How well do SAK plactic cover/scale red, ruby, black stand up to test of time?

[knowsnotools]

How well do Swiss knife plactic covers/scales red, ruby red, black etc.. stand up to the test of time?

By this, I mean, do they fade? crack? look old? peel? after a couple of years?

Pictures would be great.

[Benner]

They will start to look old and tired due to hazing caused by lots of little scratches.  These can be polished out if you'd prefer.

Personally, I find that just adds character to the tool.

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

They can look pretty worn, quite quickly, but like Ben I think that kinda adds to the appeal

[VicX]

By this, I mean, do they fade? crack? look old? peel? after a couple of years?

As Benner and Mike just said, they'll get scratched (if you use the knife on a regular basis, of course) but it adds to the SAK's character.
They won't crack unless you smash the knife into the ground.

And whatever happens, they will last longer than two years. Don't worry.

Eventually, any damage will be a great excuse to get new, PLUS, weird colored scales.

[richs2891]

If showing the scratches is a concern I have found that red seems to show the scratches the last, black shows them the worst followed by blue.

Richard

[Reinier]

They scratch very easily, but you can always replace them with new ones in a fancy color

[knowsnotools]

So the black is worse than the red when it comes to hiding scratches? Oh....I guess that would make my decision to get the black swiss champ harder

[rp252]

Yeah, they will show plenty of wear on a user.  Depends on where you keep it and what you use it for.  I've dropped my Ranger from high places and tits ever cracked or split but I'm sure this could happen.

Ultimately any tool you use will show wear after time.  The good thing about SAK scales is that they're replaceable and can be polished pretty easily if the wear bothers you.

[Sparky415]

You can always keep it in a sheath, an Ipod sock or a



 

[knowsnotools]

Which knife ages better after a year of use, a black plastic scale or a red plastic scale?

[Gareth]

So the black is worse than the red when it comes to hiding scratches? Oh....I guess that would make my decision to get the black swiss champ harder

Unfortunately that's been my experience as well.  BUT if you carry the Champ in a belt pouch it'll be far better protected that if it's sitting in your pocket.  Also as said earlier it's a pretty simple job to give them a quick polish once in a while.

[Benner]

Black does show marks more.  You need to be asking yourself if it actually matters though.  It is a tool afterall.

[Gareth]

Black does show marks more.  You need to be asking yourself if it actually matters though.  It is a tool afterall.

That's a very good point, a few marks only add character.

[Sparky415]

Which knife ages better after a year of use, a black plastic scale or a red plastic scale?

Blue Alox 

[rp252]

Which knife ages better after a year of use, a black plastic scale or a red plastic scale?

Blue Alox 

I've never been brave enough to test how blue alox wears.  It gets wrapped up in something soft and protective and becomes a shelf queen.

[Sparky415]

I have seen pictures on here and blue looks great worn 

Tho my silver Alox stays in his little pouch whenever he comes off the shelf 

[rp252]

I have seen pictures on here and blue looks great worn 

Tho my silver Alox stays in his little pouch whenever he comes off the shelf 

Benner must be going mad at all this talk of shelf queens...

[Benner]

I'm grinding my teeth as we speak... 

[Threeme2189]

Black does show marks more.  You need to be asking yourself if it actually matters though.  It is a tool afterall.

Exactly what I was thinking...
You don't worry about your hammer getting scratched up do you?
Just use it and don't abuse it 

[Black Rose]

I've never been brave enough to test how blue alox wears. 

They don't wear well IMO.  If you like silver alox SAKs with blue highlights, you'll love it.

The blue Alox Classic SD I carry in my pocket is quite worn and it's not even 2 years old yet. 

[knowsnotools]

How about the red alox scales? Do they wear nicely or does it look ugly and peeled when used for a couple of years?

[Benner]

Totally in the eye of the beholder.

I like worn Red Alox, but many others don't.  But as I stated before, they are tools and a slight chip on a red scale makes no odds to me at all.

[Sparky415]

I'm sure there's a thread somewhere with pictures of well used tools but I can't find it