TKC Custom ESEER Handles
Finish: I initially ordered the Green/Black scales, hoping that the green would be a nice, bright, even iridescent green, similar to or even brighter than the examples on the TKC website. When they came, though, the scales were much, much darker and drabber than I'd hoped for. The green could only barely be called green - OD, at that - when in bright, direct sunlight; under any other light the green was more like dark bluish grey.
To be fair, the TKC website states explicitly that there are color variations between batches, so I knew I might not get exactly what I was hoping for. In the end, though, I was really less than satisfied with the color. I called Dale at TKC about exchanging the Green/Black for the Midnight Tiger scales, which were a very close second when I ordered, wondering if he'd allow it. After all, the aesthetic of the color is entirely subjective, and given the explicit disclaimer on the website. To Dales absolute credit he didn't even ask why I wanted to exchange the scales. "Send them back, I'll send out the new ones." Quick and easy! Thanks, Dale!
The Midnight Tiger scales arrived and I'm more than satisfied with the color. Love them, in fact!
Fit: Compared to the fit of the micarta scales the knife comes with from ESEE, the "Dale-Scales" don't meet Jeff's stringent Q/C levels. The scales overhang the tang, above and below, so very slightly it's difficult to tell, hardly worth mentioning and makes no difference in how it feels in-hand. Of course, this is to be expected as the specific scales are not matched to the specific blade from the get-go, as ESEE does with stock scales. The pin-holes and lanyard hole in the scales are drilled right-on, and the tail-end "overhang" fits over the butt-end of the knife perfectly.
In the Sheath: The "front" of the scales are a little bit thicker than the micarta and so while the knife fits in the kydex sheath with no problem it does spread the mouth of a sheath a little and the knife doesn't seem to "lock" into the sheath quite as well for that reason. Which is only to say that I wouldn't jump around on a pogo-stick with the knife mounted upside-down anymore. Other than that extreme, it's fine. But, for those want to jump around on a pogo-stick w/ the knife mounted upside-down this is easily solved - even for one like me whose never even handled kydex before ESEE took over my life:
Leaving the knife in the sheath, I applied a little heat to the kydex, just enough to make it malleable, and used my gloved fingers to re-contour the mouth more tightly around the new scales, while making sure the eyelets stayed aligned. Perfect fit, now. Tools: Candle, gloves, five minutes of time.
Feel: The texture of these scales feels like slate stone: solid and strong. The thickness gives the whole knife more heft, w/o adding noticeable weight. The contour of the scales makes the knife fit the hand like a glove.
-3/-4 interchangeability: The ESEE scales that come on the -3 and -4 are (unofficially) interchangeable. The "Dale-Scales" are only slightly less so (again, unofficially). Two issues:
1) The glass-breaker end on the 3-MIL (what I have) is just a touch longer than the butt-end of the -4, and this interferes w/ the overhang of the "Dale-Scales." This would be easily taken care of with a little whittling/scraping/sanding. I assume this would NOT be an issue with the non-MIL -3.
2) Owing to the different thickness of the steel of the knives, the threaded bushings that come with the "Dale-Scales" will not fit the knife they're not made for. Nor will the ESEE threaded bushings fit the slightly thicker "Dale-Scales." With a little grinding, scraping or sanding (either on bushings, or scales, as applicable) I'm sure one could easily fix a fit. I didn't try, though.
(Having not experimented in-depth with this, someone please correct me if I'm wrong and I'll edit the review accordingly.)
Modification: One thing I love about the ESEE look is the bare-assed lanyard hole (get your minds out the gutter!). The "Dale-Scales" cover this up and hang off the back end. I took the ESEE scales, laid them over the "Dale-Scales" and traced the back-end contour onto the "Dale-Scales." Then I broke out the dremel w/ a cutting wheel to cut off the bulk of the end. Then, with a 1/4" sanding-drum-thing I sanded down to the line, took off the corners, smoothed things out and - viola! Perfect!
Disclaimer: I didn't and wouldn't ask Dale, and certainly don't speak for him, but I suspect that modifying the scales as I did may well invalidate the warrantee on them. And if not, well, don't be an ass-hat and try to return scales you (I) cut, ground and sanded yourself (myself).
Sorry, no pics yet. But it did honestly happen!
