First Custom Scales Project for ESEE-4

[tohellwithhades]

I keep seeing all these awesome looking wood scales for the ESEE knives that others have made, so I decided to try my hand at it. For my first round, I selected curly maple, which looks amazing when finished. I did the rough cut, primary shaping, holes, and fit today. Tomorrow I'll be doing the final shaping along with stain tests (on the remainder block). Afterwards will be the oil finish. Here are some progress pics. It's not a perfect fit, but certainly not bad for the first attempt.

 

[Blake Dow]

Those look super clean, I like them!


How do you think they will stand up to dirt/grime?

 

[JSMcustoms]

Very nice work, though I would suggest putting a few coats of polyurethane or some sort of other lacquer on them for protection from water etc.

 

[tohellwithhades]

Thanks guys!

@Blake: They should hold up fine as long as I properly finish and care for them.

@JSM: Noted!

 

[Brules1]

Very nice work.

 

[tohellwithhades]

Rescaled for full length plus a modified finger guard. Finished final shaping just before it started to rain:

No issues this round with the exception of the countersink bit not giving me a true round inset (somewhat of a star shape from the five blades). I think a sanding cone bit for a Dremel would have been better and I can touch that up when I feel like it. Here it is ready to stain:

 

[tohellwithhades]

Stained, buffed, and ready for Tru-Oil tomorrow

 

[tohellwithhades]

Alrighty, here is the final product. Not bad for round one