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You do not have to remove the pins.

Would the tubing fit over the scales?
If you open the blade so that the scales are in-line with the tang, you could slide it up and onto the tang....

BUT,...

I've wondered about this myself...

I'm sure you could use a heat shrink-able rubber, but that is only speculation, and I odn't know where and what type to get.

Do not think that the loss of the...