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"Pyramidal Textured" G-10 Scales Purchased From Jantz

Drdan

Drdan

Joined
Dec 24, 2003
Messages
1,390
I just received a pair of the contoured pyramid textured scales from Jantz seen below. The grip on these babies will be incredible. Have anyone used these scales, and was it necessary to "tame down" the grip a bit with sandpaper?

I ordered BLACK grips, and they are obviously gray, not black. Is there any way to get them a deep black color? I'm thinking of getting a permanent ink Sharpie, removing the innards, and brushing them over the scales once they're been shaped and secured... The scales will be used for a display knife, and will only be used for light handling. Any ideas?

Thanks very much for your input; it's most appreciated! :)
 
I can't see your picture and have never used the product you have. With that said, a lot of blacks look gray until you buff it. This stuff will probably can't be buffed but I have used WD-40 to darken micarta and g10.
 
Thanks, Matt. I'm having an Italian knifemaker make me a custom, and really like the textured pattern on these. I wet the scales, and they became a very dark gray immediately. I imagine WD-40 will make them even darker. If they come out jet black the knife will look great; if only a dark gray, I won't be too happy.

IMG_0201.jpg
 
That looks like it would be uncomfortable in your hand. Like it would rip your hand apart! I would think it needs to be smoothed down some for comfort.
 
S.Alexander said:
That looks like it would be uncomfortable in your hand. Like it would rip your hand apart! I would think it needs to be smoothed down some for comfort.
Click to expand...

Yes, I agree. Smoothing it down a bit will allow the knjfe to be held very firmly yet comfortably, and there'll be plenty of grip left. Thanks!
 
Call jantz and tell them. Have them send you a black set and, if they want the grey ones back, a postage paid envelope to return them in. Either that or a refund. Seems pretty simple to me
 
Funny, I am making a knife for a buddy and he just gave me a set of OD green scales to use. Same texture from Jantz. He had the same concern about color; very white compared to what he expected. It's just due to the machined surface. I planned to try buffing with a loose wheel and some white compound. If that failed I was going to hit it with wd40. Had the same conversation about the aggressive texture too.

I was trying to figure out how to drill these for screws. With the curved outside surface I don't think it's going to lay flat in order to use the tang as a drill guide as I normally would.
 
JG Custom Metal Works said:
Call jantz and tell them. Have them send you a black set and, if they want the grey ones back, a postage paid envelope to return them in. Either that or a refund. Seems pretty simple to me
Click to expand...

What you see in the photo IS the black set. :) TILLER explains in his post that it's the machining that turned the exposed G-10 gray. I'll be sure to have the knifemaker buff the handle with WD-10 to get em' as dark as possible.
 
TILLER said:
Funny, I am making a knife for a buddy and he just gave me a set of OD green scales to use. Same texture from Jantz. He had the same concern about color; very white compared to what he expected. It's just due to the machined surface. I planned to try buffing with a loose wheel and some white compound. If that failed I was going to hit it with wd40. Had the same conversation about the aggressive texture too.

I was trying to figure out how to drill these for screws. With the curved outside surface I don't think it's going to lay flat in order to use the tang as a drill guide as I normally would.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your post. My knifemaker is going to have to figure out the same solution for drilling the scales!
 
Yeah. Typically would drill from tang side. I haven't tried it yet, but imagine drilling from the tang side. Then the curved textured surface is down. On the flat drill press table. Again, haven't tried it but I don't imagine it will be stable. I was thinking I'd put the scales in a vise to hold them flat.

The scales appear to be cnc machined to achieve the texture. They are not like peel ply.
 
A jig similar to this is what Mr. Frank had in mind when he said to work them from the tang side. Its a fairly simple build and makes using rounded or uneven materials fairly painless.
 

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  • Tapered tang drilling jig.jpg
    Tapered tang drilling jig.jpg
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Hey TILLER,

I met up with Alessandro Cosmai, who is an Italian knifemaker. He said the gray G-10 scales will turn black with the final buffing, and will use WD-40 if needed. I guess it's a well known procedure amongst the pros. He was also impressed with the extreme bite of the grips, and said he would tweak the amount of grip to perfection.

Best wishes with your project, and please show some "before and after" shots of the G-10 scales. :)
 
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