SAK replacement scales

Railsplitter

Railsplitter

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I'm thinking about getting a Super Tinker but as far as I can tell they only come with red scales or scales with graphics on them. I'd like to get some black scales to replace the red ones.

How do the scales attach exactly? Will I need any special tools?

Better yet, does anybody know where I can get a Super Tinker with black scales?

Thanks.
 
Vic scales are a friction fit using collars that sit on the rivet pins. So they are an easy replacement without tools, although a padded jaw vice makes it really easy to get them just right. Once the scales have been removed, the holes are usually enlarged a bit, but a little CA glue in the bottom of each will hold them just fine.
Not sure about STs with black scales, but I've gotten genuine scales for replacement/repair from swissbianco. As far as I know there is black celidor as well as nylon.
 
gadgetgeek said:
Vic scales are a friction fit using collars that sit on the rivet pins. So they are an easy replacement without tools, although a padded jaw vice makes it really easy to get them just right. Once the scales have been removed, the holes are usually enlarged a bit, but a little CA glue in the bottom of each will hold them just fine.
Not sure about STs with black scales, but I've gotten genuine scales for replacement/repair from swissbianco. As far as I know there is black celidor as well as nylon.
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Thank you.
 
Cool! I have a knife that needs a broken scale repaced so that helps, thanks.
While on the subject after the scales are removed is it easy to disassemble the knife further? I need to replace a broken saw blade on a 1989 Swiss Champ.
DN
 
David Nowlin said:
Cool! I have a knife that needs a broken scale repaced so that helps, thanks.
While on the subject after the scales are removed is it easy to disassemble the knife further? I need to replace a broken saw blade on a 1989 Swiss Champ.
DN
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When you remove the scales you will find three long brass pins or rivets that hold the knife together. One on each end and one in the center. On each end of each of these rivets is a small brass collar. This is what the scales snap onto. Outboard of the collar is the rivet head. To disassemble, you will need to drill or file this head off the rivet/s. The pin stock will now be to short unless you are removing some layers. So you will need to source some new brass pin stock the same diameter, and long enough to go through the knife and form a rivet head on both ends. You also probably will have to buy a sacrificial knife to steal a saw blade from. I doubt Victorinox is going to sell you just a blade. I too have a Swiss Champ with broken saw blade. My hope is that I can get away with just removing the pin that the saw pivots on, and leave the other two intact. Once you get your new blade in place, and everything put back together, you will need to form new heads on the pin or pins, that replaced the ones you had to remove.

The camperII with nylon scales is probably the cheapest knife you can buy that would have a donor saw. If you can't find that, then the regular camper or the hiker would be next. Any of these should be able to be put back together as a two layer model, once they donate the saw. The camper would be turned into a spartan, or the hiker turned into a tinker.

O.B.
 
Wow! Thanks Old Biker. That is well explained and well thought out. You know your stuff :thumbsup:
I think it’s probably more trouble then it’s worth for me but if i ever get the inclination to do something above my pay grade this operation is at the top of that long list.
DN
 
One day in the early 2000s, my then-girlfriend (now ex-wife) asked what I'd like for my birthday. She lived in Krakow, Poland at the time, and I told her I'd like a Super Tinker with black scales. Poor girl went to every shop in Krakow that stocked SAKs looking for one, until one finally told her they weren't sold like that, but they could sell her black scales and I could fit them myself. So she bought them and I did.

I carried that knife as a lab technician for probably 5 years straight. It saved me COUNTLESS miles worth of walking back to my toolbox. It still holds a special place in my heart, even with its bit of heartache.

I eventually broke the black scales and put the original red ones back on. Now, it belongs to our daughter, who will likely treasure it forever.

Meanwhile, I replaced it with a new Super Tinker last week. (one without any emotional baggage) For the life of me, I can't decide whether I like the Super Tinker better, being more pocket-friendly, or the Explorer, being more tool-laden. ^_^

Enjoy your Super Tinker. I feel like it's probably the best all-around model in the entire line-up: Not too thick to reasonably pocket carry, (Explorer is iffy, in that regard) but not lacking any tools that are everyday-useful. EVO 16 comes close, but it's just missing some elegance, I think.

I might buy another set of black scales to put on my new Super Tinker, just for old time's sake. (and they DO look the business, in black...)
 
Smaug said:
One day in the early 2000s, my then-girlfriend (now ex-wife) asked what I'd like for my birthday. She lived in Krakow, Poland at the time, and I told her I'd like a Super Tinker with black scales. Poor girl went to every shop in Krakow that stocked SAKs looking for one, until one finally told her they weren't sold like that, but they could sell her black scales and I could fit them myself. So she bought them and I did.

