U.S. $12.95
Featured Material
• Warfighter Pack Setups • A Visit To Boogeyman Customs
• Variable Low Power Scope Buyer’s Guide
• DIY: Applying Carbide To Your Gun • Building An HK G36C Pistol Clone
UN0012 / CARTRIDGES FOR WEAPONS, INERT PROJECTILE or CARTRIDGES, SMALL ARMS —
Feature Firearms
Custom
HK VP9
Rebuilt From The Ground Up
+
Transport of Dangerous Goods Ammunition, such as for rifles, handguns, shotguns, starter’s pistols and power tools that contain explosive material are dangerous goods listed under Class 1.4S. The information presented here is for the following UN numbers only:
Included
UN12 Magazine 1st Anniversary Patch
Billet Rifle Systems
BRS47-SC An AR/AK Hybrid
ISSUE
UN12mag.com
005
Every Day Carry
Every Day Carry / 11
04 Tokyo Pipe Co. Douglass Field L Lighter
01
02
07
MSRP: $69 urbanedcsupply.com
05 Shure SE215-CL Sound Isolating Earphones MSRP: $89 shure.com
W
08
hat’s your carry style?
09
Are you strictly a
10
06 Casio
function-over-form person,
Edifice
or do you like to inject some
MSRP: $175
style and flair into your
edifice-watches.com
everyday carry setup? For
07
many of us, it’s a mixture of both. What you carry on
SOG
your person on a daily basis
Baton Q3 Multi-Tool
can be a reflection of your
MSRP: $70
personality, occupation, and
sogknives.com
lifestyle. Whether you wear
11
dress shoes or steel-toed boots to work, there’s an
Good Worth & Co.
EDC setup that’s appropriate
Best Wishes Phillips Screwdriver
for everyone. In every edition of Every
08
03
04
MSRP: $22
Day Carry, we dive into
bowlsla.com
two different EDC setups
09
that contain useful and sometimes fun or even
RovyVon
lifesaving items that can
Aurora A1 Polycarbonate Flashlight
help you survive—or just get
06
through your day. Take a look
MSRP: $27
at the following collections of
rovyvon.com
some of the latest EDC items
12
on the market to see if you
10
find something that you’d
Countycomm
add to your everyday carry.
Embassy Pen (Blk) MARP: $75
01
05
countycomm.com
11
Keith Titanium Pocket Flask MSRP: $39 keithtitanium.com
02
13
The James Brand The Mehlville MSRP: $60 thejamesbrand.com
Herschel
12
Wallet/Passport
Tops Knives
MSRP: $25
Backup
herschel.com
MSRP: $75
03
topsknives.com
Sandisk USB 3.0 Thumbdrive 64GB MSRP: $18 amazon.com
20
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13 Juteni Leather Wallet iPhone XS Max Case MSRP: $18 amazon.com
UN12mag.com
21
01
Product Review: Polymer80 Hybrid
FEATURES UN0012 / POLYMER80’S HYBRID COMPACT FRAME —
The PF940CL 80% Hybrid Compact Frame Kit comes with a Stainless Steel Locking Block Rail System, Stainless Steel Rear Rail Module, hardened pins, complete finishing jig, drill bits, and end mill.
G19 frame with the increased accuracy and
mill. Just add the rest of the frame’s parts, which
dimensions of a G19.
effectiveness of a G17-length slide and barrel.
are sold separately (such as a trigger)along with
Once you complete your frame and install
a complete slide and you can build yourself the
80% complete firearm frames and receivers,
its parts, it allows for G19-length magazines
preferred CCW-friendly hybrid pistol, too.
has addressed this deficiency in Glock’s
and longer to be used and can host G17
[ UN12 ]
lineup with their latest offering, the PF940CL
Gen3 compatible slides without any need for
80% Hybrid Compact Frame Kit. For those
modification. G17 Gen4 slides can be used as
who might not know, an 80% frame is
well with a simple modification to the dust cover.
