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Nyala, a little juiced up

Discussion in 'Chris Reeve Knives' started by TRfromMT, Jul 21, 2019.

  1. Jul 21, 2019 #1
    TRfromMT

    TRfromMT Gold Member Gold Member

    3,760
    Jan 4, 2016
    Not sure if the CRK faithful go in for this sort of thing. Anyway, had a little free time this afternoon, so whipped these up.

    Cocobolo, from Panama (pre CITES treaty from the early 80's)

    Enjoy.

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    20190721_164546~01.jpg
     
    untytled, jkwithawave, fonedork and 25 others like this.
  2. Jul 21, 2019 #2
    gunspease

    gunspease Gold Member Gold Member

    288
    Nov 9, 2002
    That looks great
     
    TRfromMT likes this.
  3. Jul 21, 2019 #3
    Makael

    Makael KnifeMaker / Craftsman / Service Provider Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider

    7,978
    Oct 17, 2015
    Really nice.
     
    TRfromMT likes this.
  4. Jul 21, 2019 #4
    JJ_Colt45

    JJ_Colt45 Gold Member Gold Member

    3,585
    Sep 11, 2014
    Look great as usual :thumbsup:
     
    TRfromMT likes this.
  5. Jul 22, 2019 #5
    JJ_Colt45

    JJ_Colt45 Gold Member Gold Member

    3,585
    Sep 11, 2014
    I'm gonna get me some play dough and work all night to make custom scales for my chopper ... crayons for color ... with lincoln logs for fasteners ... you just wait ... mine's gonna be purdy too ... o_O

    and the faithful tube sock sheath ... I may add an athletic supporter for a drop sheath ... :p
     
  6. Jul 22, 2019 #6
    Lapedog

    Lapedog

    11,264
    Dec 7, 2016
    Looks like you did an awesome job.

    I actually hate the Nyala’s stock scales. I find them terribly uncomfortable when you have to bear down hard on the knife.
     
    TRfromMT likes this.
  7. Jul 22, 2019 #7
    TRfromMT

    TRfromMT Gold Member Gold Member

    3,760
    Jan 4, 2016
    That was my first thought when the knife arrived. The shadow-box tang also had me wondering. With smooth scales the balance point came out pretty well and the overall shape is really pleasant. The exposed tang is not noticable.

    Original handles kind of remind me of the heavily ground "rock texture" you see on fixed blade handles. Looks like hanging onto, ...well, a rock, as a knife handle. That went out with the stone ages.
     
    Lapedog likes this.
  8. Jul 22, 2019 #8
    Sharp & Fiery

    Sharp & Fiery Always Embellish Platinum Member

    947
    May 14, 2012
    Yes!!!! Haha! Thats great! Im about to put some ironwood scales on my nyala! Excellent job @TRfromMT
     
    TRfromMT likes this.
  9. Jul 24, 2019 #9
    GermanyChris

    GermanyChris

    2,857
    Feb 18, 2015
    Nice!

    I have carbon fiber scales on mine, the stock are not for me.
     
    TRfromMT likes this.
  10. Jul 24, 2019 #10
    TC

    TC

    68
    Dec 8, 1998
    Simply beautiful! Wish I had the talent/equipment to make something like that. Perhaps I'll have a go at it for a project (and then turn it over to a pro for finishing...LOL).

    I agree with the above opinions that the factory handle is not as comfortable as it could or should be. A case of "l'art pour l'art" - doggedly sticking with the African game theme?

    I have three Nyalas (one regular early without the Idaho Made marking - interestingly, the machining on that is actually detailed on the bevel surfaces , like elevation lines on a topographical map, where the later ones are just flat -, one later with the marking, and one later Insingo - all picked up at auctions for a good price).

    Which brings me to my questions: What's the best way to remove the stock handle slabs? There's some adhesive in addition to the screws, right? Also, did you try or consider to have the slabs fully cover the tang, i.e. do away with the exposed tang? It would add some volume to the rather slim handle profile and would look even better, IMHO (why stick with factory idiosyncrasy?).
     
  11. Jul 25, 2019 #11
    RyanRaben

    RyanRaben

    312
    Oct 10, 2014
    Did you make these or have them made? I love them.
     
  12. Jul 25, 2019 #12
    TRfromMT

    TRfromMT Gold Member Gold Member

    3,760
    Jan 4, 2016
    I made them.

    @TC a very thin edge scraper worked under the front edge to pry them off. These ones had been taken off once before I got them. All I did was pop them off because of a little remaining residue.
     
  13. Jul 25, 2019 #13
    TC

    TC

    68
    Dec 8, 1998
    Thanks, TRfromMT!
     
    TRfromMT likes this.
  14. Jul 26, 2019 #14
    RyanRaben

    RyanRaben

    312
    Oct 10, 2014
    Did you make them on a CNC router or by hand? I really dig them. You did a great job. I have a CNC router and have thought about making some Nyala scales for my personal knife but haven't tried it yet.



     
  15. Jul 26, 2019 #15
    TRfromMT

    TRfromMT Gold Member Gold Member

    3,760
    Jan 4, 2016
    I get asked quite often if I use a CNC router. Truth is, I make all my scales 100% with a drill press and a belt sander I have set up on a bench top, by hand. The only precision instrument I us is a set of calipers to make sure they are the same thickness as the original ones and it is all by eye and by hand. No CNC. No router/duplicator.
     
    Last edited: Jul 28, 2019
    JJ_Colt45, Sharp & Fiery, gunspease and 1 other person like this.
  16. Jul 31, 2019 #16
    DBH

    DBH

    1,628
    Aug 3, 2001
    Well done!
     
    TRfromMT likes this.

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