New Scales or Not?

[dlr110]

Here is a Rio-Nor Boston USA that I have. It has what appears to be homemade wooden scales, but didn't this knife come with composite or Delrin scales? These are pretty crude, so should I replace them with something like Kirinite, Micarta or maybe Buffalo Horn?
Thanks for any ideas or recommendations....

[glennbad]

I say tear it apart and put something cool on it!

[Jeffinn]

I say tear it apart and put something cool on it!

This^

[OLDE CUTLER]

Here is a Rio-Nor Boston USA that I have. It has what appears to be homemade wooden scales, but didn't this knife come with composite or Delrin scales? These are pretty crude, so should I replace them with something like Kirinite, Micarta or maybe Buffalo Horn?
Thanks for any ideas or recommendations....

The one I have and it looks like yours too are shell handled. Not as simple to rehandle those.

[1967redrider]

First Barlow/Electrician knife I have seen, pretty cool.

[Meridian_Mike]

I say tear it apart and put something cool on it!

Times 3 on that idea!!

[herbva]

I've only worked on a shell-handled knife once. I don't think they were made to be messed with.

[glennbad]

I've only worked on a shell-handled knife once. I don't think they were made to be messed with.

They do present a challenge. Not for the faint of heart. They usually require a little more "love" than a knife with standard bolsters.

[royal0014]

Those little fellows came with thin plastic shell handles, so it's already customized.
I vote to leave it as is.
Or send it to me ... I'll show some it love .. .. ..

[BFORSE]

Drill some new pinholes in the the shell for some new covers. I’ve found that slow and easy is probably the best way to bend those tabs; and minimal at that. Just enough to get the shell off. Maybe just the tabs closest to the blade pivot, then slide the shell straight back towards the butt end. Good luck!

[tongueriver]

I think there was a tutorial on rebuilding a shell handle knife in this subforum maybe 3-6 years ago. Worth a look.

[dlr110]

Thank you everyone for the comments and recommendations.
The old scales were just a piece of pine that someone had hand carved and sanded, then glued.
I took them off, cleaned everything up and added some reddish brown jigged bone that I had.
They are a little thick, but it gives it a good grip. This was the first time that I've used bone, I
kind of like it.

[doglegg]

Looks good David.

[Meridian_Mike]

Nice job David!

Definitely a huge improvement!

[CluelessNick]

Awesome job! Looks like a new knife.

[glennbad]

Just like I suggested, something cool!

[Reverand]

That is a good look for that knife! Glueing on handles is a lot easier than making new bolsters for it and creating a "traditional" build, and I would not have expected foe the results to look that good. Great job!

[royal0014]

Good job and cool lookin'

[TPK]

Nice job David! Looks great!

[zed6309]

Great job and a huge improvement