Key Bumping

[n2oah]

I've actually thought of making some hard steel bump keys so that they won't wear out as fast; I think that if you only bumped open a lock once or twice with such a key, it really wouldn't do any damage (repeatedly doing it will damage the lock regardless of key material), and it would probably solve the above mentioned problem with the Kaba. Maybe carbon fiber, micarta, G-10, or titanium?

The guys at TOOOL said the Penta has 1/100 of a millimeter tolerances and that a technical high school was not able to copy it.
Carbon fiber- light, but fragile--probably wouldn't stand up against hardended steel pins. Carbon fiber is also hard to make, and probably couldn't be formed into a key without special machinery.
G-10- I'm not quite sure what that is
Micarta- Isn't that a plastic?
Titanium- THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, BABY!
I haven't a clue that titanium can actually be casted.
Gosh, I'd love to work for a lock company.

[devildog]

G-10 is an EXTREMELY hard and light composite material used to make the latest and greatest handgun grips and knife handles, and is actually replacing a lot of micarta. You can see some of the best G-10 1911 grips here: http://davidsonknives.com/grips/grips.htm

I've been thinking for quite a while that G-10 would make an AWESOME grip for picks as it is lightweight, has EXCELLENT grip and is VERY hard which should make for feedback that would be almost as good as solid steel (the wetter it gets, the stickier it gets, and it's one of the few materials that retains grip even when coated with blood or lubricants, which is why its what the grips for the Marine Corp's top end force recon detachment, Detachment One, is using on it's new issue sidearm and that happens to be a Kimber 1911, by the way ).

I managed to find some info on G-10 here: http://www.matweb.com/search/SpecificMaterialText.asp?bassnum=PGLAM04

I'm sure someone who knows more about this than I do can jump in and help out. Any engineers or chemists out there who are familiar with it?

[vector40]

My Benchmade 710 has G10 handles. Tough sh*t, literally speaking.

(And I guess I'm gonna be getting cozy with it, since I just sold my Sebenza off...)

[devildog]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!

Vector you **%%$@! I used to have that knife and then ended up accidentally leaving it in a box I was going to ship home while I was out at 29 Palms Marine Base right before we went to Iraq and I haven't seen it since!!

THIEF!! Give me my knife back!

God I loved that knife... Is yours the plain edge stainless blade?? That's precisely what I had. *sniffle*

Isn't it just so much fun to pull the button down and swing the knife in and out?? It's just as fast as an auto, legal, and faster and easier to close, and you can do it one-handed . Although, the reason I was shipping it home was because I had just obtained a Benchmade Automatic knife which I was able to get because I had an active duty military ID at the time (autos are usually sold to military, LE, and paramedic/fire/rescue people in most states, although a few states will allow you to purchase and possess in your home, but not carry; not sure if there's any states that allow civilian carry of auto knives...anyone know?).
It was this knife:
http://www.benchmade.com/products/product_detail.aspx?model=5000
Great little knife, which I still have, but I'm afraid to carry because even though I still have my old ID (expired because I've been out for almost two years), and if I explained how I got it I think a cop would probably let it go, I just don't think it's worth taking the chance. It's an AutoAxis--automatic with the Axis locking mechanism (strongest in existence in my opinion) so the best of both worlds. I'm currently packing a Spyderco Delica with fully serrated edge and a leatherman juice mini-pocket tool thing, which is absolutely awesome and should definately put Victorinox out of business (although they do make a very nice little knife, especially for the price).

[Chrispy]

Amidst my many knives, I'd have to say that SOG creates a wonderful knife. I currently carry a SOG Flash I everywhere I go.

[vector40]

mudfoot -

Actually, it was the half-serrated, black Teflon blade. I like having serrations available to start a cut or to chew through something nasty, and also because the chisel-grind on the serrations gives you a REALLY sharp edge if you need it. And I liked the BT, too, though I know that's not very popular among true aficionados either. I guess I'm just not knifey enough

Since I'm trotting off to UCSC for college in about a month, I had to eschew any of these toys, since their regs are apparently <2.5" folders only. I found a teeny Spyderco on eBay, which I'm sure is fine, but I feel sort of... emasculated

Fun tip -- you can take your Delica (or Endura, or just about anything with an opening hole), grab a Dremel or grinder or whatever you prefer, and grind the forward edge of the hole clean off, "opening" it up and leaving a kind of forward-facing wave shape. Now, if your clip is mounted tip-up, you can flip the knife open just by withdrawing it from your pocket; the hook will catch the seam and snap it out before you even get your hand around the handle. Very cool, very handy, and as far as anyone's been able to tell, entirely legal. (Emerson pioneered this idea, of course, but not everyone wants a Commander, so this is a way to get the same -- actually, it's somewhat more reliable -- effect on whatever your prefered blade is.)

[yippeegollies]

I hate not having a edit button!

Yip, to show off a photo in your post, first get a photobucket (photobucket.com, its free) account if you don't already have one. Then once you have uploaded your picture to your account, the look under the picture. The third line down should say "Img" copy the info in that box and paste it into your post. If the image is already online, put the url where the * is; [img]*[/img]

Thanks for the instructions n2oah. I'm not sure how clear it will be but here goes nuthin' .

I threw in some other tumblers just for heck. Left to right they are...

Schlage original, Weiser original, Westlock original, Universal, Medeco biaxial, then there are 3 automotive sidebar wafers, 4 regular automotive wafers and finally an old Schlage wafer cylinder with the 3 different types of wafers it uses. That old Schlage actually is meant for another thread I saw somewhere, I just can't remember where.

[Mad Mick]

That old Schlage actually is meant for another thread I saw somewhere, I just can't remember where.

Was it this one Yip?:
viewtopic.php?t=8817

Regards.

[yippeegollies]

Ya, that's the one. Thanks Mad Mick..

Yip

[vector40]

Hmm... I guess my Kwikset pins do look like that. I suppose the difference never really struck me. Thanks yip.

[n2oah]

Nice pic, Yip. I finally know what a split-wafer looks like.