Some manufacturers and retailers produce custom knife scales for popular knife models, such as those produced by Becker and Esee, among others.
While you might be tempted to dismiss these scales as an upsell or a gimmick, in most cases they are anything but.
Here are 6 ways custom knife scales can potentially (even significantly) improve your knife.
Make It More Comfortable
The most obvious potential advantage of investing in custom knife scales is that they can change the ergonomics of the knife itself.
Say you have a knife with a plain broomstick handle; custom scales can create generous swells that fill the grip, or finger grooves that add contour and better comfort. They can also be widened near the shoulder or at the pommel to prevent your hand from slipping.
Add Purchase
Some knives, like the ESEE Izula and Candiru, have very tiny profiles and correspondingly small grips.
Custom knife scales for models like these can add a few centimeters on the back of the grip so you have a little more to hold onto when using the knife.
Add Tactility
Many custom knife scales are made from micarta and G10, which offer excellent traction, not just on the surface, but under adverse conditions, such as when your hands are oily or wet.
This can improve not just functionality, but comfort and safety as well.
Improve Feasibility in Extreme Cold
Some knives are made with copper, brass, steel, aluminum or titanium scales. While these are attractive and will develop a patina over time, they are heavy and on top of that, are not safe to handle in extreme cold with exposed skin.
Synthetic custom scales, such as those made with carbon fiber, glass-filled nylon, micarta or G10 are safer in extreme conditions.
Enhance Durability and Lower Maintenance
Custom scales made of a metal alloy, or of an advanced performance synthetic like Micarta or GFN, will be physically much more durable than scales made of horn, bone, wood, or some other natural material.
On top of general toughness, they will also require no maintenance and will be much easier to keep clean, unlike natural materials.
Add Personality
Lastly, upgrading your favorite blade with custom knife scales can add a touch of personality to the knife. There are many custom scales out there made in vibrant and attractive colors, some of them with patterns that are unique as a fingerprint, that are highly aesthetically appealing.
This alone is one of the main drivers for those that personalize their knives with custom scales.
Explore Custom Knife Scales for Popular Knives at The Knife Connection
Start your search for custom knife scales at The Knife Connection. Not only do they represent some of the biggest and most popular brands in the industry, but they carry a wide assortment of custom scales for many popular knife models from ESEE and Becker, along with other accessories.
Visit their website and if you have questions about what they sell (or compatibility) get in touch with them directly.