Finish: I initially ordered the Green/Black scales, hoping that the green would be a nice, bright, even iridescent green, similar to or even brighter than the examples on the TKC website. When they came, though, the scales were much, much darker and drabber than I'd hoped for. The green could only barely be called green - OD, at that - when in bright, direct sunlight; under any other light the green was more like dark bluish grey.
To be fair, the TKC website states explicitly that there are color variations between batches, so I knew I might not get exactly what I was hoping for. In the end, though, I was really less than satisfied with the color. I called Dale at TKC about exchanging the Green/Black for the Midnight Tiger scales, which were a very close second when I ordered, wondering if he'd allow it. After all, the aesthetic of the color is entirely subjective, and given the explicit disclaimer on the website. To Dales absolute credit he didn't even ask why I wanted to exchange the scales. "Send them back, I'll send out the new ones." Quick and easy! Thanks, Dale!
The Midnight Tiger scales arrived and I'm more than satisfied with the color. Love them, in fact!
Fit: Compared to the fit of the micarta scales the knife comes with from ESEE, the "Dale-Scales" don't meet Jeff's stringent Q/C levels. The scales overhang the tang, above and below, so very slightly it's difficult to tell, hardly worth mentioning and makes no difference in how it feels in-hand. Of course, this is to be expected as the specific scales are not matched to the specific blade from the get-go, as ESEE does with stock scales. The pin-holes and lanyard hole in the scales are drilled right-on, and the tail-end "overhang" fits over the butt-end of the knife perfectly.
In the Sheath: The "front" of the scales are a little bit thicker than the micarta and so while the knife fits in the kydex sheath with no problem it does spread the mouth of a sheath a little and the knife doesn't seem to "lock" into the sheath quite as well for that reason. Which is only to say that I wouldn't jump around on a pogo-stick with the knife mounted upside-down anymore. Other than that extreme, it's fine. But, for those want to jump around on a pogo-stick w/ the knife mounted upside-down this is easily solved - even for one like me whose never even handled kydex before ESEE took over my life:
Leaving the knife in the sheath, I applied a little heat to the kydex, just enough to make it malleable, and used my gloved fingers to re-contour the mouth more tightly around the new scales, while making sure the eyelets stayed aligned. Perfect fit, now. Tools: Candle, gloves, five minutes of time.
Feel: The texture of these scales feels like slate stone: solid and strong. The thickness gives the whole knife more heft, w/o adding noticeable weight. The contour of the scales makes the knife fit the hand like a glove.
-3/-4 interchangeability: The ESEE scales that come on the -3 and -4 are (unofficially) interchangeable. The "Dale-Scales" are only slightly less so (again, unofficially). Two issues:
1) The glass-breaker end on the 3-MIL (what I have) is just a touch longer than the butt-end of the -4, and this interferes w/ the overhang of the "Dale-Scales." This would be easily taken care of with a little whittling/scraping/sanding. I assume this would NOT be an issue with the non-MIL -3.
2) Owing to the different thickness of the steel of the knives, the threaded bushings that come with the "Dale-Scales" will not fit the knife they're not made for. Nor will the ESEE threaded bushings fit the slightly thicker "Dale-Scales." With a little grinding, scraping or sanding (either on bushings, or scales, as applicable) I'm sure one could easily fix a fit. I didn't try, though.
(Having not experimented in-depth with this, someone please correct me if I'm wrong and I'll edit the review accordingly.)
Modification: One thing I love about the ESEE look is the bare-assed lanyard hole (get your minds out the gutter!). The "Dale-Scales" cover this up and hang off the back end. I took the ESEE scales, laid them over the "Dale-Scales" and traced the back-end contour onto the "Dale-Scales." Then I broke out the dremel w/ a cutting wheel to cut off the bulk of the end. Then, with a 1/4" sanding-drum-thing I sanded down to the line, took off the corners, smoothed things out and - viola! Perfect!
Disclaimer: I didn't and wouldn't ask Dale, and certainly don't speak for him, but I suspect that modifying the scales as I did may well invalidate the warrantee on them. And if not, well, don't be an ass-hat and try to return scales you (I) cut, ground and sanded yourself (myself).
Sorry, no pics yet. But it did honestly happen!