I carried that knife as a lab technician for probably 5 years straight. It saved me COUNTLESS miles worth of walking back to my toolbox. It still holds a special place in my heart, even with its bit of heartache.

I eventually broke the black scales and put the original red ones back on. Now, it belongs to our daughter, who will likely treasure it forever.

Meanwhile, I replaced it with a new Super Tinker last week. (one without any emotional baggage) For the life of me, I can't decide whether I like the Super Tinker better, being more pocket-friendly, or the Explorer, being more tool-laden. ^_^

Enjoy your Super Tinker. I feel like it's probably the best all-around model in the entire line-up: Not too thick to reasonably pocket carry, (Explorer is iffy, in that regard) but not lacking any tools that are everyday-useful. EVO 16 comes close, but it's just missing some elegance, I think.

I might buy another set of black scales to put on my new Super Tinker, just for old time's sake. (and they DO look the business, in black...)
Click to expand...

Great story, Jeremy. I ended up getting the Super Tinker in the photo below. It was only a few dollars more than a red one so I thought I would try it out and see if I want to stick with those graphics or go ahead and get some "Plus" scales to replace them.

I absolutely love the Super Tinker. It's about as perfect as I'm going to get and the Plus scales will add a pen if I decide to go that route. I'm as patriotic as the next guy but I'm still on the fence about keeping these scales on the knife. They look great but I'm not sure if I want to make a statement every time I pull out my knife.

Thanks for the post. It made me like my Super Tinker even more.

IMG_4641.JPG
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IMG_4644.JPG
 
Well, I decided to take the Stars & Stripes scales off and replace them with Plus scales. My original plan was to go with black but I ended up ordering yellow instead. So far, they're great.

I'm looking forward to seeing how often I might use the pen that comes with the Plus scales. I carry a pen all day at the workplace because I always need one at work but I don't carry one outside of the workplace because I rarely need one. Whether I use it much or not, it's pretty cool to have a pen right there on my knife just in case.

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Wow. I'm looking at my knife, only in yellow, instead of red. Eye popping color. Now the old trusty red job looks kind of plain. But still the best knife I've ever owned. Don't know how many PC cases I've taken off and put back on with it.

Those American Flag scales looked great, and the yellow ones are over the top.
 
The replacement scales aren't cheap at around $14.00 they're almost as much as an entire knife.
 
kobaltratchet said:
Wow. I'm looking at my knife, only in yellow, instead of red. Eye popping color. Now the old trusty red job looks kind of plain. But still the best knife I've ever owned. Don't know how many PC cases I've taken off and put back on with it.

Those American Flag scales looked great, and the yellow ones are over the top.
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Thanks! I saved the old scales just in case I ever want to put them back on.

Bigbobg said:
The replacement scales aren't cheap at around $14.00 they're almost as much as an entire knife.
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True but I actually consider it a bargain. I got to pick between several colors that the Super Tinker isn't offered in, the scales came with a pen, toothpick, tweezers, and a pin and the price included shipping from Switzerland. Personally, I didn't bat an eye at the $15.00 mine cost me.
 
hobnob said:
Those Yellow scales look sweet. Could you share where you got them?
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It's a not a Bladeforum supporting dealer so I cannot elaborate here. I left you a message on your profile page instead. Tried to post a link but it was too large. You should be able to find them with the info I gave you.
 
Just watch this video:


You'll need a vice or a clamp of some sorts to push the scales on to liners, because it's a pressure fit. I did it with a clamp and some wooden blocks to distribute the force.
 
pfranze78 said:
Just watch this video:


You'll need a vice or a clamp of some sorts to push the scales on to liners, because it's a pressure fit. I did it with a clamp and some wooden blocks to distribute the force.
Click to expand...

Good info. Mine are a very tight fit. I used a wooden jaw vice that can came with my workbench when I bought it. I wedged a micro fiber cloth between the scales and the jaws just to be on the safe side.

It worked great and the scales won't be falling off anytime soon.
 
I've recently taken off and refitted some 8 sets of scales onto SAK's. Push on with fingers or perhaps just using teeth to close them all the way. Never had anything like needing a vice.
 
Pomsbz said:
I've recently taken off and refitted some 8 sets of scales onto SAK's. Push on with fingers or perhaps just using teeth to close them all the way. Never had anything like needing a vice.
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I have a Deluxe Tinker in my car that I used to practice on since this would have been my first time replacing scales. Those came off easily and they pressed back on easily too. I didn't need anything but firm finger pressure.

These new scales on the other hand, wouldn't budge past a certain point when trying to install them without a vice. I can only assume it's because they are new and the mounting points weren't stretched out from prior installation.
 
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