Buck Vantage handle question?

[jimnolimit]

i have the vantage pro (large) and i was looking at pics of the vantage select, the select's scales look to be flatter and more grippy?(i prefer) where the pro's scales are a little more rounded. i have 2 ideas:
1. sanding the G10 scales on the pro as flat as i can (and creating a coarser texture)
2. buying a select and swapping scales.

has anyone swapped scales on these knives or has held both models? are the select's scales more flat and grippy than the G10 scales on the pro model?

thanks.

 

[FlyingKiwi]

From what I know, you cant sand G10 rough, only smooth. Your best bet would be to change the profile of the handles and do the cut-out notch thing with files or a belt sander. I cant really explain it more than that but you will see process applied to a lot of modded scales.

The black (zytel?) plastic of the select are sure to feel cheap and even with an aggressive texture they wont outshine g-10 in its commanding ways of creating traction.

 

[Rednek]

I have been going through the same thing with these Vantage handles.The Vantage ecolite has the flattest scales,but theyre not "grippy".They are paperstone and feels like thin hard plastic,very cheap feeling.I took it back and got a Vantage select with Dymondwood handles,and although they have a better feel than the paper stone,theyre still not as "grippy" as I would like.It would be nice if they had a handle similar to a Gerber Gator.

 

[Nifelheim]

Or you can file down the G10 a la Spyderco's PPT. Here's what I have in mind:

 

[jimnolimit]

ok, based on what you guys said im going to stick with the G10 scales. i think im going to try and flatten/roughen them with some 60 or 80 grit sandpaper, i should be able to easily take 0.5-1.0mm of material off each scale. i doubt i will try to groove it like a spyderco ppt because the buck scales are only about 3.0mm-3.5mm at their thickest point and about 2mm at their thinnest.

another modification i want to make is to add more relief to where my thumb can access the blades hole (to open it) and the liner lock to close it.

p.s. im also toying with the idea of adding some minor jimping to both the back of the blade and thumb section of the liner lock.