Custom swing guard switchblade

Post here pictures of your knives and blades! All images should be on an external web site, and linked to messages.

Moderators: tr4252, The Motley Crew

Forum rules
There are a few things you should know before posting in these forums. If you are a new user, please click here and read carefully. Thanks a lot!
LD57
Posts: 132
Joined: Fri Jul 09, 2004 2:08 pm

Custom swing guard switchblade

Post by LD57 »

First of all, thanks to NorthCarolina Dude for bringing this maker to my attention.
This knife was made by Muhammad Afaaq, a Pakistani maker with a Facebook page called Afaaq’s Switchblades.
I contacted him via Messenger and we discussed options. He was very professional and answered a bunch of questions without complaint 😊.
I settled on an 11 inch knife, dagger blade with rosewood scales. It has a safety and I added a pocket clip :roll: . Stainless bolsters and liners, although brass and copper bolsters are an option. The lock is a picklock style, with a tab to release the blade.
It weighs 9.4 ounces. :shock:
He finished it in about 5 days, with shipment via DHL.
Price was $340, plus $29 shipping.
Merry Christmas to me! :mrgreen:
Attachments
DF250947-EF69-4893-A208-AAF5B9707DB0.jpeg
DF250947-EF69-4893-A208-AAF5B9707DB0.jpeg (390.71 KiB) Viewed 6339 times
A2462E10-AEC2-4002-AFFB-4D22C9079930.jpeg
A2462E10-AEC2-4002-AFFB-4D22C9079930.jpeg (365.99 KiB) Viewed 6339 times
BB279088-DE95-40EF-B787-0B480A7A159D.jpeg
BB279088-DE95-40EF-B787-0B480A7A159D.jpeg (350.24 KiB) Viewed 6339 times
67F9BDE9-A411-4D84-9CFC-A5D991D35BE0.jpeg
67F9BDE9-A411-4D84-9CFC-A5D991D35BE0.jpeg (387.56 KiB) Viewed 6339 times
C3291008-3E64-4660-91AD-4FF869CF743C.jpeg
C3291008-3E64-4660-91AD-4FF869CF743C.jpeg (329.1 KiB) Viewed 6339 times
3571FF61-E85E-409B-BF02-5D53978D714F.jpeg
3571FF61-E85E-409B-BF02-5D53978D714F.jpeg (422.06 KiB) Viewed 6339 times
User avatar
jim d,
Posts: 7667
Joined: Thu May 23, 2002 9:36 pm
Location: Mayberry, N.C. / U.S.A.

Re: Custom swing guard switchblade

Post by jim d, »

Thanks for sharing, looks like a well made piece. The feedback I have seen regarding his knives has been all positive, and his prices are astoundingly low for custom switchblades. My suspicion is that his low prices are either exchange rate related, him wanting to sell a bunch of knives and earn a good reputation, or both. Whatever the reason(s), it means fine customs at a low price for us.

Jim
sammy the blade
Posts: 4023
Joined: Sat Mar 26, 2016 7:18 pm
Location: Indiana

Re: Custom swing guard switchblade

Post by sammy the blade »

Diggin that one, at 9 ounces you're going to have to tighten your belt a couple holes to keep your pants up. Nice work on it!
2024 candidate for president
Tom19176
Posts: 3619
Joined: Mon Apr 21, 2008 12:23 am

Re: Custom swing guard switchblade

Post by Tom19176 »

Great work !
User avatar
Killgar
Posts: 298
Joined: Fri Nov 19, 2021 6:52 am

Re: Custom swing guard switchblade

Post by Killgar »

If he did all that work in FIVE DAYS I would call that SUPERHUMAN. Did he not sleep? :D

But even if he already had some parts finished beforehand, or near finished, I'm still impressed. It's a very nice looking knife, and looks very well made.

I like the screw construction. And I particularly like the lock-release.

