My First Attempt at Custom Scales

Fire Beard

Fire Beard

Joined
Sep 1, 2013
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1,380
Bought a Cold Steel Mackinac Hunter a week or so ago. Love the knife, hated the factory scales (plastic, faux stag). Went up north yesterday to visit my family, and my stepdad and I made some custom scales for it. Bought two blocks of solid ebony macassar wood, went into our shop and had at it. Used a circular saw, belt sander, dremmels, sandpaper blocks, and a whole lotta elbow grease. I'm very pleased with the finished result and it really gives a completely different look to the knife. I love it! I carry this one in a slip case, so I have no use for the clip (which also left something to be desired). All in all, a nice day working together with the man who raised me and taught me everything I know; makes this knife very special to me. What do y'all think?



 
That came out very nice. Great choice of wood.

For aesthetics, I would prefer the wood to extend all the way to the top and bottom of the handle. Although that may be a pain to get over the pivot and it might not fasten down as well. Great job though!
 
Special is the right word. That's so cool you did it with your StepDad. Ya'll did a great job as well.

Good on ya!
 
Don't know which is nicer - the story or the knife?

Great job and equally great story.

Keep up the good work on both fronts.
 
NICE thing #1: working with your dad...wish I could.
NICE thing #2: your grips turned out great. That ebony is nice.
I have some macassar; haven't had the guts to try it yet. I have materials and tools; darned little incentive.
 
My Mackinac Hunter been sitting around for months with no scales on it. Now I have some inspiration to get of my butt. Those look great!
 
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Thanks a lot for your input, everyone! I'm very pleased with it. I bought the ebony blocks at a wood crafting store. An independent place. I wish there was something like that where I live. I might go ahead and grab the Lone Star hunter next and try a different wood. They had a great selection that made it a hard decision.
 
Excellent looking work! New scales can really change the appearance of a knife. I've rescaled a couple of knives with wood scales. Its fun and I like the way the wood feels too.

Ric
 
benchwarmer380 said:
That came out very nice. Great choice of wood.

For aesthetics, I would prefer the wood to extend all the way to the top and bottom of the handle. Although that may be a pain to get over the pivot and it might not fasten down as well. Great job though!
Click to expand...

G'day from Australia,

Have a Mack on order - was thinking the same thing. Is the pivot bolt removal? If it was - could be replaced with a longer one to allow full scales (which is what i hope to do)

Anyone with a Mack able to say if this is possible??

cheers,

Iain

p.s. i'm a newbie to blade forums, but have been around and collecting knives all my life. Have started a small old timer collection (american made of course) as my first real knife was an old timer dad gave me for my eigth birthday (42 years ago) Its still in in my EDC rotation.
 
benchwarmer380 said:
That came out very nice. Great choice of wood.

For aesthetics, I would prefer the wood to extend all the way to the top and bottom of the handle. Although that may be a pain to get over the pivot and it might not fasten down as well. Great job though!
Click to expand...

G'day from Australia,

Was wondering the same thing. Have a Mack on order. Can anyone tell me if the pivot bolt is removable? If so, could it be replaced with a longer bolt to allow full scales?

I am a newbie here - hello all. Been around knives all my life and have a modest collection. Have been accumulating a small Old Timer collection (US made of course) for a while. My first real knife was an 8th birthday present from my dear old dad. Its still in my regular EDC rotation 42 years later and still brings back memories (and a few heart felt tears) whenever she's in my hands.

Cheers,

Iain
 
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I made scales for a Kershaw (Chill). The wood was about 1/4" thick. Put them on, knowing I'd have blocky handles. Then came the fun part. Started shaping it with sanders, dremel, files etc. I'd stop and check to see how it felt in hand as I worked on it. Made it ergonomic for the way i like to use the knife. All said and done, the scales were quite a bit thicker than the factory G10, but it sure made the knife feel much better in hand.

I was using some left over flooring material (ipe) so I figured if I messed it up or didn't like it, I'd just make another set of scales.

Anyhow, just something to think about and try if you want to.


Ric
 
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