Crown & Sword in Wedgeless G10

The blade is the same I posted a while back, but I put those scales on an old frameback some weeks ago and the blade have been lying on my bench since then.

Yesterday I decided to start my vacation with making new scales for it, inspired by the wedgeless scales Alex Jacques posted a couple weeks ago I wanted to give it a try.

Scales are made of Orange/Black G10, Nickel silver pins and the "wedge" is made of a piece of nickel plated brass.


http://i1212.photobucket.com/albums/...rownSword1.jpg

http://i1212.photobucket.com/albums/...rownSword2.jpg

http://i1212.photobucket.com/albums/...rownSword3.jpg

http://i1212.photobucket.com/albums/...rownSword4.jpg

Wow, those scales look great, thanks for sharing.

Very nice! I love the orange and black scales. I also like the look of shoulder less blades. Not sure why…..

Nice looking scales!

That came out awesome!

The G-10 looks great, and the craftsmanship is fantastic :tu


Not sure if I have warmed up to that style of spacer yet... I like the idea of more free flowing air though..

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Originally Posted by gssixgun

The G-10 looks great, and the craftsmanship is fantastic :tu


Not sure if I have warmed up to that style of spacer yet... I like the idea of more free flowing air though..

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Thanks Glen, seeing how the pattern in the G10 came out have given me a few ideas for the next project :)

I had to try this type of spacer, but I don't think it something I will use much in the future. I tried to give it a wedge shape, but it turned out pretty impossible, so the desired arch in the scales are absent.
I considered to put in a third pin to compensate for it, but decided to try without first and it seems to be fine without it.

Glen, I've seen you express your doubts about the spacer instead of a traditional wedge multiple times. Why? I'm just curious to know your thoughts on it.

Personally, I really like the way a metal spacer looks, especially on a design like that. I don't think it would be a good fit with more traditional materials, but in this case is looks great.

I was wondering if you could file the "wedge" into it...

I wonder about a very thin (height) piece that is angled ??? basically a mini wedge :) However G-10 and Micarta are tough when it comes to the bow/flex anyway, you have to get down around 1/10 inch before they begin to flex a bit, that stuff is soooooo strong...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by U2Bono269

Glen, I've seen you express your doubts about the spacer instead of a traditional wedge multiple times. Why? I'm just curious to know your thoughts on it.

Personally, I really like the way a metal spacer looks, especially on a design like that. I don't think it would be a good fit with more traditional materials, but in this case is looks great.

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Because of the function of razor scales, if you don't have a flex you have a Knife :)

The flex is there for many reasons some are really not pertinent with many of the new materials now, but the one that continues to be a problem is the tension for the smooth movement that we all seek on the razors.. If the scales have no flex the tang with it's angle (most taper from the spine to the tail) will create it and cause problems down the road... If the Tang has an angle then the scales need to flex with it..

Now before anyone pipes up with Torx bolts / Hex bolts and fiber or nylon washers, these are not a solution as many recent repairs are showing me..

Now this new design might have enough give because of the open design but we won't really know for sure until it has been opened and closed a "few" times :p

The simple fact remains the the old systems have worked for 200+ years some of the "New" ones are failing in less then 5...

This is why I keep mentioning it :)

Those scales are truly outstanding. Congratulations.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gssixgun

Because of the function of razor scales, if you don't have a flex you have a Knife :)

The flex is there for many reasons some are really not pertinent with many of the new materials now, but the one that continues to be a problem is the tension for the smooth movement that we all seek on the razors.. If the scales have no flex the tang with it's angle (most taper from the spine to the tail) will create it and cause problems down the road... If the Tang has an angle then the scales need to flex with it..

Now before anyone pipes up with Torx bolts / Hex bolts and fiber or nylon washers, these are not a solution as many recent repairs are showing me..

Now this new design might have enough give because of the open design but we won't really know for sure until it has been opened and closed a "few" times :p

The simple fact remains the the old systems have worked for 200+ years some of the "New" ones are failing in less then 5...

This is why I keep mentioning it :)

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I don't understand...what do you mean by flex? What is flexing? How does a wedge provide more flex where a less-substantial spacer wouldn't? I'm trying to picture what you're talking about I can't, mainly because I just don't have the experience. But I look at this razor pictured up above and I would imagine that it would flex more because there's less material to "stiffen" it. How is that wrong?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gssixgun

I was wondering if you could file the "wedge" into it...

I wonder about a very thin (height) piece that is angled ??? basically a mini wedge :) However G-10 and Micarta are tough when it comes to the bow/flex anyway, you have to get down around 1/10 inch before they begin to flex a bit, that stuff is soooooo strong...

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The problem I found was to manage to hold the spacer firmly enough, it's so tiny it's hard to hold on to and it kept rotating while trying to sand it to a wedge shape, maybe if you have a small enough plier you can hold it firm enough to file it to a wedge shape.

It's stong for sure, but I like working with G10, it's quite easy to work with despite it's strenght, except that it eats saw blades for breakfast.

Well, I think the scales look great. I do like a well done razor, so long as everything functions well. Put this one through some heavy duty useage and we'll find out if this really cool looking design will hold up. In the meantime, it looks really cool, and you've got the skills to put in a new one however often it may or may not need to be done. I'm still working on a good way to make a regular wedge look right, so I won't be trying anything like this for many years I suspect. Anyways...+ 1 , great job, well done!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by regularjoe

Well, I think the scales look great. I do like a well done razor, so long as everything functions well. Put this one through some heavy duty useage and we'll find out if this really cool looking design will hold up. In the meantime, it looks really cool, and you've got the skills to put in a new one however often it may or may not need to be done. I'm still working on a good way to make a regular wedge look right, so I won't be trying anything like this for many years I suspect. Anyways...+ 1 , great job, well done!

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Thanks, I have no doubt it will hold up just fine, it's just as stable as with a regular wedge, at least with the G10.
On the other hand I don't think this type of spacer would work very well with a softer material as acrylic or horn, the surface of the spacer will be to small I think.

I had a lot of try and fails before I found a good way to make wedges, I don't remember where I saw it, but using a piece of double sided tape gives a good grip to the small pieces and makes it easy to apply the right pressure to shape it the way you want. Having a belt/disc sander also makes it a whole lot easier :)

I like the open ended "wedgeless" look. Very well executed too.

man that is a pretty razor...those scales are sick

She's looking hot! great looking razor, love the scales and the set up with the open tail with just a spacer.

Jamie.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gssixgun

The simple fact remains the the old systems have worked for 200+ years some of the "New" ones are failing in less then 5...

This is why I keep mentioning it :)

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Best answer ever. Listen to the man.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by U2Bono269

I don't understand...what do you mean by flex? What is flexing? How does a wedge provide more flex where a less-substantial spacer wouldn't? I'm trying to picture what you're talking about I can't, mainly because I just don't have the experience. But I look at this razor pictured up above and I would imagine that it would flex more because there's less material to "stiffen" it. How is that wrong?

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Not answering for Glen but I'll have a go at this. Unless you pull em apart & put a few together it can be hard to understand.
By its nature a wedge splays the scales apart when first pinned up. When the blade is then pinned the extra tension supplied by the splayed tips compensates for the taper in the tang & also creates a slight bow in the scales. If an even width spacer is used & the tang is fairly thick at it's widest point it will jam in the scales if the thinnest point is adequately tight e.g. when the razor is opened.
The misconception is that razors simply pivot like a pocket knife. They don't because as already mentioned the tang is tapered Open & close a vintage razor a few times & watch the movement in the scales at different points of travel. A non tapered spacer doesn't allow for that flexion.

btw . Cool looking scales Zephyr :)