Polymer80, a company specializing in
an unfinished pistol frame that one can
The frame is constructed of high-strength
complete at home to create one’s own
reinforced polymer and comes covered in an
home-built pistol with the use of nothing
aggressive and adaptable grip texture. It can
more than a drill press or mill and some hand
be further customized with stippling and other
tools. They’re called 80% frames because
forms of polymer shaping. It’s a blank canvas
80% of the frame is already completed.
for your creative mind. A Picatinny accessory
Finishing the final 20% is up to you. If you
rail allows you to hang a light or laser under
are good at following instructions and are
the barrel and a metal serialization plate
competent using basic tools, completing the
comes embedded in the frame for you to add
frame shouldn’t be a problem. (We actually
your own identification tag.
walk you through the process, step by step, in UN12 Issue 002’s DIY feature.) The PF940CL is a hybrid frame that combines the carry-friendly dimensions of a
The kit runs for $160 and comes with a Stainless Steel Locking Block Rail System, Stainless Steel Rear Rail Module, hardened pins, complete finishing jig, drill bits, and end
: : For more on Polymer80: PF940CL 80% Hybrid Compact Frame Kit MSRP: $160 polymer80.com
UN12
a G17 and chopping its grip down to the
AEROPRECISIONUSA.COM
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UN12 / Issue 005
DEPT.
Do It Yourself
Text by MARTIN ANDERS Images by MICHAEL GREY
Applying Carbide As mentioned, silicon carbide coatings have
and sanding tools. There are many benefits to
been popular with competition shooters as well
silicon carbide applications, including a varied
tedious process. Although there are plenty of
as with high-end gunsmiths for years. Silicon
selection of grits to help you select just the
grip-enhancing options such as polymer
carbide-coated surfaces such as handguards,
amount of grip you’ve been looking for. Follow
stippling, metal checkering, and stick-on grip
grips, and pistol frames create just the right
along here to see how silicon carbide is applied
tape, the amount of traction you end up with
amount of grip in the right areas—and it looks
to a firearm’s surface.
can vary from cheese-grater-like to almost
pretty cool to boot.
E
nsuring the perfect amount of traction on your firearm’s control surfaces can be a
non-existent.
First off, your workspace should be set up in a well-ventilated area. This coating process is a
grip tape, minus the thickness of the tape. The
messy undertaking, so we do not recommend
we’ll show you a simple method of traction
durable coating goes on much thinner than
doing it on any surface that you don’t want to risk
enhancement that competition shooters and
grip tape, and it’s seamless, too. We also found
permanently staining or damaging. We suggest
gunsmiths have trusted for years. We’re not
that it’s a good method for helping to hide
setting up your workspace over a disposable,
certain if there’s an official name for the process,
imperfections such as ill-advised Dremel work or
protective covering. We’re working with a sand-
so we’ll just call it carbide coating. In our case,
a botched stipple job.
like material, and as you probably already know,
If you’re willing to get a little arts-and-craftsy,
What’s Needed
• Silicon carbide powder
• Face mask
• Two-part 15-minute epoxy
• Safety glasses
• Mixing stick
• Masking tape
• Disposable brush
• Item to be coated
• Latex gloves
sand tends to get everywhere. Be generous with
Disclaimer: Always take safety precautions when working with tools or other
Silicon carbide can be applied via epoxy to
grip tape and some types of sandpaper their
the mount of protective covering you use. Once
dangerous goods. This DIY should be done at your own risk. Verify your results
any non-porous surface you want to increase
gritty surface. It is also used in many commercial
you have donned your protective gear—gloves,
with a certified gunsmith prior to using the final product.
traction on.
and industrial applications such as on cutting
mask, safety glasses—move on to Step 01.
we’re using a material called silicon carbide.
36
The effect you get is very similar to skateboard
UN12 / Issue 005
Silicon carbide is the coarse material that gives
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37
FEATURE : : Built on Quentin Defense ARQ-9 billet receivers : : Chambered in 9mm
ustom R9 istol
: : 5.5-inch barrel
Text by MARTIN ANDERS Images by JAY CANTER
“Some people just have a knack for creating works of art out of an assemblage of parts.”
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UN12 / Issue 005
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FEATURE
I
f you haven’t noticed by now, we are living in a Golden Age of firearm customization. There
are more gun enthusiasts customizing their firearms to greater extents than at any other time in the past. This wasn’t always the case. Only about a decade ago, spraying your rifle any
“One of the main challenges with almost every handguard manufacturer
color other than an earthtone could have brought
is they do not extrude their own pieces,”
you ridicule. “Battleworn” weathering was also a
he says. “They’re doing their designs on
look that was mocked by many. Thankfully, tastes
a piece that was already started. I totally
have changed and people are now freer than ever
understand why they do this, but when you
to express their creativity through their customized
are a builder/manufacturer and want to put a
guns.
