Handle questions

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xrangerx

Gold Member
Joined
Jul 31, 2012
Messages
823
Okay here goes. I'm not a fan of the factory scales that came with my bk2. So I was thinking about buying another set. I love the wood ones, but how do they hold up to time and hard use? Are certain types of wood better than others? Would I be better going with micarta? G10 looks great but is a bit out of my price range. If I went with micarta I would want something other than the tan that is offered, does anyone know where I could get green (without having to make them myself lol).

Thanks and I'm looking forward to your responses!
 
Yup lots of good scales you can get. Kryptoglow would be another great choice.
 
It is REALLY easy to dye Micarta scales! You can do it for under $3 and less than 15 minutes from start to finish! The pic attached is my BK-7 with Micarta scales that I dyed using black Rit brand liquid dye, and the scales actually took on a brownish/green color that was exactly what I wanted. I love the look of wood, and it is definitely a durable choice, but
I like Micarta because it has a "grippiness" to it that feels good even when wet, and I do a lot of water based activities. If you want to try dyeing micarta send me a PM and I will give instructions, it is really easy!
BK7.jpg
 
xrangerx said:
Does wood hold up well through use?
Click to expand...

It depends on the wood and how it's treated. Soft woods like pine or cedar aren't going to hold up well at all.

Hardwoods like walnut, hickory, oak and maple hold up quite well with a simple oil finish and very basic maintenance, although they will darken over time. That's not always a bad thing.

Naturally dense and oily woods like rosewood, cocobolo, and desert ironwood don't even require a finish.

If you have the wood professionally stabilized (or buy it that way) you can use almost anything, including burls and heavily spalted pieces that would be too weak and crumbly otherwise. I do NOT recommend "stabilizing" wood at home yourself.
 
I have not had the opportunity to use 710's scales but I do have 2 sets of wood scales from Tommy and they are awesome. They have held up so far and from what I have see. He typically uses hard woods for his scales so I fully expect them to hold up well.
 
not the same animals but:


Home made Micarta feels much better
than

Zytel, factory
 
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