Landlocked Pirate
Member
Hello. I'm posting this on the chance that someone else may be considering a similar project on a Kabar Heavy Bowie, since the knife's oversized handle seems to be a problem for a lot of owners. I had asked a while back on this forum if anyone had any experience reshaping a Kraton rubber knife handle and if it could be easily done. I got some good replies but couldn't find anyone who had actually done it, so I finally decided to just go for it since the Heavy Bowie wasn't an expensive knife. Well the results turned out way better than I was hoping for, and it was ridiculously easly to do. I did the whole project with a simple wood rasp/file, except for using a small round file on some of the curved surfaces, and then smoothed out the finish with 150 grit sandpaper. I then resealed the surface using Mini-Wax water based polyurethane (satin, spray). The thinner handle on the Heavy Bowie gives the knife a completely different feel. It now feels like I'm holding a sleek fighting bowie instead of the wrong end of a baseball bat.
The thinner handle, compared to my son's unmodified handle:
After modifying my son's knife as well, and then sealing them. I applied five thin coats of polyurethane to each handle:
I couldn't be happier with the results.
The thinner handle, compared to my son's unmodified handle:
After modifying my son's knife as well, and then sealing them. I applied five thin coats of polyurethane to each handle:
I couldn't be happier with the results.
