Scale Replacement - Wadda ya think?

Joined
Mar 15, 2001
Messages
2,450
Here are a few scans of my first attempt to replace scales. I replaced the standard zytel scales on this CRKT Tighe Tac with stabilized maple burl. I think it turned out OK. I may still replace the spacer with maple burl, although I kind of like the contrast too. The scans really don't do justice to the maple burl -- it's much nicer looking in "real life" (yeah, that's what they all say :D).

- Mark

Crkt.jpg


Crkt2.jpg


Crkt3.jpg
 
Looks pretty good, dude...wish mine looked like that. I think you made a nice choice for material too. How'd you take the original scales off?
 
Thanks Zenghost. When deciding on the scale material, it was a tossup between maple burl or cocobolo. My wife chose the maple burl (she has a far better eye for these things than I do). The scales on the Tighe Tac are held on with two tiny torx screws (hard to tell from the pictures). I was actually living under the delusion that this would make it easier to customize than if I had to mess with pins :rolleyes:. I found out the hard way that drilling the holes in the scales to perfectly match existing holes in the liners is a b*tch. But on the upside, I now have a much greater appreciation of the work knifemakers go through to make our "prized possessions". Overall it was a lot of fun, but challenging.

- Mark
 
pahl: Thanks. IIRC, in another recent BF thread a knifemaker basically stated that no customized knife is ever made perfectly. Well this one is no exception. However, I think it does look respectable enough for a first try.

ThinkOfTheChildren: Each scale took approx 5 hours to make, plus add in time for planning it out, etc. and you probably have a total of maybe 12 hours. Yes, this is why I'm not going to quit my day job. :D It was a labor of love.

- Mark
 
Mark,

That looks very nice! One thing I'd do, 'tho, since I hate sharp edges (on all but the blade), I think that I'd slightly round the edges of the scales.:).
 
Dann: Yeah, good idea. I basically tried to mimic the original scale design as a first pass (the original is a very "pointy" design). I did add a bit more thickness to the scales vs. the originals, but that was about the only design change I made. I think after I live with it for a while, I may make get brave and make further modifications. Maybe I'll do some-a-them woodpecker holes that Tom is so fond of :D.

- Mark
 
Back
Top