suppressor inside a handguard, this makes it
When you scroll through the social media image
nearly impossible. Very few companies make the
feed on your smartphone, you’ll undoubtedly see a
inner diameter large enough for a suppressor, and
host of customized guns. Some might be executed
unfortunately most of the time those handguards are
better than others, but all have a certain personality
not the most aesthetically pleasing.”
to them. After seeing so many custom guns, it takes
He continues: “So with this build, choosing to not go
one with a little more style to get us to stop and
suppressed and being able to find a muzzle device that
notice it.
fits perfectly inside the chosen handguard was a bit of
Of course, some custom-built firearms do seem to
a challenge. The other main challenge
jump out at you more than others. There are plenty of
was finding a talented
reasons for this, but one thing we’ve noticed is that
Cerakoter who
some people just have a knack for creating works of
could do pretty
art out of an assemblage of parts. Perhaps they’re
much anything
blessed with an artistic eye or a creative mind, or
I thought up,
both. Whatever the case, we applaud these creators.
along with any
One such person is Jay Canter, the mind behind the AR9 pistol pictured here. The Mesa, Arizona,
color. Coming up with new
based professional photojournalist clearly has an eye for aesthetics. He’s created plenty of custom builds, all of which are as much eye candy as usable tools. The AR9 is one of his latest builds and is meant to act as both a home defense weapon and an all-purpose truck gun. We caught up with him and asked him about the build and what challenges he may have encountered when putting this fantastic-looking pistol together. Regarding the build’s challenges, Canter says: “With pretty much all the custom designs I come up with, there are challenges. That’s part of what makes it fun to try out new parts and see what works and what doesn’t. The real challenge, typically, for me stems from the question: What is the purpose of the build besides making something cool?” Canter goes on to talk about a specific problem he faces when creating a new AR.
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UN12 / Issue 005
“The real challenge comes down to the question: What is the purpose of the build besides just making something cool?”
01 Bushnell’s Elite Tactical CQTS 2.0 features four user-selectable reticles.
UN12mag.com
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01
05
camp, and none of us felt like pavement to Trona proper… I’ve been all around the
pounding for hours into the night only to
surrounding desert but never to the actual
arrive at camp late. So after letting the JB
Pinnacles—and they were definitely pretty
Weld set and getting Jay’s truck sealed
cool to finally see in person.
up, which we were able to do well enough
We left work early on Friday and hit the
to get him back on the road so he could
road towards Trona, which saw us arriving
at least go for repairs, we all kind of went
at the predetermined rendezvous point
our own direction. Some continued north,
just as the sun was setting. We had just
some headed home, but Andy, Anna,
enough time to lay down camp and cook
Matt, Olivia, and I weren’t quite done. We
up some dinner before night set in. We all
drove south to an area I’d been through
gathered around the campfire for a late
before, to a mine I knew was a great camp
night of catching up with our friends as
spot. The roads here were smooth and
even more adventurers trickled in.
wide—albeit unpaved—so we were able to set a pretty good pace, leaving us some
The next morning we had a bit of a late
time to explore the area.
start due to some late sleepers. This can
That night was one of those nights that
be tough with large groups and varying arrival times. Since people are tired from
makes you realize it doesn’t matter whether
being on the road, we don’t like to have
or not everything goes to plan. It was one
a set schedule. After all, it’s camping—
of the best nights camping I’d had in a long
we’re supposed to be relaxing—but
time. We had time to settle in and get a good
sometimes in order to make it to camp
fire going… then the five of us really just got
before dark you gotta boogie.
to relax and enjoy the desert evening. The most important thing on the trail is to just
At last we packed up and hit the trail towards Mengal Pass, where we’d be
slow down and enjoy the scenery. And that’s
entering the park. We didn’t make it
exactly what we did. We sat around that fire
maybe more than five miles before one
for hours, telling stories and watching the
of our crew, Alex, came over the radio to
shooting stars fall above our heads. With no plan except to go home on Day 4
tell us his hood latch mounts had sheared off. We definitely needed to fix that, so
we got up early, made coffee, and explored
out came the giant zip-ties at our first fuel
a bit to see if there was anything else to see
stop—and we were off again. Turns out
where we were. We spent a while trying
this was to be the first of a few impromptu
to find a route to a landmark we spied off
trail fixes that we’d be facing...
in the distance, but after a few dead ends
I didn’t get a chance to take many pictures this first day, because we were running a little late and I didn’t wanna stop
01
Off the trail, there’s plenty of room to spread out and relax.
