Different scale sides?

pjsjr

pjsjr

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Jan 2, 2005
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Just picked this one up yesterday 'cause it's an oldie and the scales are real different from each other. Just wondering if it was just the way it was made at the time...someone not paying attention and grabbed two really different looking scales...anyway...I couldn't not get a nice old three liner:D. Preston
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I have a 3 liner like that, although not that pronounced. I see alot of them on the bay with noticably different scale shades-seems common to that era or at least not uncommon to the macassar eb era. I have a 3 dot with different shade scales as well.
 
I'd guess that both are Macassar Ebony. One scale has the heartwood which often has a lighter color.
 
Thanks to you both for your replies.

wolfdog, I think that both are M. ebony also...just didn't know about the different parts of the wood.

imafritz, that's reassuring, I think, that you've seen so many with different shades of the wood. Preston
 
pjsjr said:
wolfdog, I think that both are M. ebony also...just didn't know about the different parts of the wood.
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Actually, I may have that wrong. On many woods the heartwood is darker and the outer wood is lighter. Here is a picture of planks of Macassar Ebony:




I'm not sure how the planks are cut in relation to the log. This could be the normal pattern throughout. Interesting subject, though. :)
 
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wolfdog, thanks for posting the pic of M. ebony. I can see where there could be a big difference in the scales if cut from pieces such as you picture.

I'm going to check my other 110/112s and see if there is much varition. Preston
 
pjsjr said:
I can see where there could be a big difference in the scales if cut from pieces such as you picture.
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Yes, and in my opinion the variation would make the knife more interesting and unique: The bigger the pattern difference or variations, the more collectable (my guess) since it appears to be the inherent property of the wood.:)

Another pic (lighting is different)


 
Wolf, Yes the lighter wood is closest to the bark and the darker is from the center . DM
 
I have a few earlier knives about like that myself. I kind of like them like that. HL
 
The first picture of the wood piled up is very interesting. The wood has a beautiful grain that you don't see in a knife scale.
 
edbeau said:
The first picture of the wood piled up is very interesting. The wood has a beautiful grain that you don't see in a knife scale.
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Here is an electric guitar with a Macassar Ebony body and Gabon Ebony fingerboard:


The Macassar is said to be a very resonant wood making it good for musical instruments.
 
Macassar ebony is fully marbled, with the dark/light bands intertwined. Sometimes they are fairly linear, sometimes not. I have a few large blocks of it, and it is very interesting wood to look at, especially on the end grain.
 
:cool:...Just had to pop in to make this remark about light or dark scales on a Buck.

If you happen to have an old buck lyin' around that has been packaged for a long time in a blister pack or if it was on display in your collection since you got it without being moved or handled for a long time...take a look at the side that has been hidden from view.

Many, many times that side will be noticeably darker as it hasn't been exposed to outside lighting. I have a few that I know were almost identical on both sides at one time that are now looking like someone intentionally put on differing scales...jus' sayin'...;)
 
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