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moehoney
55
Aug 27, 2016
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Just had an amazing idea! The Kwaiken in S35VN!!! (or another quality particle steel) I've wanted to scoop a Kwaiken for so long (and have Smock Knives mod it) but couldn't bring myself to buy it because of the VG10 (rusts super fast in Hawaii). Come on Massdrop, let's do this!!
Aug 27, 2016
Bobraz
2631
Aug 28, 2016
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moehoneyThe Kwaiken has that tip problem, which is the tip slightly protruding, like one millimeter or less, but enough to nick yourself. Forums are full of discussions around this problem, which has kept me from buying one... Apparently Boker has not modified their design to solve this... 😵
Aug 28, 2016
moehoney
55
Aug 28, 2016
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BobrazVery true. That was my only other issue with the Kwaiken (the first being the steel). First thing I plan to do is send it to Smock Knives to get the Dietz mod and have the tip brought down.
Aug 28, 2016
Bobraz
2631
Aug 28, 2016
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moehoneyOh, did not know this was possible, and that someone offered a mod. But doesn't the combined cost kind of make it too expensive?
Aug 28, 2016
KTEN
62
Aug 28, 2016
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Bobrazany local ish knife maker with cool grinding gear should be able to do that for you. Generally it shouldn't cost much at all. I mainly grind my own stuff which is most work before heattreat but some grind work is after; plus I have modified a fair bit of off the shelf stuff for myself and others which is obviously on finished HT'd blades. My background is actually science based career but switched into IT and blade and leathercraft was only a hobby which started turning into part time trade few years ago so I don't have highly specialist gear but even I have capabilities to do that in my modest workshop. Just decent and appropriate grits, lightest pressure, many and quick passes rather than long and few, active cool workpiece and keep belts soaked. Obviously sparks means there will be heat issues even if the blade edge feels cold microheating can happen still.
Just keeping belts soaked wont always work despite the belief as microheating the edge is VERY easy at the tip especially, especially as step down in grit. Yet it doesn't take specialist gear, power waterstones on low rpm etc, just knowledge of microheating and avoiding. That said I don't think boker plus HT is that precise as many production companies overheat the edges (a little or a lot) when they finish the grinds and I found although they aren't the worst company they don't hold edges etc like spyderco or my own in similar or same steels. So I suspect they either HT to a much more conservative level favouring toughness over strength or they, like many companies, grind slightly hot. This isn't a dig and measuring them against custom arena where time can be taken on individual workpieces and more attention to each knife is unfair and boker plus are far from the worst and I've bought a few of their models. I joined the drop btw so and think they are great value.
Aug 28, 2016
Bobraz
2631
Aug 28, 2016
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KTENRespect, man, respect!!!!!
Aug 28, 2016
dealda
63
Aug 29, 2016
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BobrazIn the overall shape, the Kwaiken is too similar to the Urban Trapper. Both are slim, lightweight blades. I would preferfor example the B+ Nano (Curtiss design) or the Böker Thorn (Jim Burke Design).
Aug 29, 2016
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