augustus88 · #1

I purchased the Byrd G-10 Cara Cara below so I could attempt my first ever knife modification/customization. I really like the look of my Loveless City Knife and I'm a little tired of black handles so I decided to make a matching set. I used Green Canvas Micarta and Red vulcanized spacer material on the handles. I also removed the black paint from the clip and rounded the butt end of the handle (didn't like the point). I'm pretty pleased with the results considering it's my first time changing the appearance of a knife. Here's some of the tools used: table saw, belt sander, disc sander, drill press, grinder/buffer and a bunch of hand tools and drill bits. If you think the stock Cara Cara is heavy don't bother adding thicker scales made of heavy micarta. I think it weighs more than my C95 Manix now. I really like heavy knives so it works out fine for me.

cobrajoe · #2

Very nice work. It sure makes the big byrd look like a high class knife!

I can't wait till the FRN and G-10 robin come out, I was planning on doing about the same thing!

Padawan · #3

Looks great. You did an excellent job.

mr.vu · #4

[quote="cobrajoe"]Very nice work. It sure makes the big byrd look like a high class knife!QUOTE]
Ditto!

Vu

Gerard Breuker · #5

Very nice work.

Blub · #6

Very nice!

lerman · #7

wow that's a really good job, one of the bast I've seen, i assume that you have some experience with power tools if you make it that good at the first time?!

Pete1977 · #8

that is the ugliest looking knife i've ever seen. ship it to me and i'll dispose of it properly at sea.

all kidding aside, that is one fine knife you have there. although i've never owned one I always liked the looks of the city knife. what did you do to the spine of the knife behind the lock bar? that isn't file work is it?

whatever it is, it s a fantastic job!

pete

huugh · #9

Looks great.

hornshwangler · #10

Very nice work on the knife. You should be very proud.

Dan

augustus88 · #11

Thanks for the compliments! :)

cobrajoe,
Looks too good to be a $21 knife doesn't it.

lerman,
I do have plenty of experience with power tools but this is my first time messing around with a knife. I made my dining room table out of hard maple about five years ago. It started out as a pile of rough cut lumber, but I managed to make it into quite a nice looking, sturdy, farm table. I turned the legs on a lathe myself and used hand cut mortise and tennon joints throughout. I also made most of the furniture in my daughters's room and my art studio. I guess you could say I'm good with my hands.

Pete1977,
The half-circle cutouts on the spine behind the lock is stock from Byrd/Spyderco. It came that way from the manufacturer. I assume they do that for weight reduction as well as looks. I think it's a nice touch of detail.

Thanks again for the kind words.

Harry White · #12

awesome mod! you should do more -- you're clearly good at it!

griff76 · #13

Nice looking knife!! How long did it take you? You clearly have talent!

gull wing · #14

You did a great job. Don't you love green canvis? I have a couple in it.
The red spacers are a nice touch also.

bh49 · #15

Very nice job. You are saying this is the first. I would love to see second.
Are you taking custom orders?

augustus88 · #16

griff76 wrote:Nice looking knife!! How long did it take you? You clearly have talent!

I'm a professional illustrator/artist so I find that craftsmanship comes easy to me. I love creating stuff regardless of the medium. On my off days I'm a "full-time" college art professor. The gator painting below is an example of something else I'm pretty good at.

Not sure exactly how long it took me to make the handle. I've been working on and off between some freelance book illustration projects. Whenever I get bored with my painting, I'll head to the garage and mess around with power tools.

gull wing,
Green canvas is my favorite handle material. Wish Spyderco would use it on a production model.

arnon · #17

I love It :) :) : :p

Arnon

Thalestin · #18

awsome knife, also awsome painting. You definatly have some artistic talent :D

SoCal Operator · #19

That is amazing. That is simply amazing. Augustus, you have incredible talent.

augustus88 · #20

bh49 wrote:Very nice job. You are saying this is the first. I would love to see second.
Are you taking custom orders?

I'm already cooking up a few ideas for my 2nd mod. Hope it comes out as good as the first attempt. If I get some free time away from my studio, perhaps I'll consider taking a few orders. Too many project.......too little time.