And the scales are "PERFECTLY MATCHED !!"

[Kevin Jones]

Many makers, dealers and collectors are very proud to announce in their knife descriptions that "The scales are perfectly matched " like that's one of the most important attributes of the piece. And perhaps it is. That's my question, how important is it to you that the handle scales match from side to side?

I may be in the minority here, but that's not one of my prime considerations when considering buying a custom knife.

Now to clarify, of course the scales need to be of the same material and generally carry on the look and theme of the knife. However, I rather the maker spent time on the design, execution, fit/finish, and giving me the best two pieces of handle material possible rather than digging through a massive box of stag or ivory scales to find the closest match.

To go a little farther, I even like a little variation in shade and pattern from one side to the other. IMO it gives the piece more character and almost like getting two knives for the price of one.

I haven’t found a way to examine and compare both sides of the knife at once anyway unless it's displayed with a mirror backdrop.

Does anyone else share my position on this or is it just me?

 

[Sagittarius]

I agree with you.
Looked at your collection.
Wow, it's awesome ! :thumbup:


Sag.

 

[NickWheeler]

Good point Kevin, and in that same breath.... It kind of gets me when people compliment the figure in the wood or ivory or whatever... and THATS the only thing they seem to see.

I guess it falls into that, "they did say something nice, so it was better than having nothing nice worth saying" type of category. But it's always odd to me to compliment a maker on the one thing that they had NOTHING to do with other than picking the material out.

Mother nature can be thanked for the figure in those

A VERY WELL known and respected folder maker once told me that he always gets a kick out of people that only comment on his handle material choice. He said, "If they are going to buy a $600 folder ONLY because I bought the $30 piece of wood instead of the $20 piece... well, more power to 'em. But it's funny that a $10 difference in wood will have that kind of influence."

Don't get me wrong... I think a maker is always making his best move to use the best materials he can find. But, in my humble opinion, that should only be ONE of the MANY things that convinces somebody to buy a knife.

If the knife sucks but has PERFECTLY MATCHED SCALES..... then who cares

 

[ptgdvc]

The quality and beauty of handle materials chosen by a maker is a quick indicator, to me, of the level of care and thought that was put into the entire knife. When I see mediocre handle materials, I automatically wonder what else might be mediocre about the knife. The makers who obsess about obtaining the finest stag, woods, and ivory, usually do so because their knife is already a superior example and it needs and deserves the best materials.

In the olden days, I used to be a wine buyer. Corks come in many different grades and sizes, which determine their cost. The size and quality of the cork selected by the winemaker usually told me quite a bit about what HE thought about the quality of HIS wine, before the first smell or taste.

 

[RogerP]

I tend to avoid scales wherever possible, preferring a solid block of whatever handle material is chosen for stability reasosn. Where scales are in play, though, I definitely prefer them to be well matched. No, not PERFECT mirror images, but similar in colour and texture. A stag knife that has a dark brown knobby scale on one side and a much lighter smooth scale on the other makes me wonder what the maker was thinking.

A VERY WELL known and respected folder maker once told me that he always gets a kick out of people that only comment on his handle material choice. He said, "If they are going to buy a $600 folder because I bought the $30 piece of wood instead of the $20 piece... well, more power to 'em. But it's funny that a $10 difference in wood will have that kind of influence."

I gotta disagree with you here bro. Far too many makers, in my opinion, cheap out on handle material PARTICULARLY where wood is concerned and bring down an otherwise excellent knife (no, not you Nick). When you are talking about an $800 to $1,200 dollar bowie, the price difference between "good" and "WOW!" is minimal. For the life of me, I can't figure out why a maker would ever choose a dull, lifeless piece of wood for anything but a pure unadorned user. And even then, wouldn't, say, highly figured piece of ironwood be preferable to stuff that just looks uniformly dark brown?

A couple of makers come to mind who ALWAYS select the best of whatever handle material they put on a knife - and it says to me that THEY consider their knives to be something special. Don Hanson, Burt Foster.

Whenever I order a knife with a wood handle I will often give the maker very wide lattitude as to the type of wood used, but I will ALWAYS specify that it be a superb example of that type.

Roger

 

[scottickes]

I think having matched scales is more important with wood handles. I always split my wood handled creations and book match them.

On ivory, stag, pearls, it isn't possible to exactly match them, because mother nature rules that out for us. Getting those materials close is important, but the slight variety from one side to the other is a benefit, as long as the theme from one side to the other is consistent.

For example, when I use gold lip or black lip pearl, I try to keep the amount and intensity of the depth similar from side to side. I have some gold lip in my bins that is kind of a half and half gold lip and white pearl look. When I use it, I have to be careful that it doesn't look like I used gold lip on one side and white on the other. I'm very selective about which knives I use this somewhat unique pearl on, because it's something you don't see to often. I only use it on a knife that I consider to be worthy of that kind of look.

 

[Keith Montgomery]

There is always a variance in natural materials, so I don't have a problem with one wood scale looking somewhat different than the other. The colour and grain structure should of one scale should compliment the other though. When it comes to stag I would want the colour and amount of ridges to be well mtached. In th case of MOP, I would want the two side to match as closely as possible. With ivory, I am willing to accept one side being different than the other. Quite often one scale will have more of the intense colour than the other side. That is okay with me as long as the shades and tones are the same, and as long as one side isn't really colourful while the other is mostly the yellowish shade of inner ivory.

