Cold Steel Code 4 - Griptape Mod Tutorial

I

insta9ves

Joined
Apr 3, 2007
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I got asked a few times what grip tape i use and how i did it, so decided to post a quick WIP here.

Firstly, the tape is GT-5000 grip tape. Here is the info: http://guntape.com/
BTW, i have no relationship with this company, it's just the first result that pop up on I googled "gun grip tape". It's cheap, like for $10 you can do more than 4 code 4s.

This has more of a rubbery texture than a sandpaper one. I'm planning on trying out the skateboard tape type to see if it feels better.

So here are the steps:

1. Clean your knife, make sure there is no grease or residue on the handle. This is important to ensure the tape sticks well.

2. Put a tape on the knife, any tape as long as you can draw on it.

3. Draw the profile of the handle , then transfer that outline to the grip tape.

4. Cut, paste and repeat for another side.

Whole process takes 15min.

Here are the WIP pic from my instagram:

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Finished product:

I swear that the handle feel 10x better after the simple mod. Doesnt add any noticeable thickness at all. I honestly think that Cold Steel should do it as a standard feature for the Aluminum handled knives.

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Good call on the rubbery version. Skateboard grip tape i dont like for that application. Destroys pockets and whatever it rubs against. Also way too harsh for heavy use. Nice job btw and thanks for sharing.
 
Thanks for sharing. I may have to give this one a try as th slick handle was the only thing I really didn't like about the code 4.
 
Great idea. I may try that on my Code 4. My Spyderco Police, and Kershaw Launch handles are also almost as slick as a wet bar of soap.
 
I put some of the same tape on my Code 4 and agree with the op that it is a useful modification. It also helped to rough up the top of the grip with course cloth.

The Code 4 could have been a great knife but just falls short. The grip shape is good - once you have a good grip on it it's quite secure, even in stock form. Handling the knife and opening the blade is where the tape improves things. The lock is great and workmanship is good but the grips are just too slick.
 
2manyknives said:
I put some of the same tape on my Code 4 and agree with the op that it is a useful modification. It also helped to rough up the top of the grip with course cloth.

The Code 4 could have been a great knife but just falls short. The grip shape is good - once you have a good grip on it it's quite secure, even in stock form. Handling the knife and opening the blade is where the tape improves things. The lock is great and workmanship is good but the grips are just too slick.
Click to expand...

The grip tape mod for me is a good interim solution. Ultimately the best is g-10 handle like those on the lawman. I'll even take g10 on broken skull if thinness is what they are going for
 
Nice job on the griptape mod. Did you warm it with a heat gun at all?

Almost looks like a Kershaw Blur!
 
fatboy148 said:
Nice job on the griptape mod. Did you warm it with a heat gun at all?

Almost looks like a Kershaw Blur!
Click to expand...

No, i didn't warm it. you prob dont wanna do it, might mess up the glue

I still like the way kershaw does it with the blur, where the grip tape is recessed into the handle cutout. I wished CS can do it, but they need a thicker handle. One of the main reason i do this mod is also to slightly increase the thickness of the handle, since the vanilla grip is too thin for my taste. The grip only add 1mm of total thickness, but little change like this much a lot of differences.
 
It should be like that from the factory.

Sent from my 2PS64 using Tapatalk
 
Nice job! If the factory did it wouldn't it have to be a slight inlay so the edges don't peel up over time? Anyway, I agree that the slick aluminum scales are bad. I used a jimping file on my Code 4 before selling it.
 
My tape came in today. I traced/cut around a dime, and placed them where my thumb and index fingers rest during deployment (Launch 1). It helps a lot. It also looks pretty professional, and doesn't seem out of place.
 
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