02
Striped Butte at the entrance to Death Valley proper.
03
Sometimes the unplanned camping spots are the best.
04
Watching the sun set over the valley— from high above.
05
Off-road camping is self-sufficiency at its finest.
06
Heading out on the final day—but not quite finished yet.
07
Exploring Death Valley’s abandoned mines.
08
and blocked trails we gave up and headed
Relics of the past sit undisturbed in the desert.
toward Baker, Nevada, where we’d exit. But we weren’t ready to head home just yet, so we fueled up and decided to jump over to
to hold the group up. I really only took
Mojave, where Matt would take the lead as
photos when the group stopped to check something out. Thankfully, there was plenty
Mojave is like his second home.
nightfall, so we skipped seeing a few old
group break up—but it turns out it wasn’t
to see. We did stop at Barker Ranch, which
mines Andy had planned for us to check
to be the last time we saw them.
makes for a good story to tell the folks
out. As the day burned down, we had
back home. This is where Charles Manson
to make an on-the-fly decision about
heard over the radio that Kira had lost a
grinding noise, and discovered a huge
was found hiding out after the Sharon
camp because there was no way we were
tire and they potentially needed some
gouge on the inside edge of my rim. I also
Tate murders. They found him hiding
going to make it to where we’d originally
extra help. So we went, and after fixing
noted that the bottom caliper bolt had
under the bathroom sink. You can still see
planned to stay. Andy and I put our heads
a few things and getting her spare on we
backed out, doubtless from the countless
where it went down, but the actual house
together, rifling through our maps and
were all off again. But little did we know
miles of washboard that resulted in the
unfortunately burned to the ground a few
trail guides and hoping to find a place one
we’d actually be seeing them again…
caliper eventually hitting the wheel. This
years ago. All that remains is the foundation
of us had been to before. We ended up
and a few rock walls.
02
06
Unfortunately, now it was my truck’s turn to break. We stopped to inspect a weird
As we headed back down the road we
As we were leaving, we heard them
could have been a real issue because the
landing on a waypoint we’d both saved at
come over the radio once again saying
closest parts store was hours away. It was
After exploring the old ranch for a while,
some point in the past but never actually
this time they really needed help. Jay had
approaching dark and there was no way we
we set back out to finish Mengal and head
been to. So off we went to see if it was a
lost his radiator somehow—it was leaking,
viable spot. Turned out it was perfect and
with a big hole in it as though the fan had
on down in the Panamint Valley—the last
we had a great place to camp that fit all
made contact. This was a big problem
it wasn’t quite the right length, but I was able
big valley before you enter Death Valley
the trucks—barely—but we made it all
given where we were located, and a
to get a few threads in and really tighten it
proper—and we did run into a few other
work by stacking rocks so everyone had a
radiator isn’t exactly an item we carry
down, which would allow me to continue on.
rather large groups. This was to be expected,
somewhat flat spot to park.
as a spare. We jammed back over there
toward camp. There was a big event going
but we made good time otherwise. Our
03
04
With it getting dark so early we had
07
08
could miss work the next day. Luckily, I had a spare in my box of bolts that actually fit…
Disaster averted, we all decided it was
and, sure enough, there was a hole in the
time to pack it in. So we turned back to the
next stop was near Striped Butte, which is
nearly seven hours of campfire time,
radiator. We pooled all our JB Weld and
highway, said our goodbyes, and headed
always a site to see as you drop into the park.
which was much needed. The next
Radiator Stop Leak and got to work trying
toward home.
We needed some lunch and a chance to
morning there was a decision to be
to patch it up as best we could.
[ UN12 ]
stretch out a bit before heading off to find our
made—some of the group wanted to
camping spot for the night.
head one direction, others wanted to go in
once again we no longer had enough
another. So we split up. I hate to have the
daylight left to make it to our intended
We still had a ways to go before
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UN12 / Issue 005
This ended up being a deciding factor— Follow Jim on Instagram @_jim_bob.