Something that does bother me is when the two scales are not the same thickness, or shape. What I mean by shape is that I have seen instances where one scale was flat and the other rounded. This tends to be with stag and ivory.

The maker should take the time to pick scales that at least look like they could be meant to go with each other. Using scales that are heavily mismatched just doesn't make any sense to me.

 

[Kevin Jones]

Sag, thanks for the complement on my collection. Check back, as I will post more as I get worthy photos.

Back to matching scales, when I pick up a nice knife and think WOW, I like to turn it over and think WOW again. Rather than think Oh, the same.

 

[Keith Montgomery]

Back to matching scales, when I pick up a nice knife and think WOW, I like to turn it over and think WOW again. Rather than think Oh, the same.

I get that feeling from the overall look of the knife. Having scales that are somewhat different from one side to the other doesn't give me a feeling that it is kind of like having two knives.

 

[Kevin Jones]

I get that feeling from the overall look of the knife. Having scales that are somewhat different from one side to the other doesn't give me a feeling that it is kind of like having two knives.

I was kidding about the two knife thing (thus my wink/laughing face).

But on the typical knife other than a little variance in damascus pattern
(if applicable) or say a chisel ground clip, possibly hamon (if applicable) what could/should differ other than scales from side to side?

 

[Peregrin]

I don't mind a little variation. I do have one stag slip joint that has a white/dark brown on one side and cream/light brown on the other. It still bothers me every time I look at it. It's from a pretty well known maker and I can't imagine what he was thinking. I would guess he shares the view that they needn't match.

 

[NickWheeler]

Sorry Roger, I'm think'n I didn't articulate my thoughts very well, because I totally agree with you.

Premium handle material is a must on any high end knife!!!

I just mean it's odd to me when a person is interested in a knife JUST BECAUSE of the wood or whatever the scale material is.

You see the comments here all the time. Maker XYZ posts a knife and you get, "nice ironwood"

Well, what about the knife itself???

Did that make any more sense? Probably not! lol

 

[Keith Montgomery]

I was kidding about the two knife thing (thus my wink/laughing face).

But on the typical knife other than a little variance in damascus pattern
(if applicable) or say a chisel ground clip, possibly hamon (if applicable) what could/should differ other than scales from side to side?

You are referring to fixed blades I would assume. With folders I have seen framelocks with the titanium lock as one side of the handle and another material added to the other side. Also, one side of the blade will have the opening stud or nail nick. I have seen carved handles on fixed blade that had different carving on one side than the other. The same goes for scrimshaw. Also, if the blade has a chisel grind, it will look totally different on one side than the other.

 

[Kevin Jones]

You are referring to fixed blades I would assume. With folders I have seen framelocks with the titanium lock as one side of the handle and another material added to the other side. Also, one side of the blade will have the opening stud or nail nick. I have seen carved handles on fixed blade that had different carving on one side than the other. The same goes for scrimshaw. Also, if the blade has a chisel grind, it will look totally different on one side than the other.

Of course, I'm referring to fixed-blades When have you ever known me to talk about folders

But actually, I'm officially a folder collector now :thumbup:

 

[SharpByCoop]

...and so does our eyes.

"The scales are perfectly matched" like that's one of the most important attributes of the piece.

I'll submit that it may not be the most important, but the rarity of this occurrence makes this aspect notable at the least. Yup, surely there are more defining attributes to a well-made knife. Scale matching is a secondary occurrence.

That said, if the knife passes muster in other areas, wouldn't it be to the benefit of a buyer AND seller to point this out--if this IS the case? I'd say this is marketing 101...

That said: Shiny spokes don't necessarily make for a good Corvette.

Coop

 

[SharpByCoop]

Nick: I remember my dear mom had cooked me a fine chicken dinner. After wolfing it down and loving every bite, I was guzzling a large glass of cold milk and remarked "Wow! Does this milk taste good!"

She never let me forget how I overlooked how delicious the home-cooked meal was, but I only openly commented on the store-bought milk. :thumbdn:

It's a lesson that you reminded me of right here. Same deal.

Coop

 

[HTMD]

She never let me forget how I overlooked how delicious the home-cooked meal was...

Great story - I love it! However, I bet she was gentle and understanding - knowing you were young and in the process of maturing.

The remark in question is typical for someone who is 'young and in the process of maturing' as a knife enthusiast/collector - or possibly by a savy maker or purveyor who appreciates the demographics of his/her business.

I'm embarassed when I think of all the stupid things I've said to people who knew more about knives than I did at the time. I thank them for their patience and the gentle way in which they proceeded to educate me over time.

That said - IMHO, matching scales are always a plus when they're there but rarely a minus when they're not.

 

[notdos]

I'll submit that it may not be the most important, but the rarity of this occurrence makes this aspect notable at the least.
Coop

Exactly,,much like a classic car with very low miles, for example.


Phillip

 

[Kevin Jones]

In the olden days, I used to be a wine buyer. Corks come in many different grades and sizes, which determine their cost. The size and quality of the cork selected by the winemaker usually told me quite a bit about what HE thought about the quality of HIS wine, before the first smell or taste.

Wouldn't know about that Peter. I usually buy the kind with the screw off caps.

 

[Kevin Jones]

So I guess this is what you guys are referring to, when you go on about matching scales looking good.

I will have to agree in this case.

The rest isn't bad either. :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: