Davechamp CX+

DaveK · **on:** August 04, 2008, 02:14:59 AM

A couple of months ago, I posted in these forums that I was going to attempt to build a "Kitchen Sink SAK" and placed an order with Rotokid for some pinstock, scales and a few other bits and bobs that I thought I might need. As I never attempted anything remotely like this before, I ordered plenty of stuff, just in case.

As I couldn't bring myself (or afford) to smash up perfectly good knives for something that potentially could end up in the bin, I contacted a few ebay sellers and begged in these forums for cheap, old, beaten knives that people wouldn't miss. I quickly found that some of the SAK tools are much harder to come across that others! For example, it wasn't until Neil (NKB) sent me some old champs that I could lay my hands on a magnifying glass, disgourger and other tools that only feature on the more expensive models - so Neil - I thank you! knife blades however, I now have about a dozen, as they are on every knife I gathered!

After it dawned on me that the only way I was going to build an XLT sized knife was to actually buy an XLT so I could extract the more unusual tools from it! So I decided that I should build something like the Swisschamp. I actually own a real Swisschamp, so I thought it would be useful to refer to when trying to figure what backspring fitted where etc. Eventually I thought, this is my first attempt, so I'll go with the proven formula and the Davechamp CX+ was conceived

I've setup a photobucket slideshow (click here) with some pics I took along the way, so you can see how I went about it:

Here is one of the Champs that Neil sent me

(It wasn't like that when he sent it me - lol).

Now that it's complete, I'm very pleased with it. It's no Scibeer job - that's for sure. There are many imperfections, especially with the scales as it took me a while to figure out how to work it, but it's not terrible. Although I did my best to restore some of the components, some are a little tarnished, rusted or scratched, but this doesn't concern me too much, these knives would have been binned and I saved at least parts of them!

The knife itself is solid and tight, and in use is indistinguishable from my "real" Swisschamp, and that was the goal. With a bit more practice, I hope I can improve and focus more on the finish, but for now - I'm off for celebratory beer (guess what I'll be opening the bottle with

).

Neil · **Reply #1 on:** August 04, 2008, 02:49:04 AM

You're truly an environmentalist. You've taken a bunch of scrap metal and turned it back into a working tool.

Well done chap

Now you've got the hang of it, what's next?

I bet you've still got a pile of bits to play with.

Let me know if you need any more parts.

No shots next to the Skeletool CX? or didn't you want to show up the LM

Neil

J-sews · **Reply #2 on:** August 04, 2008, 02:58:32 AM

Great job Dave! Kudos to you for taking the plunge and actually attempting a project of this magnitude. And the fact that you have a successful result in the form of a beautiful knife is the best reward!

DaveK · **Reply #3 on:** August 04, 2008, 03:03:37 AM

What are you doing up at this time of night - I thought only I was that daft!

Thanks for the kind words - I appreciate it.

Next, I think I'm going to go for a much smaller knife and try and get the fit and finish a little better - see how much I learnt from my mistakes! Any suggestions for a combination of tools? I was thinking only 2 or 3 layers next.

And parts? I'm always in the market for parts

Cheers,

DaveK · **Reply #4 on:** August 04, 2008, 03:04:01 AM

Quote from: J-sews on August 04, 2008, 02:58:32 AM

Great job Dave! Kudos to you for taking the plunge and actually attempting a project of this magnitude. And the fact that you have a successful result in the form of a beautiful knife is the best reward!

Cheers Bob!

BIG-TARGET · **Reply #5 on:** August 04, 2008, 06:02:52 AM

You forgot the jewelers screwdriver in the corkscrew

Mike, Lord of the Spammers! · **Reply #6 on:** August 04, 2008, 09:23:58 AM

Bloody good effort mate

, I'd be dead chuffed with that if it was my 50th mod let alone first

Damn fine work mate

Offroad · **Reply #7 on:** August 04, 2008, 10:25:52 AM

Tarrodemierda · **Reply #8 on:** August 04, 2008, 01:00:46 PM

hmmm hmmm,the more i see these "take it apart and make it new your way",teh more i start to search for sak pliers,files,saws,phillips tools for them.i could easily make that assemply-plate for axle pins too,but here they dont sell those axle materials,damned.i would like to build a tool with out knife blade at all,with just pliers,file,saw,phillips and flat drivers,and awl.with orange alox

your carbon tool looks way cool man

Neil · **Reply #9 on:** August 04, 2008, 04:10:21 PM

Quote from: DaveK on August 04, 2008, 03:03:37 AM

What are you doing up at this time of night - I thought only I was that daft!

Thanks for the kind words - I appreciate it.

Next, I think I'm going to go for a much smaller knife and try and get the fit and finish a little better - see how much I learnt from my mistakes! Any suggestions for a combination of tools? I was thinking only 2 or 3 layers next.

