Ultem scales

[snuffle]

Hard to miss the recently trendy material.

How do folks like it for knife scales? First thing that I wondered about is scratches - what does it look like after a month in a pocket?

 

[K.O.D.]

Mark me down as not trendy, I've never heard of them. Have to look in to it.

 

[snuffle]

For instance,

 

[Locutus D'Borg]

I finally looked into it a few days ago. Much to my surprise, it is supposedly a really good handle material for tools.

 

[Sagandavis]

Mr. Nice Guy machine Co uses it for his lanyard beads. Holds up well from my experience but I’ve never had it on a handle scale. I think I’ve heard it’s the same fancy plastic used on space shuttles because it handles extreme temp well

 

[CyberRacer]

I guess if you're into plastic scales. The stuff is aerospace grade, so should hold up pretty well. I like the fact that it's semi-opaque. Not crazy about the fact that the only color I've ever seen is that weird off-orange color. If anyone has successfully died the stuff post up some photos.

 

[ricklikesknives]

Supposedly it's more rigid/durable than FRN. That may be the case, but I've never been able to get past the dehydrated urine color.. certainly not something I'd pay a premium for haha..

 

[Quiet]

I'm not a fan personally. It reminds me of something made of plastic that used to be clear that was found under the couch in the house of someone who was a four pack a day smoker, and had lived there for 35 years.

 

[RBB2]

Supposedly it's more rigid/durable than FRN. That may be the case, but I've never been able to get past the dehydrated urine color.. certainly not something I'd pay a premium for haha..

I'm not a fan personally. It reminds me of something made of plastic that used to be clear that was found under the couch in the house of someone who was a four pack a day smoker, and had lived there for 35 years.

Both of these. I had heard that it can be more prone to cracking but don't know if there's any truth to that, since I find it too unattractive to get any myself.

 

[CVamberbonehead]

I think it looks kind of cool, like amber. I don't know anything about it at all though, the pictures in this thread are the first time I have seen it.

 

[Sharp & Fiery]

Supposedly it's more rigid/durable than FRN. That may be the case, but I've never been able to get past the dehydrated urine color.. certainly not something I'd pay a premium for haha..

I'm not a fan personally. It reminds me of something made of plastic that used to be clear that was found under the couch in the house of someone who was a four pack a day smoker, and had lived there for 35 years.

I’m also not interested because of the color.
Looks like beer to me…

 

[irsh]

Do they charge more because it's the New Super Duper High Grade Plastic er, Polymer? Like if Oakley made knives?

 

[thebrain]

It is supposed to be very durable and strong/tough in addition to being easy to machine. I haven't heard of it coming in any other colors and I believe it is pretty resistant to solvents and such so probably not going to take dye. The color isn't great but it looks cool with the right machined texture.

 

[WValtakis]

Do they charge more because it's the New Super Duper High Grade Plastic er, Polymer? Like if Oakley made knives?

"New"...
"Ultem was originally developed by General Electric Plastics Division (now SABIC) in the early 1980s and has been a staple of the manufacturing industry for over 30 years. It's often used in the medical, aerospace and food industry."

 

[Crag the Brewer]

I first saw them here on BF a couple years ago.
I believe it was a Matt Helm design?
Dogbone or something? The knife regularly pops up here for sale.....
Ultem was an option on this.

I looked into getting some material Then, as it kinda matches my old-school looks/Charm.....haha. But it's sourcing is unreliable, expensive, and sounds like most people don't like the looks...... I Do.

 

[King of the Cheese]

I guess if you're into plastic scales. The stuff is aerospace grade, so should hold up pretty well. I like the fact that it's semi-opaque. Not crazy about the fact that the only color I've ever seen is that weird off-orange color. If anyone has successfully died the stuff post up some photos.

I think the color and translucence is the appeal. Otherwise what’s the point? I don’t hate it, but I’d rather have CF or TI

 

[fishface5]

Might look cool over white liners?

 

[el gigantor]

I'm not a fan personally. It reminds me of something made of plastic that used to be clear that was found under the couch in the house of someone who was a four pack a day smoker, and had lived there for 35 years.

Oddly specific and I love it!

 

[Hackenslash]

I have a Tactile Bexar with Ultem scales and I like them on that knife. The Bexar is ultra light, ultra thin and the material seems to work great on that knife. I’m not sure they’d feel good on a fixed blade or hard use folder. They definitely feel different from FRN, plastic or G10.

Supposedly Ultem can take many colors but I actually like the dark amber color on my specimen, so no plans to get out the RIT.

Besides, my urine dries to clear, scintillating, diamond-like gemstones, nothing like Ultem at all.

 

[jmj3esq]

Just got these yesterday. I am very pleased in how sturdy they feel. The feel and look just like amber in hand. I think i need some black ultem for my PM2.