Thread: Unknown scale material

Does anyone have any idea what this scale material is? Razor is a Wespe 9.

Boiled leather?

Originally Posted by RezDog

Boiled leather?

I guess that can't be discounted.

At this moment in time, I don't feel it is leather. Seems like some sort of fibrous material set in a resin, which would make it a kind of micarta I suppose. It is very hard, the resin feels brittle. Seems original to the razor.

Looks like pressed leather. The resin may be someone treated it in past with Danish oil, varnish or something similar to make it impervious to water.

Untreated or badly treated leather does become hard and brittle with age.

Originally Posted by bouschie

Looks like pressed leather. The resin may be someone treated it in past with Danish oil, varnish or something similar to make it impervious to water.

I don't think the resin or whatever it is is a treatment, it looks like it is integral to the scales, ie has been there since manufacture and is essential to and part of the structure.

Originally Posted by DZEC

Untreated or badly treated leather does become hard and brittle with age.

It does. This material is hard, harder and heavier than most woods, vulcanite or celluloid. Perhaps almost as hard as bakelite. I personally have never seen leather this hard or dense.

I am leaning much more in the direction of an early micarta-type product, or phenolic laminate, something like Novotext. Interesting that it is not completely familiar to the experienced eyes commenting! Many thanks.

Could it be just a type of finish (on wood or whatever) that is crazing?