Something I'm curious about is, what type of blade pivot does it have? Is the top bolster screw the pivot, or is there a stainless steel pivot pin blended into the bolsters? Or is there a hidden pivot under the bolsters?
Avatar- Ti-Lite Auto Conversion. Video- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q79nia-_DzU

My youtube knife channel- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjSYCK ... 3s5HNcsL5A
LD57
Posts: 132
Joined: Fri Jul 09, 2004 2:08 pm

Re: Custom swing guard switchblade

Post by LD57 »

I think he has the knife pretty much laid out as a template, so the process is more efficient. And, he may have some others doing part of the work. I did not ask if he is the only one working on the knife.
At some point I’ll probably take the screws out and see what’s underneath the hood.
The knife has a hidden pivot, you can tell from this pic.
Attachments
73982E90-2626-41BB-A4D9-EFF7B6B37A74.jpeg
73982E90-2626-41BB-A4D9-EFF7B6B37A74.jpeg (63.21 KiB) Viewed 6252 times
LD57
Posts: 132
Joined: Fri Jul 09, 2004 2:08 pm

Re: Custom swing guard switchblade

Post by LD57 »

And here is a pic of a 13 inch in progress. You can see the pivot hole, spring, sear and a beautiful Damascus blade.
Attachments
73A64127-3F67-4F22-8250-144BF24A8957.jpeg
73A64127-3F67-4F22-8250-144BF24A8957.jpeg (285.35 KiB) Viewed 6250 times
User avatar
Killgar
Posts: 298
Joined: Fri Nov 19, 2021 6:52 am

Re: Custom swing guard switchblade

Post by Killgar »

LD57 wrote: Fri Dec 23, 2022 8:12 pm I think he has the knife pretty much laid out as a template, so the process is more efficient. And, he may have some others doing part of the work. I did not ask if he is the only one working on the knife.
At some point I’ll probably take the screws out and see what’s underneath the hood.
The knife has a hidden pivot, you can tell from this pic.
Thanks! That is a sweet looking knife!

I look forward to seeing the 13". :)
Avatar- Ti-Lite Auto Conversion. Video- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q79nia-_DzU

My youtube knife channel- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjSYCK ... 3s5HNcsL5A
LD57
Posts: 132
Joined: Fri Jul 09, 2004 2:08 pm

Re: Custom swing guard switchblade

Post by LD57 »

I didn’t order a 13 (yet). He sent the pic in answer to a question I had about the spring and sear.
User avatar
whippersnapper
Posts: 8355
Joined: Sat Oct 16, 2004 12:39 pm
Location: Michigan

Re: Custom swing guard switchblade

Post by whippersnapper »

Cool swinger!
Tom19176
Posts: 3619
Joined: Mon Apr 21, 2008 12:23 am

Re: Custom swing guard switchblade

Post by Tom19176 »

The Kid Liam did a knife in one day from scratch. It can be done. Great pictures!
LD57
Posts: 132
Joined: Fri Jul 09, 2004 2:08 pm

Re: Custom swing guard switchblade

Post by LD57 »

UPDATE:
I’m sending it back for inspection/fixing.
I tried a spine whack test against the palm of my hand.
The lock failed; the blade jumped out of the locked position. It took very little force to make that happen, not a very hard whap. I sent him a video of the failure and he seemed genuinely apologetic and concerned.
Don’t know if it’s a design flaw, or an assembly flaw. Looking at the knife, the design seems solid, with a deep enough notch and a long enough tab.
Anyway, we’ll see.
BTW, I tried the same test with an Italian swing guard. Hit the palm of my hand gently, then harder and faster until my hand started hurting. The lock on Italian swing guard did not fail.
So, in the World Cup knife challenge, it’s Italy-1, Pakistan-0. :mrgreen:
It’s always something, I guess.
sammy the blade
Posts: 4023
Joined: Sat Mar 26, 2016 7:18 pm
Location: Indiana

Re: Custom swing guard switchblade

Post by sammy the blade »

That blows, do you have to send to Pakistan?
2024 candidate for president
LD57
Posts: 132
Joined: Fri Jul 09, 2004 2:08 pm

Re: Custom swing guard switchblade

Post by LD57 »

Yep.
He said UPS will deliver, so I’ll go that route.
LD57
Posts: 132
Joined: Fri Jul 09, 2004 2:08 pm

Re: Custom swing guard switchblade

Post by LD57 »

I’ll see if I can find a place to post the videos. It’s an interesting comparison.
Post Reply