This may or may not be of much use to people, but I thought I would document a super quick job I did to get a "con safe", yet high quality knife.
I wanted a "con-safe" and accurate boot knife. There are resin ones out there (including from Honcho), but I wanted to kick it up a notch and go metal.

Basically I wanted to take a real knife and simply replace the blade so that I could preserve the metal handle (the only part visible in sheath anyways).

While I am positive this method would work on a real Night Raider, I didn't want to destroy mine! So I tracked down a cheap "Explorer Wilderness II"


For those not aware, the "Explorer night raider"/"scalemead survival" shares a handle with the "Explorer Wilderness II".
The blades are different, but the handles are the exact same.

So with my sacrificial knife in hand, I got my tools.
-1 Vice
-1 Large hammer
-1 heat gun (or propane torch. I don't think boiling it will get hot enough, but it might. Give it a try)
-Oven mit
-Pry bar (optional)




Due to the 'screw cap' end hollow handle, it is not a 'full tang' (all the way into the handle) blade. There is really only about an inch and a half long piece of stainless steel that is epoxied into the aluminum handle.

Simply lock the blade down tight in the vice, heat the joint/upper handle until very hot (but not so hot that things start changing color), then whack the handle with a hammer.

Then with an oven mit you can grab the handle and begin to wiggle it free and clear. A pry bar may make things easier, but patience and wiggling loose should work so long as you dont let it cool off.

Then, boom. Both handle AND blade come free and in perfect condition.


You are now free to replace the blade with anything you like (balsa wood, cardboard, rubber sheets cut to a blade shape, whatever!). It will hold in the sheath and look legit while being perfectly safe.


As a bonus, you can use the blade in another project. I am searching for a cool and unique material to make a new handle so I can make a custom knife.

That's awesome!

What did this project cost you?

_________________
Lt. Melissa L. Klassen, ALG
AL Colonial Admin. - Executive Officer (XO) -- 2021-2022
RCCM | Royal Canadian Colonial Marines - Commanding Officer (CO) -- 2021-2022

Read the AL Charter Rules & Regulations: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1i3gd9QUyIqI_6rfk8kpxspbKU-JT4MBAjLPxfCkvGJ8

About $26 bucks total. I'm sure better deals exist, but I'm working with a deadline trying to outfit my fam!