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Not all scales are two piece with a wedge. There are quite a few one piece scales with no pin at non pivot end. The only advantage to pin non pivot end is added strength. Most one piece scales are actually two pieces glued together. Over time the glue can let go. The choice is yours. There is no right or wrong. IMO.
I guess simplification of the manufacturing process was the main reason for two-piece scales design, but besides that on a wider blades introducing a heavier (lead, brass, etc.) wedge could provide a counterbalance making the handling more comfortable.
I thought on the subject...For the most part?
Never see one-piece scales on oldies from the factory. Wedgeless, yes. One-piece, no.
The old ones had the tapered tangs and required the aforementioned attributes to work correctly.
Even silver scales appearing to be one-piece are indeed two halves.
The factory scales most like a one-piece we see in later, prolific-makers are of celluloid and originally glued-together. Later-design, flatter tangs. Then there are the travel-razors. Anything goes as the tang is flat, I suppose.
Still something to be said for the ones which work right. :D
Hmm... I clearly suffer of a case of "having no clue what I'm doing" :banghead:
I really thought that I could make a wide-enough slit in a piece of wood, make it smooth with sand paper, drill a hole, varnish and install blade and call it a day.
So I suppose that, for a n00b, putting a wedge is the way to go...
Thanks for all the answers though. I never thought that scales had so much complexity to them.
It ain't rocket science, till ya have to build one :)