I've long held the SAK Alox Farmer as one of the best best slipjoints ever made, and it has certainly been my choice of bushcraft knife for a long time. The saw and the thicker blade just make it almost perfect. I say almost because of one thing, that bloody keyring tab!
It sticks out at almost 90 degrees and cuts into your palm when using the saw or the blade, making long term use awkward to say the least. So today I got my set of files out and removed the tab. Big file to remove the bulk, needle files to finish it off. A quick polish with 600 grit wet and dry and Bob's your dads brother.
I cannot say enough about the difference that this mod has made. It is smoother in the pocket, nicer in the hand. Sawing is a joy, and all manner of grips are now available when using the blade and they all work well. It looks much more symmetrical and appealing, curvy and metallic. It is now a thing of beauty, a ten that used to be a nine. It is now so good that the devil on my shoulder is saying that I should carry it everywhere and my favourite Case Peanut should be put on the shelf. Nah, not going to happen but extra urban carry is a definite. (The Peanut stays though, everywhere!) I've lost the lanyard capability and gained a knife. A knife that is now so usable that all my other SAKs, bar the wee ones, might get the same treatment. It's so tactile now that I keep touching it, because I can.... I am now worried for myself.
This is probably re-inventing the wheel, but I did a Google today on doing what I just did and had no results. Anyone else tried this?
If you haven't, you should.
It sticks out at almost 90 degrees and cuts into your palm when using the saw or the blade, making long term use awkward to say the least. So today I got my set of files out and removed the tab. Big file to remove the bulk, needle files to finish it off. A quick polish with 600 grit wet and dry and Bob's your dads brother.
I cannot say enough about the difference that this mod has made. It is smoother in the pocket, nicer in the hand. Sawing is a joy, and all manner of grips are now available when using the blade and they all work well. It looks much more symmetrical and appealing, curvy and metallic. It is now a thing of beauty, a ten that used to be a nine. It is now so good that the devil on my shoulder is saying that I should carry it everywhere and my favourite Case Peanut should be put on the shelf. Nah, not going to happen but extra urban carry is a definite. (The Peanut stays though, everywhere!) I've lost the lanyard capability and gained a knife. A knife that is now so usable that all my other SAKs, bar the wee ones, might get the same treatment. It's so tactile now that I keep touching it, because I can.... I am now worried for myself.
This is probably re-inventing the wheel, but I did a Google today on doing what I just did and had no results. Anyone else tried this?
If you haven't, you should.
