Modification question

Nonprophet

Nonprophet

Joined
Dec 22, 2010
Messages
231
I have an old Prince. I want to take the wood off of it and replace it but I'm not sure if there is stuff under them that affects the operation of the lock or opening. I want to grind the pins down flat (I assume they're peened in on both sides and won't just come out) and epoxy on something different with no pins. I jsut don't want to ruin it by covering up something I shouldn't or by removing those pins and finding I need them later. Or even worse epoxying those new scales on it and finding there is some reason to need to remove them if I need to have the knife repaired. Any suggestions?
 
NOthing? No one can tell me if it's not going to hurt anything to replace the scales on my Prince? Surely someone out there has some knowledge they want to share!
 
I have been thinking of rescaling one of the 500 series myself. I'm pretty sure you can remove the heads of the pins easily to get the scales off the side. Maybe I'll try it this weekend to see what I find. I have a couple beaters laying around. The pins merely hold the scales on with the 500 series. No rocker pin or anything like that going through the scales.

If you epoxy new ones on, you'll have your work cut out for you getting them off, but I'm sure it can be done.
 
The information in your original post should work well for you. Scales glued on with epoxy can be readily removed by placing the entire knife in a jar (container) of acetone for several days.
 
Non, Be patient. Your Prince came out in early 77 and its likely the 500 series followed the same pattern as the 110 which by this time Buck was not using adhesives on the wood slabs. They were held on w/ pins.
You can sand the heads off and see if they can gently be removed. If not then follow Tin Sue's advice. DM
 
Non, Be patient. Your Prince came out in early 77 and its likely the 500 series followed the same pattern as the 110 which by this time Buck was not using adhesives on the wood slabs. They were held on w/ pins.
You can sand the heads off and see if they can gently be removed. If not then follow Tin Sue's advice. DM
 
Well I'm SURE that the scales aren't glued on. They move around freely, wiggling all about which is what made me think of rescaling them in the first place. The pins are surely the only thing holding them on! Good to know. Thaanks everyone!
 
I think this photo will give you an idea of how things look sans scales.
$(KGrHqRHJDIE7zJynhfqBPFec2meIQ~~60_57.JPG
 
McGrain.... I'm not overly worried about a warranty. Knife is almost 20 years old, anything I do that would require repair surely isn't going to fall under the warranty in the first place. CaseyChaos, this is exactly what I was looking for! I just wanted to be sure that there wasn't sompthing under there held on by the pins that grinding them off would ruin! That looks good and means Old Faithful is going to get a facelift!
 
Nonprophet said:
McGrain.... I'm not overly worried about a warranty. Knife is almost 20 years old, anything I do that would require repair surely isn't going to fall under the warranty in the first place. CaseyChaos, this is exactly what I was looking for! I just wanted to be sure that there wasn't sompthing under there held on by the pins that grinding them off would ruin! That looks good and means Old Faithful is going to get a facelift!
Click to expand...

Ya gotta share the mod pics with us once you get it knocked out! Good luck. It's a lot of fun tinkering with an old beater and giving it new life.
 
Here's a couple of 503s that I did. First is Black Bean and the second is Coolibah. Remember to block off the holes where the pins were to stop your epoxy/glue from getting into the works - I use tape on the inside of the liners. I also find it easier to attach one scale at a time and let it set up before attaching the second scale.

503bbean5.jpg


coolibah5033.jpg
 
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It helps to roughen up the liners a little with a small sanding block or sanding stick to get better adhesion of the glue.
 
2manyknives said:
Here's a couple of 503s that I did. First is Black Bean and the second is Coolibah. Remember to block off the holes where the pins were to stop your epoxy/glue from getting into the works - I use tape on the inside of the liners. I also find it easier to attach one scale at a time and let it set up before attaching the second scale.

503bbean5.jpg


coolibah5033.jpg
Click to expand...

Thats probably the best bit of advice...plug the rivet holes. It only takes a tiny bit of glue to interfer with the path of the rocker and that could sieze up the action.
Nice re-handle on those 503's!
 
BLocking the holes is something I never would have thought of! Thanks a million for that advice! On another note, will the rivets just pull out once I get the scales off or will the push through the other side? How do you get them out?
 
They pull out easily or you can cut them short and push them through. Either way works.
 
I have an old Prince. I want to take the wood off of it and replace it but I'm not sure if there is stuff under them that affects the operation of the lock or opening. I want to grind the pins down flat (I assume they're peened in on both sides and won't just come out) and epoxy on something different with no pins. I just don't want to ruin it by covering up something I shouldn't or by removing those pins and finding I need them later. Or even worse epoxying those new scales on it and finding there is some reason to need to remove them if I need to have the knife repaired. Any suggestions?
 
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