How about mfgs. offering scale options?

[Fish30114]

Perhaps this thinking stems from my preference of a knife having matching scales, but I've been wondering why the mfgs. don't offer some optional scales for their knives. As an example, I have a ZT 350 with matching black G-10 scales, but if ZT offered replacement scales in say CF or heat colored TI, I would buy a set in a heartbeat, assuming reasonable pricing. I think the mfgs. would sell a ton of scales if they offered the option, I see lots of folks looking for a scale or scales in such & such color out of various materials all the time. Surely with the equipment and programming for it, for specific knives, the mfgs. could offer replacement scale options for very reasonable prices. I can see so many options, and knowing knife nuts, some would own many sets for one given knife.
Just curious as to ya'lls thought on this

 

[RevDevil]

Some do, Hinderer offers a lot of alternative scales with texture and without, various colors and materials. For the most part of what has been previously discussed is that factory production schedules are very tightly adhered to and controlled. My guess is that the manufacturers are too busy making the actual knives. Keep in mind not everyone that buys a knife, is going to want to or knows how to disassemble it to modify it. There is already a good sized segment that is growing of aftermarket knife pimpers that can make scales for just about anything. The quality ranged from good to perfect. The "Knife Nuts" are a very small segment of the actual knife buying market. How many people have you ever met with a $250+ folder vs people with a simple Victorinox/traditional pocketknife? By my count it's about 20:1 in favor of the Victorinox/traditional pocket knife.

 

[Cereal_killer]

Most mfg's simply don't have the capacity to offer such services not to mention the PR/CS nightmare- you can't disassemble the knife or it'll void the warranty but here, buy this part that absolutely requires almost full disassembly to install.

Just look at spyderco (as one example), they can't even keep up with demand for knives , how/when/where will they make the scales?

But again the big issue is so few people will buy them in the big picture it's not worth it to make a whole new division of the company to cater to a small and select group of consumers who can source their own aftermarket parts already.