Scales: Where to buy the raw materials. (Wood, horn) in europe?

Hey Gents,

I live in Denmark and i've no idea where to get stuff. On ebay I can find some wood but the only place it ships from is the US and delivery is expensive. Is there anywhere in germany where you can buy some wood or animal materials for example? PS: I am not looking for pre-shaped scales. I want to do it myself. So I would be looking for some wood thats not already shaped. I know about Olivia's in germany and theinvisibleedge in the uk but they are all pre shaped. (and bloody expensive too lol)

Haven't had much luck in my searches, only Naturgalleriet i Holte - the good stuff shop - kniv-per and that's quite expensive.

All the best, Pete

dictum will probably carry some.

That said, you should take a second look at US based suppliers. Shipping is a bit more expensive usually, but the products themselves are often much cheaper, and the end result is still cheaper than if you bought from a European vendor.

When I bought my 8x3" coticule several years ago, it was cheaper for me to buy it in the US and have it shipped, than to buy it locally. And I live in Belgium, not too far from where they mine the things :). In fact, it was so much cheaper that I could buy that AND a DMT325 AND have it shipped to belgium, and it was still not more expensive than buying the same coticule directly from the mine.

Dictum do carry some items suitable for razor scales but the vast majority of their bone horn and wood is too short. They have some longer lengths of Buffalo horn that are also a good thichness for scales - assuming they are flat to start with. Having only recently discovered the store I placed an order for man made materials that are the right size - in fact bigger than required but not big enough to make two sets. Maybe Bruno is right that the extra choice available in the USA is the better option.

For wood (and acrylic) I know Pen Kits, Pen Blanks, Pen Mandrels, Pen Bushings, Wood Pens has many options. I've done business with them, and they are reasonable in shipping prices if your purchase fits in a flat fee package.

Try these guys in the UK for exotic hardwoods....
Exotic Hardwoods Uk Ltd | Environment

I usually buy my horn from this guy robsbits | eBay

take a look here : Mercorne.fr - Matériaux de Coutellerie et artisanat d'art - Bijoux - Objets de décoration... en Lozère / Langogne

for wood, buy local. ask your friends if they know any woodworkers. if they don't, look in the local phone book. but find someone in your area. the wood itself is not a big part of the cost of a set of scales- the labor of making them is more and so is shipping. if you can find a woodworker who works in fine hardwoods the pieces you need will likely be scraps for them. give a little compensation to cut them to the thickness you need and you should be set.

may be a bit too late but local exotic parquet sellers might be a good source of some woods as well, plus a piece of parquet means nothing to them (money wise) since they sell these per square meters

Aquarium shops use to have some exotic woods, tho they usually don't know what it is.

for wood, ive been looking at, (read have not yet ordered from) This guy

seems to have quite a bunch of wood for razors and knives.