HD, looking good.

KG, can't wait to see the pics.

dont you void any warranty by removing steel?

Depends on how you do it. If you know what you're doing, and don't overheat the blade, there shouldn't be a problem with it. I think it's decided on a case by case basis. Removing too much from certain areas could affect structural integrity.

+1 what Andy said. It's a case by case basis.

If you remove the ramp, and the blade has a air pocket in the steel, it was obviously a manufacture defect. But if you convex the edge and something happens in that area, I'm sure they would need to inspect the damage to find the root.

Great job old Horned one <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />. I personaly like the ramp but might mod one just to play a bit <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I have no plans to change my S5 other than the convex edge I already put on it. The ramp works fine for me. I did the mod for a fellow dog who prefers it without the ramp. Either way, it's a heck of good knife.

It's really cool that we have fellow dogs that can taylor a knife to our exact needs. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

I could not detect any difference in weight or balance between Bruce's without the ramp and mine with the ramp. It's not really that much steel to remove.

Nice job Vic! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

I may consider doing that to mine eventually, haven't decided for sure yet.

I'm still up in the air about modding mine. Even though I posted a critique about the ramp originally. I'm getting used to it a bit. Thanks to Vic and KG for showing us their mods though. It certainly gives food for thought.

What a great blade the S5 is turning out to be. Really love the lightness of it!

Well, in the end I decided to mod both my S5 and SOD by removing thumb ramp and guard. The mods really improved comfort for me on both knives. However, the SOD mods, are just wow. This feels like a totally new knife to me now. I can get both my index finger in the choil and my second finger resting on the now flat ricasso. This lets me really choke up on the blade and get my thumb far up the spine. I feel I get really great tip control like this and the SOD now feels like a much better all-rounder camp knife whereas before I treated primarily as a devoted chopper.

I know that performing knife mods is a bit contraversal, but now I like these two even better than before and that simply means they are going to get more belt time and use. Thanks to KG and HornDog for posting their pictures and inspiring me to go at it!

P.s. both knives took about 20 minutes to do. I just used a bench grinder and took my time. Quick little stroke on the stone, dip in water, repeat. The blade never got too hot touch. The hardest part is just keeping the self discipline to keep dunking it in water and not remove too much metal at any time.

Mods look good. I just had a thought, I might need to start getting an extra blade to mod for the fun! Am I sick dog?