I've had my BK-7 for probably 10 years now and really enjoy this knife. It's a "Big 'Un" when it comes to knives, but with the choil mod it's a lot more controllable for fine work. The G10 scales really balance the knife out.
I have no problems taking it as my only cutting tool into the woods as it’s a chopper that handles delicately after the choil mod and keeps a razor edge. An edge many chickens have lost their heads over. ;-)
MICARTA SCALES
These improve the balance so much it makes the knife feel completely different and balances the blade so much better than stock scales that I would recommend this as a first step.
FINGER CHOIL
The first mod was to add a finger choil. It just takes a Dremel, sanding drum bit and patience.
REMOVING JIMPING
I can't stand the huge jimping that comes on these knives. I left them on mine until I removed the powder coating because I didn't want to have a bare spot, but the first thing I did when deciding to remove the coating was to sand these flat.
With the choil and them gone, the knife feels much better when choking up on the blade.
I barely "broke" the edge where the thumb rests with a file and sandpaper, then left the portion in front of that with a 90-degree edge to use on Ferro rods even though a Ferro is my last resort, a Mini-Bic is so much more efficient!
FORCED COFFEE PATINA
After grinding the jimping off and making a flat top edge for striking ferro rods, I went about removing the powder coating from the knife.
This proved to be a pain in the butt unlike the video I saw from Preparedmind on Youtube it did not just "fall off" like his video showed.
I used the exact same stripper he did and left it for days adding multiple coatings. Eventually I ended up removing the rest on the blade with a Scotch pad and Brake Kleen.
I was pleased with the resulting patina and like how the blade is taking on a "living patina" with use. Cutting a steak made a nice dark spot on the front of the blade, and I'm sure it will just look better with age and use.
The blade has "soul" now. :-)
This is a few days after use and sharpening, I like the natural approach and look of just "letting it do" as Frank Proctor would say.