new scales for my RC 6?

They don't sell the scales alone because they are hand fit to the blade.

No one sells customs at this time that I know of.
 
You might be able to bother a maker for custom scales, but there's nothing marketed like Dales Scales for the 6 ATM. You could get some "whatever matterial you want" and make your own. It's a great project.

God bless,
Adam
 
marathonman makes scales out of cocobolo and other exotics - no idea what he charges, but they're pretty.
 
Dale at the the Knife connection will be making scales for the 6. So far he has brought out scales for the 4 and the 3. So, patience grasshopper! Out of curiosity, what's wrong with the stock scales?
 
Yes, please let us know if there is something wrong with the stock scales.
 
I just bought two ESEE RC5 knives. One for me, and one for my son for Christmas. I already opened mine, and wiped the blade down with a light oil, and made the mistake of letting the rag touch the scales. The micarta sucked the oil up, and got noticeably darker where the rag touched it. I'm guessing that if one was to skin an animal with this knife, any blood on the scales would be permanent, correct? If that's the case, I'll try to seal the scales before staining them any further. I know this is a tool, and not designed to be hung on the wall, but I don't like my tools to look like they're haphazardly cared for.
 
usmcj said:
I just bought two ESEE RC5 knives. One for me, and one for my son for Christmas. I already opened mine, and wiped the blade down with a light oil, and made the mistake of letting the rag touch the scales. The micarta sucked the oil up, and got noticeably darker where the rag touched it. I'm guessing that if one was to skin an animal with this knife, any blood on the scales would be permanent, correct? If that's the case, I'll try to seal the scales before staining them any further. I know this is a tool, and not designed to be hung on the wall, but I don't like my tools to look like they're haphazardly cared for.
Click to expand...

hmmm,, I'm interested about this as well...?
 
usmcj said:
I just bought two ESEE RC5 knives. One for me, and one for my son for Christmas. I already opened mine, and wiped the blade down with a light oil, and made the mistake of letting the rag touch the scales. The micarta sucked the oil up, and got noticeably darker where the rag touched it. I'm guessing that if one was to skin an animal with this knife, any blood on the scales would be permanent, correct? If that's the case, I'll try to seal the scales before staining them any further. I know this is a tool, and not designed to be hung on the wall, but I don't like my tools to look like they're haphazardly cared for.
Click to expand...

Hot soapy water, and you're good to go. The oil darkening will fade away.

Seriously. I have plenty of hunting blades with micarta scales (Swamp Rat and Busse in particular), and I just wash them well after use.
 
I gutted, skinned and butchered 3 deer with my ESEE-3 this year....had blood all over it. Washed it off with warm water and soap and it let it dry....it is as good as new.
 
usmcj said:
I just bought two ESEE RC5 knives. One for me, and one for my son for Christmas. I already opened mine, and wiped the blade down with a light oil, and made the mistake of letting the rag touch the scales. The micarta sucked the oil up, and got noticeably darker where the rag touched it. I'm guessing that if one was to skin an animal with this knife, any blood on the scales would be permanent, correct? If that's the case, I'll try to seal the scales before staining them any further. I know this is a tool, and not designed to be hung on the wall, but I don't like my tools to look like they're haphazardly cared for.
Click to expand...

Done this many times...also have "stained" the slabs with all matters of other contaminants (blood, oils, mud, ash, sap, grease...this knife shys away from nothing).

While I do meticulously care for my knives, I *DO* want this particular example to look like it has been through hell.

That said, the staining never takes...sweat from my hands alone seems to have a cleaning effect on the slabs...they look dark gray after use then dry out to a fairly uniform color. Here is the most recent photo. I have never cleaned the handles, and have over sprayed them with WD-40 several times.

The burn in the divot is permanent though.
picture.php
 
I'll wait a bit and see what happens. I dismantle my guns to clean 'em, but I'm not in favor of having to do the same thing with the knife. None of my KaBars or Gerbers did this, but perhaps I'm just not used to micarta.

Thanks for the responses.
 
usmcj said:
I just bought two ESEE RC5 knives. One for me, and one for my son for Christmas. I already opened mine, and wiped the blade down with a light oil, and made the mistake of letting the rag touch the scales. The micarta sucked the oil up, and got noticeably darker where the rag touched it. I'm guessing that if one was to skin an animal with this knife, any blood on the scales would be permanent, correct? If that's the case, I'll try to seal the scales before staining them any further. I know this is a tool, and not designed to be hung on the wall, but I don't like my tools to look like they're haphazardly cared for.
Click to expand...

I was employed (retired) in an industry that used Micarta (trademark and the "M" should be capitalized) in a variety of capacities too numerous to list here. As an engineer, I would routinely order the stuff by the ton for a number of projects. Because Micarta is so impervious to a host of environmental conditions (the product was developed early last century) it continues to meet the tough demands and strict specifications placed upon it.

Micarta is a composite material (laminated if you will) that can consist of a number of different substrates. We see cloth, canvas, paper most often for knife handles. Other substrates exist for other applications. These substrates are set in phenolic, melamine, fiberglass epoxy resin, etc. I have used them all for a variety of applications.

Micarta is not only an excellent electrical insulator (its original purpose), it has been used for countless other things such as airplane propellers, machine gears, knife handles, rockets and weapons to toys and musical instruments, etc., etc.

Though Micarta will often see the sterile circuit board sort of application, it VERY often sees an environment filled with oil lubricants and harsh electrical cleaners and solvents (trichloroethane, etc.). The material does just dandy under these conditions.

What oil you got on your Micarta scales won't hurt them whatsoever. That oil is only on the surface and cannot penetrate the resin. The other option that the maker has with their scales is to finish them out with a barrier such as wax compounds. Myself, I prefer the "grippy" surface on the scales that ESEE provides. I sharpen many of my knives on oilstones. Since I use both hands when sharpening on a bench stone, I always manage to get oil on both hands and then transfer that to my knife handles. Skinning game to camp kitchen will find a host of oils and fats to discolor your Micarta knife scales. Even the natural oils on your hands will darken your ESEE knife scales. Again, this doesn't hurt them. Over a short period of time, those knife scales will be all the same color. If one needs to (blood and yuck), you can wash the scales with hot water and Dawn soap to keep them clean.

These scales have had contact with everything from unintentional motor oil to tree sap. They darkened from the get-go when first used in the camp kitchen. The scales still have a nice grippy texture with a dark pleasing color. All normal stuff! :)
rc61o.jpg
 
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Dannyboy, I always appreciate when someone with "inside" knowledge takes the time to share something like this. I also wondered about the toughness of the Micarta scales. It seems they are as tough as the blades. I'm glad to hear that. Thanks again and take care.
 
Dannyboy, thanks for your input. I'm sorry it took me so long to respond, but priorities demanded my attention elsewhere...... I appreciate your time.
 
I like the material the scales are made of, but would like them to be a bit grippier, similar to my VZ Alien grips for my 1911, now if I could secure an extra set of grips, I'd be willing to modify them, but I just can't bring myself to risk it without knowing I could fix any mishaps.
 
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