Experience using scales from a "clone' or "tribute" knife on the real thing?

scotchleaf

scotchleaf

Joined
Oct 23, 2006
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I'd love to have custom scales for several of my folding knives. I've tried making wood scales, but end up getting frustrated due to the thinness of the wood required, misalignment, etc.

I've looked at some makers' scales (like Cuscadi), but can't justify the cost - in some cases approaching the knife's original cost.

Which leads me to ask, does anyone know of a combination real and a "clone" knives with interchangeable scales?

For example, I'd love to put CF, wood or micarta scales on my PM2, but can't justify $50-$150 for them. Buying a "tribute" knife with nice scales might be a solution.
 
in 99.9% of all cases this will not work. You usually have holes that don't line up and the jimped areas don't align and sometime even screw and pivot locations are the wrong size and slightly out of place. I have no problem with clones. But if you have the real thing I wouldn't go putting clone parts on it. If you don't want to pony up for custom parts I would just leave it stock. And seeing many times there are multiple people making clones of the same model you may have to buy 4-5 different knives to get the parts you need. And that being the case you may as well just pay for custom work
 
Like my Violet friend says.......they won't fit.
Also, would you think the quality of the scales on a clone will make it worth doing a swap? The cost of clones should be a clue as to the value of their scales.
Think the band on a fake Rolex would fit the real thing correctly??
Nope. Don't waste your time or money.
Save up a little and get the real thing. Customs from S Ketchen, Shepard or Putman will fit perfectly. They will feel and look great. They will also up the value of your knife.
Joe
 
I've had some clones that scales fit the real knives quite well. For example, the scale on the CF-scaled Southard clone fit a real Southard almost perfectly.

That said, you could get a nice custom scale for a Southard (like these he made for me) for not much more than the cost of the clone knife, if more at all.
 
I won an auction on the bay for a ZT0566 after I won I immediately ordered blue titanium screws for it. They both arrived a day apart and once the knife came I sat down to switch out the screws. Not 1 single screw fit pivot and standoffs included. So I immediately contacted the maker of the screws thinking he just sent the screws for a different knife. He told me sent the right set and told me I probably bought a clone. He sent a link along with his response. I followed the link and there was my knife stock photos and all! So be careful there are clones on the bay being sold as the real thing!
I did get the real ZT0566 and the screws fit perfectly! The clones now are done so well, unless you know what to look for you can get burned. I wouldn't swap parts from a clone to your original as the materials are not comparably the same. There much cheaper as to why they sell so cheap.
Like it was said above you may have to bye 3-4 clones to get it all to come together. At that point you could've bought those custom scales you were eye ballin!



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Don't give up! Every time I make a scale or handle, I get a bit better at it. Maybe it's my nerd side, but I get a lot more enjoyment out of something I have bodgered together for myself than from a stock item from the store. A coping saw, some small drill bits and sandpaper....Small pieces of semi-exotic wood aren't too expensive, and CF occasionally goes on sale at BladeHQ. And swear words, you need plenty of swear words, but it's still totally worth it.
 
It's not a "tribute" knife if it is a knock-off/clone/counterfeit...

If you want a PM2 with Carbon fiber slabs, belly up to the table.
 
Artifakt said:
I won an auction on the bay for a ZT0566 after I won I immediately ordered blue titanium screws for it. They both arrived a day apart and once the knife came I sat down to switch out the screws. Not 1 single screw fit pivot and standoffs included. So I immediately contacted the maker of the screws thinking he just sent the screws for a different knife. He told me sent the right set and told me I probably bought a clone. He sent a link along with his response. I followed the link and there was my knife stock photos and all! So be careful there are clones on the bay being sold as the real thing!
I did get the real ZT0566 and the screws fit perfectly! The clones now are done so well, unless you know what to look for you can get burned. I wouldn't swap parts from a clone to your original as the materials are not comparably the same. There much cheaper as to why they sell so cheap.
Like it was said above you may have to bye 3-4 clones to get it all to come together. At that point you could've bought those custom scales you were eye ballin!



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Sorry to hear you've been ripped off but all should know there are clones of everything. That's why it's important to know who you're buying from and Ebay, as much as I like to buy some things there, is one of the worse. I have a friend that got a Driver for golf that was fake, another person for my club got a $400 phony putter. Knives have few parts which make them targets for clones. I'm sure you know but you may have some recourse with Ebay if you wish to make a issue of it.
 
cash71 said:
Sorry to hear you've been ripped off but all should know there are clones of everything. That's why it's important to know who you're buying from and Ebay, as much as I like to buy some things there, is one of the worse. I have a friend that got a Driver for golf that was fake, another person for my club got a $400 phony putter. Knives have few parts which make them targets for clones. I'm sure you know but you may have some recourse with Ebay if you wish to make a issue of it.
Click to expand...

I have been dealing with the seller directly.
For now I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt in that he didn't know it was a fake. He had bought it on eBay himself and he is currently going through ebay to get a refund from the seller that sold it to him. When that's settled he's going to pay me back. Also I kept the fake just in case, he can't resell something hr doesn't have and now my don has a new knife to beat up! The seller had kept very good communication with me throughout so believe he didn't know. Please don't get me wrong though I will ruin him on the bay if my money doesn't show up!!! I hate f'in thieves!!!!!! [emoji35]


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