And parts? I'm always in the market for parts

Cheers,

I couldn't sleep last night so thought I'd leave you sarcy replies instead

I 'd say go for a nice edc knife next. What about a Scientist or a Yeoman? Both are popular, slim but discontinued knives so would definitely be worth hammering out.

Neil

Benner · **Reply #10 on:** August 04, 2008, 07:15:37 PM

That is real impressive Dave!

Good job!

max6166 · **Reply #11 on:** August 04, 2008, 07:32:01 PM

Nice work, Dave. That project looks like an excellent way to learn about what goes on underneath the scales.

DaveK · **Reply #12 on:** August 04, 2008, 07:33:58 PM

Quote from: BIG-TARGET on August 04, 2008, 06:02:52 AM

You forgot the jewelers screwdriver in the corkscrew

No I didn't! I decided not to get one as I've always thought those things look a bit cheap and nasty tbh. I have one on my real Swisschamp and never, ever use it - so I thought I'd leave it for this one. I also used the old corkscrew with the groove as I thought it was a bit more interesting!

WhichDawg · **Reply #13 on:** August 04, 2008, 09:01:12 PM

really nice job Dave!

(and nice picture too!) amazing job for your first~!
thx for sharing that

DaveK · **Reply #14 on:** August 04, 2008, 09:21:26 PM

Quote from: WhichDawg on August 04, 2008, 09:01:12 PM

really nice job Dave!

(and nice picture too!) amazing job for your first~!
thx for sharing that

Thanks!

I made a nice lanyard for it too, but as I was trying to get a decent pic in the fading light, a face appeared.......

Ah well, back indoors with the Flash:

DaveK · **Reply #15 on:** August 04, 2008, 09:28:31 PM

Before someone else does it....

Benner · **Reply #16 on:** August 04, 2008, 09:29:33 PM

You mean, "Before WhichDawg does it"

DaveK · **Reply #17 on:** August 04, 2008, 09:50:13 PM

Quote from: Benner on August 04, 2008, 09:29:33 PM

You mean, "Before WhichDawg does it"

Well yeah - actually I did

Mike, Lord of the Spammers! · **Reply #18 on:** August 04, 2008, 10:19:30 PM

I think the bunny's more worried about being skinned by it

Neil · **Reply #19 on:** August 04, 2008, 10:23:59 PM

More likely (its a rabbit remember) wondering if the lanyard is edible

Neil

Mike, Lord of the Spammers! · **Reply #20 on:** August 04, 2008, 10:25:58 PM

Quote from: NKB on August 04, 2008, 10:23:59 PM

More likely (its a rabbit remember) wondering if the lanyard is edible

Neil

Also true

DaveK · **Reply #21 on:** August 04, 2008, 11:14:32 PM

Lol yeah - that's the little b*****d that ate my stereo!

duckman1975 · **Reply #22 on:** August 05, 2008, 12:45:19 AM

Love the mod, wish I have the skills

Poncho65 · **Reply #23 on:** August 05, 2008, 04:31:10 AM

Wow Dave that looks like a A+ #1 mod you have there

I would love to be able to do that

It looks as good of a mod as I have seen

I like the Kitchen Sink type SAKs as well just haven't talked the wife into getting me 1 yet

If you do do another 1 please remember and put pics of it as well

scibeer · **Reply #24 on:** August 05, 2008, 06:14:02 PM

Man, that looks great to me! Well done Dave.

You made the scales look good and that carbon fiber stuff is really goofy to work with.

Nothing like making something nice out of parts!

DaveK · **Reply #25 on:** August 05, 2008, 11:32:25 PM

Thanks for the praise guys

Poncho and Duckman - I have no skills I promise you. I just read some of Scibeer's posts and took my time and tried to be careful. I got everything I needed from rotokid.sosakonline.com who also gave me some great advice - and had a go. Seriously, you should try it, I found it a very rewarding experience.

Scibeer - wow - coming from you that is one hell of a compliment - thanks!

NutSAK · **Reply #26 on:** August 06, 2008, 02:49:57 AM

Good job Dave!

I hope you don't mind that I drink a beer (or six) to celebrate your accomplishment too!

Poncho65 · **Reply #27 on:** August 08, 2008, 05:22:49 AM

Quote from: DaveK on August 05, 2008, 11:32:25 PM

Thanks for the praise guys

Poncho and Duckman - I have no skills I promise you. I just read some of Scibeer's posts and took my time and tried to be careful. I got everything I needed from rotokid.sosakonline.com who also gave me some great advice - and had a go. Seriously, you should try it, I found it a very rewarding experience.

Scibeer - wow - coming from you that is one hell of a compliment - thanks!

Time would be my problem seems like I don't have any lately

The baby takes just about all my spare time

Which isn't bad @ all I enjoy having her

I still don't think I would have the patience to do something like that either