UN12mag.com
55
FEATURE
: : Side-charging AR-15 system : : Uses AKM magazines : : Chambered in 7.62x39mm
Text by MARTIN ANDERS Images by JERRY TSAI
UN0012 / CARTRIDGES FOR WEAPONS, INERT PROJECTILE or CARTRIDGES, SMALL ARMS —
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UN12 / Issue 005
BRS47 SC UN12mag.com
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DEPT. Actual size
Buyer’s Guide
Atibal 1 inch
Atibal X 1-10x30 FFP, ED Glass, Mil Reticle Magnification: 1-10x Focal Plane: First Focal Plane Objective Lens Diameter: 30mm Eye Relief: 3.6 - 5.5 in. Field of View: 1x: 101 ft. @ 100 yds. / 10x: 10.1 ft. @ 100 yds.
Variable Low Power
Illumination: Yes, 6 brightness levels, off positions between each selection
Scope Buyer’s Guide
Tube Diameter: 35mm Adjustment Per Click: 1/10 mrad Elevation Adjustment: 120 mrad Windage Adjustment: 110 mrad Weight (No Mount): 1 lb, 5.1 oz. Length: 10.1 in. Reticle: Atibal First Focal Plane Reticle (MIL) Mount & Accessories: Optional Bobro Engineering 35mm Single Lever Mount +$250 Warranty: “No gimmicky names or slogans to make our Lifetime Warranty sound better than it is. At Atibal we call our Lifetime Warranty a Lifetime Warranty. If your Atibal product becomes defective, broken, or is no longer working, we will get it repaired or replaced. It’s that simple.” See atibalsights.com for details.
Text by DANNY CHANG Images by JAMES YORK
W
hen it comes to scopes, is there such
certainly keep your shots precise without all
thing as too much magnification? If
the heft of a higher-powered optic.
BG-07
you’re shooting at targets well past a few
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UN12 / Issue 005
flexibility to dial in just the right amount of
can’t ever have too much magnification.
magnification you need for the shooting
The greater the magnification your scope is
scenario you find yourself in, whether you
capable of, the more precisely you can land
are on a hunt or running and gunning in a
your shot as long as you do your part.
3-gun competition. When choosing an optic,
However, having an overwhelming
other factors such as reticle type, focal plane
drawbacks. Some of these include a more
style, and turret configuration are all up to the
complex scope that leads to increased
user’s preferences. before you take the plunge into such a major
variable low powered scope can be just the
investment, let’s see which are worthy of
optic you need.
your hard-earned dollars. Join us as we take
“Low power” is a relative term; in this
a look at a prime selection of variable low
case, we are talking about scopes that
power scopes. Some are perennial go-to
have magnification power of ten or less.
favorites, while others are brand-new models
Often used from short- to medium-range
offering the latest in optical technology.
distances, a variable low power scope can
Perhaps you’ll find one that’s perfect for you.
01 Side view at 40% scale
To get a better handle on these scopes
looking to take a mile-long shot, perhaps a
UN0012 / CARTRIDGES FOR WEAPONS, INERT PROJECTILE or CARTRIDGES, SMALL ARMS —
atibalsights.com
we know that high quality glass is key, but
abundance of magnification can have its
weight and increased cost. If you’re not
MSRP: $800
Variable power capability allows you the
hundred yards, we would usually say you
MIL Reticle (not to scale)
UN12mag.com
67
Actual size
Actual size
EOTech Vudu 1-6x Precision Rifle Scope 1 inch
1 inch
Magnification: 1-6x
March Optics D8SV24FIML FMC-2
Focal Plane: First Focal Plane
Magnification: 1-8x
Objective Lens Diameter: 24mm
Focal Plane: First Focal Plane
Eye Relief: 1x: 3.27 - 3.94 in. / 6x: 3.23 - 3.94 in.
Objective Lens Diameter: 24mm
Field of View: 1x: 102.4 ft. @ 100 yds. / 6x: 16.7 ft. @ 100 yds.
Eye Relief: 1x: 3.39 - 3.86 in. / 8x: 3.39 - 3.78 in.
Illumination: Yes, push-button power, auto power shut-off at approx. 2 hrs.
Field of View: 20.0 / 2.5 arc degree; 105.8 / 13.2 ft. at 100 yds.
Tube Diameter: 30mm
Illumination: Yes
Adjustment Per Click: SR2, SR3 Models, approx. 0.5 MOA / SR1 Model, approx. 0.2 mrad
Tube Diameter: 30mm
Elevation Adjustment: ± 14.5 min mrad or ± 50 MOA
Elevation Adjustment: 56 mrad
Windage Adjustment: ± 14.5 min mrad or ± 50 MOA
Weight (No Mount): 1 lb, 1.1 oz.
