Scales: wood or synthetic?

[AimlessWanderer]

I have an assortment of scale materials that I haven't used yet, and was considering what to use them on. Originally, I was thinking about Swiss knife mods, but then started considering other knives instead....

The Byrd Tern, Spyderco UKPK, and Boker+ XS are all UK legal, but still look a bit tacticool due to the black G10 scales on them all. I was wondering if wood scales (I have teak and olive slabs) would soften the look a little. They should still be nice and light if I don't use liners, although not as durable.

What's the thoughts here on clipped OHO folders? Do people stick to synthetic because that's what's most common, or is there a genuine preference to synthetic scales over wood?

[ducttapetech]

I like both. I seen a pic were somebody did a SOG Vulcan with walnut scales and it looked very classy. 

[AimlessWanderer]

Here's the options that I'm considering - both the knives and the scales...

Wings Slipit - a great daily folder, particularly if there's a chance of needing a serrated blade. I've not carried it much since I sold the boat and stopped running a machine shop, but still a damn good option to have in the array.

Byrd Tern - Superb little knife. I liked it so much, I bought a spare. This means I could tweak one, and keep the other as stock.

Spyderco UKPK (original version) - Never gets carried, closed, and laid open on a table, it's sized very similar to the Tern. In hand, the blade is noticeably larger, so would it even be worth modding the handle when there's so much blade on show?

Boker+ XS - probably the most "offensive" looking to non-knife users. This usually resides in tool kits where many would normally have a lock knife (which I personally don't see the point of - slippie or fixed for me). Removing the BO and adding wood scales might make it more people-friendly, but if leaving it in tool kits, the standard scales would be more durable and forgiving of harsher use.

The other thing I was tempted to use the olive for, was restoring this old Sheffield made open razor, and rescaling it in something prettier than black plastic.

I do have some other scale materials too, including a block of wych elm burr, CF faced sheet, and GITD Kirinite, but I've not really got any plans for those yet

[AimlessWanderer]

I like both. I seen a pic were somebody did a SOG Vulcan with walnut scales and it looked very classy.

 

I've been looking at a few pics online, and  it seems the key is being quite selective on the grain of the wood used

[Ron Who]

IMO wood wood look great on the bolstered Wings. Removing the pocket clip.is another option to give it a more trad appearance.

[AimlessWanderer]

IMO wood wood look great on the bolstered Wings. Removing the pocket clip.is another option to give it a more trad appearance.

I think I'd still want the clips on these. I don't want to reduce the function of them. I think i have some small pieces of oak somewhere, which would probably do nicely for the wings if i kept the bolsters  that would probably be less wasteful than using the teak or oak slabs.

[ColoSwiss]

If you're looking for a softer look the light colored olive might be the way to go. It can also make for attractive handles, like on the Delta Z (bottom).

[AimlessWanderer]

Yeah, that definitely works, Karl 

[Smashie]

I do like wood scaled folders and agree with ColoSwiss about the look of olive wood.

Lionsteel Mini

[Gerhard Gerber]

Best of both worlds - stabilized wood?

Sorry, I'm struggling a bit with my foot-in-mouth disease, and the nicest way I can phrase this is:  What does it say about sheeples' general intelligence if wood scales make a difference?   

[AimlessWanderer]

I do like wood scaled folders and agree with ColoSwiss about the look of olive wood.

Lionsteel Mini

(Image removed from quote.)

Very nice! 

Best of both worlds - stabilized wood?

Sorry, I'm struggling a bit with my foot-in-mouth disease, and the nicest way I can phrase this is:  What does it say about sheeples' general intelligence if wood scales make a difference?   

It's not just about what they think, but also what I might think 

I do take your point though, and the question of "is it really worth it" has crossed my mind. The more I think this over, the more I think the UKPK would be a waste of time. In use, when the scales are covered anyway, there would still be a lot of blade on show (length of blade as well as height from edge to spine) - and in truth this is more blade than I tend to need from a folder. I've been on the fence about this knife ever since I bought it, and it never gets carried. I had thought that I ought to have one higher spec blade steel folder in the array, but now I'm wondering if this is just not the right knife for me....

I think keeping one Tern as standard, and fitting one with teak might be quite nice. Maybe that should be the first project.

Using the olive on the Boker+ XS will put more of the wood grain in play, and this knife is the one that stands to get the biggest cosmetic difference. Even so, it still may benefit from having other changes, like removing the black finish, and possibly even tweaking the blade shape a bit. A much bigger project, but also a much bigger difference to overall effect.

The Wings needs more thought. A darker wood would probably contrast better with the stainless bolsters - but even then, the scales aren't that large as to be a feature - so would losing the bolsters altogether be better....? 

[AimlessWanderer]

As to the stabilised wood suggestion, I'm only considering the stuff that's already lurking around the house. I'm not interested in acquiring even more stuff 

[Ron Who]

Best of both worlds - stabilized wood?

Sorry, I'm struggling a bit with my foot-in-mouth disease, and the nicest way I can phrase this is:  What does it say about sheeples' general intelligence if wood scales make a difference?   

I don't think intelligence has anything to do with it. Some people just don't need/like knives, the same way I don't need/like pliers. And I think the term "sheeple" is derogatory and should be banned from the site. I know it gets used a lot on MTo, but nevertheless. I hope you don't mind my saying so, I'll say nothing more about it

[hiraethus]

[kaput]

What about micarta, g10, titanium, carbon fiber?

[Gerhard Gerber]

Hi 50

I'm all for modding  for it's own sake 

[AimlessWanderer]

What about micarta, g10, titanium, carbon fiber?

I have some pale yellow g10, some carbon fibre faced resin, some thickish home made micarta, wych elm burr, and some GITD Kirinite..... and I've not decided what to do with those either  I'm only considering using stuff that I've already got 

[AimlessWanderer]

Hi 50

I'm all for modding  for it's own sake 

Well yeah, there isthat too 

[Sparky415]

Mmmm walnut   




Boker biscuit

[AimlessWanderer]

 

[ColoSwiss]

Nice walnut!   

[Sparky415]

Those were from a few years ago
I really need to do some more of them... one day 

 

[Gareth]

I think the Wings, or perhaps the Tern, would look very well in some olive wood scales.  I think the perception might be softened a touch, but not s whole heck of a lot.

[Etherealicer]

I'm not old and grumpy so, synthetic for me all the way
Sadly, I agree most synthetic handles are black and are meant to look tacticool not befitting my cheerful nature. In Switzerland pulling out a knife (a real one, not a metaphorical one) gives, if any (we are rather reserved, so usually you get no reaction), positive reactions. And no other knife gets that many reactions as my light-blue Mini Griptillian. If they see it, total strangers want do know what kind of knife it is.

That said... Sparky, that Boker looks gorgeous.

Boker biscuit

[AimlessWanderer]

I think the Wings, or perhaps the Tern, would look very well in some olive wood scales.  I think the perception might be softened a touch, but not s whole heck of a lot.

Fair play  Since I started the thread, I did consider the bleedin' obvious factor that as soon as you start using it, the scales are covered anyway 

I'm not old and grumpy so, synthetic for me all the way

Oy!  I'm not grumpy, just a mildly eccentric, experienced optimist.

 

People who know me, tend to have a similar (neutral or positive)  reaction with my knives. It's people who don't know you that tend to get a little rattled in my experience.