Thread: Scale material choice

Depends on the razor or what I have on hand. I prefer horn (Dark and honey), bone or ivory. If I have none a nice wood with inlays

I work a lot in bone, some in horn and at some point I will be doing some MOP. I have quite a few in Ivory, but those are from an era past. Perhaps I’ll get some mammoth ivory not so far down the road.

Hard to narrow it down to one. I really like ivory. Simple and classic.

If I’m making scales, I too prefer natural materials like horn, bone and ivory, although I do enjoy certain hardwoods for their patterning. Key there is go thinner than you think you should or they always seem too thick.
Also dig fusions of wood and urethane’s with the same caveat as above.

I really like any that looks good with the razor. Not as much for plastic as the others but I favor bone, horn and wood, have yet to acquire ivory. Mostly what I make is either hardwood snag (standing dead wood) or horn

Agree with most who say it just depends.. Ivory for era past as someone said and since I had to have my Koorat 14.2 rescaled from a break Glen fitted it with what I think is gorgeous Kirinite and would not hesitate to go that route again.. The plastic scales on my Fili are cheap, somewhat ugly and would never put them on another blade but to me they are part of having a Fili.. Same with wood as most of the time not a fan but I commented on here recently about someone's absolutely stunning zebra type wood they had made scales from and those are a work of Art.. Anyway could go on but everyone has their personal favorites and dislikes...
Peace, Scott W

As with most things in wet shaving, razor scales are very much YMMV. Since trade in ivory is illegal, the best you can do is substitute bone or mammoth ivory. Mammoth Ivroy is obtained from fossils, so it it quite expensive.

I have razors equipped with wood, acrylic, G10 composite, carbon fiber, paper Micarta, horn and bone. I have one vintage razor with hard rubber scales. I love wooden scales as long as the wood used is dense and properly sealed. Some woods are pressure treated with resin to stabilize the wood. I have one Jerry Stark custom razor scaled in desert ironwood and it is beautiful.

Texas Knifemaker's Supply stocks a wide variety of materials that can be used to produce both knife handles and razor scales. Even if you purchase elsewhere, the web site will give you an idea of the wide variety of materials available.

I am curious why you don't like wood scales. I personally like the feel of olive wood scales. I also found wood to be a good substitute material when I made the scales myself. Maybe I am missing something.
(PS: I am an old 325 man)

Lignin vitae and walnut make excellent scales

Originally Posted by Tony A

I am curious why you don't like wood scales. I personally like the feel of olive wood scales. I also found wood to be a good substitute material when I made the scales myself. Maybe I am missing something.
(PS: I am an old 325 man)

I don't get it either. I have seen bad and good scales of a lot of materials. Wood is not the right choice for every blade but done right it can be outstanding.



I think this application is very fitting