Adjustment Per Click: 0.1 mrad
Windage Adjustment: 56 mrad
Length: 8.4 in.
Weight (No Mount): 1 lb, 4.1 oz.
Reticle: FMC-2
Length: 10.6 in.
Mount & Accessories: Front & Rear Flip Caps (included), Long Scope Ring (+$190), Zoom Ring Lever (+$53)
Reticle: SR-1, SR-2, SR-3 Mount & Accessories: Mount not included Warranty: “With this limited lifetime EOTECH Advantage Warranty, we warrant that the manufacture and use of your Vudu riflescope will be free of defects in materials and workmanship, regardless of whether you are the original owner. Should your Vudu riflescope ever experience any defects in materials or workmanship, we will repair or replace it, as determined by EOTECH, with a comparable product, free of charge.” See eotechinc.com for details.
FMC-2 Reticle @ 8x
Warranty: “All March scopes and illumination modules purchased from March Optics USA, Inc., or its agents are warranted for 5 years from the original date of purchase.” See marchoptics.com for details. MSRP: $2,325 marchoptics.com
MSRP: $1,399 eotechinc.com
02 Side view at 40% scale
SR-3 Reticle @ 3x
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UN12 / Issue 005
03 Side view at 40% scale
UN12mag.com
69
FEATURE
Text by MARTIN ANDERS Images by LAUREN SHORT
: : Owner's first custom firearm : : Chambered in 9mm : : Trigger work by gunsmith Rick Holm
UN0012 / CARTRIDGES FOR WEAPONS, INERT PROJECTILE or CARTRIDGES, SMALL ARMS —
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FEATURE
UN0012 / CARTRIDGES FOR WEAPONS, INERT PROJECTILE or CARTRIDGES, SMALL ARMS —
verybody remembers his or
customize everything I own. But when
he finally decided to go ahead and
building fully customized pistols due
her first experience, whether
I flip through magazines and Instagram
start a project of his own. He already
to their robust aftermarket support.
it’s a first love, first kiss, first car—or in
and see really cool firearm builds, it
knew that he wanted to go with a
They weren’t sure just how much
Corey’s case, his first ground-up, fully
made me really want to build one, too.”
VP9 as the foundation because of its
they could get done on the VP9, but
familiarity. After doing some research,
had to try anyway. To their surprise,
E
customized pistol. Working as a law enforcement officer, he is more used to
he’s on patrol is a Heckler & Koch VP9.
he quickly realized that there are far
the duo ended up finding options for
handling plain-Jane issued sidearms
When he started out at his department
fewer custom VP9s than other pistols
just about everything Corey wanted,
and not pistols that are packed full of
he was issued an HK USP. After
like Glocks. This meant that fewer
including custom slide machine work
custom features.
years of carrying it, he’s become very
companies make aftermarket parts
and even an improved trigger. Corey
comfortable with HK pistols (and their
for them and fewer people specialize
carefully mapped out the VP9 project
pieces on the job, Corey finally decided
paddle-style magazine releases). A
in working on them. The lack of
and got the ball rolling by sending his
he wanted to build himself a “fun” gun
couple of years ago he switched to the
options didn’t deter him one bit.
slide to Slideworks Engineering for
for once. He emphasizes: “Almost all of
VP9, which he believes is a much-
my handguns are pretty basic, black in
improved design. He says its striker-fire
virgin VP9, Corey dug deep into
color with stock parts, as a result of my
operation has a better-feeling trigger
customization research, even enlisting
Slideworks Engineering is a machine
career. I always wanted a non-work-
pull than the USP and its ergonomic
his buddy Danny to help search
shop that specializes in custom slide
related gun that I could personalize.”
grip fits his hand like a glove.
high and low for VP9 customization
cuts. They have plenty of profiles
options. They knew that Glocks are
for Glock slides, but the shop also
the popular platform to use when
works on other popular pistols such
After years of using factory stock
He continues: “My needs are pretty basic. I’m not the type who needs to
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UN12 / Issue 005
Corey’s sidearm of choice when
It was after a conversation about custom pistols with some friends that
After buying a brand-new,
CNC work. Located in Magnolia, Texas,
Magwell A Taylor Freelance Overdrive billet magwell allows for quick reloads with its competitionstyle funnel.
UN12mag.com
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FEATURE
Customization
: : Based on a Benchmade 761 titanium monolock : : Personalized at home : : Titanium construction
Personalized Knife Text by DANNY CHANG Images by CHRIS LEE
L
ike many of us, Francisco Vergara
well-made knife struck a chord, and he
is a blade guy. He’s been carrying
was hooked. He now looks at knives in a
a knife for daily use for as long as he can remember, but he’s only been collecting
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For many blade owners, a few knifemakers
them for a couple of years. For a long time
or designers stand out as particular favorites,
he viewed knives as hard-use tools that got
and for Vergara, Benchmade is one of them.
replaced only when blades were ill-suited
He snapped up the model 761 you see here
for sharpening, broken, or lost. His mindset
because, to his knowledge, it is the very first
changed when we went to a knife show.
frame-lock titanium folder the company had
At the show, he was quickly seduced by the
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completely new way.
produced. Vergara is a fan of frame-lock
intricate work and impressive craftsmanship
folding knives, so the prospect of a non-Axis-
he saw at every booth. The beauty of a
lock Benchmade was exciting. For those who
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Customization: Knives
03 The 761’s non-Axis-lock mechanism was what drew Vergara to the knife in the first place.
01 The varying thickness of the titanium gives the grip an iridescent, rainbow gradient color effect.
02 The pocket clip was repositioned to allow a tip-up carry orientation.
Specs Owner: Francisco Vergara Make: Benchmade Model: 761 Titanium Monolock Knife URL: benchmade.com
are not aware, most Benchmade folders feature the
“He created a wide, random-looking texture on the main flat that not only hides the damage, but also adds needed grip.”
company’s proprietary Axis lock.
Titanium Monolock
repositioned clip would reverse the carry orientation
random pattern on the opposite side could not be
to the desired tip-up configuration, something he was
duplicated. So the chamfers were finished to match
first few days of use, not being used to tip-down
much more used to. As with most beginners, he did
and the flat was orange peel finished.
deployment, he inadvertently dropped the knife on
not want to invest in a costly $50-and-up titanium tap;
With the major work done, Vergara went about
asphalt. The drop caused some damage to the scale
instead, he ended up snapping three standard taps at
giving his revamped 761 a new color. He felt that
of Vergara’s brand-new knife, which understandably
$10 each. (On the way he learned that if he was going
the scale could not be left in its natural color, which
dismayed him. He promptly shelved the blade in
to do this right, he ought to bite the bullet and buy the
he deemed “boring,” so he anodized it using the
disappointment.
pricier tap next time.) Once the new screw holes were
DIY kit purchased online. With the different textures
in place, he swapped the clip location.
and thicknesses of the titanium, the color took on
Some time later, Vergara became inspired by the many examples of customization work that he’d seen
an eye-catching, rainbow gradient effect. The 761’s
scale. With damage to both the main flat and the
hardware is made of stainless steel, so to match the
in the pages of UN12—so much so that he wanted to
chamfered edges on the presentation side of the knife,
new look the pocket clip was two-tone finished in
begin customizing one his own knives. He already had a
Vergara needed to take quite a bit of material off to
satin and bead blasted.
Craftsman one-inch belt sander at home, and he bought
hide the blemishes. Using his belt sander, he carefully
a DIY titanium anodizing kit online. All he needed now
worked the scale to remove material. He created a
merely a test mule. If this was Vergara’s first attempt
was a guinea pig to test out his customization skills.
wide, random-looking texture on the main flat that not
at customizing a knife, we’d love to see what he
only hides the damage but also adds needed grip.
comes up with when he gets a bit more experience
mule to practice on, he rediscovered the damaged
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The next modification was to address the damaged
performed on the internet, on social media, and even
As he was looking through his knives for a test
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The pocket clip side could not be left untouched, but with the lock bar being so thin, the same wide,
could only be configured for tip-down carry. In the
At the time, Vergara did not notice that this knife
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The first modification that he deemed absolutely necessary was to relocate the pocket clip. The
The scale’s chamfers were initially “orange peel”
Remember that the knife featured on these pages is
under his belt. If you have a knife you customized yourself
Benchmade 761 he had shelved awhile back. He
finished without removing the scratches, but that
decided he wanted to change the carry orientation
resulted in what looked like elephant skin texturing.
that you’d like to see featured in UN12, tag us on
from tip-down to tip-up and do something about the
So Vergara sanded the entire chamfer with rough-grit
Instagram @un12mag.
damaged scale in the process.
sandpaper to give it the unique texture it now wears.
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