Thread: Scaley daydreams

Since I have neither the time, experience nor the money to make my own scales or even comission them from one of the pros, I've been consoling myself with digital mock-ups of some scales I'd wanna make.

The unsuspecting victims:



On top, a lovely Bockla blade that came sans scales but with a layer of rust thicker than the Governator. Below it, a not-so-lovely Stahlichnaya blade, unremarkable except that it's of Soviet manufacture and hence of historical interest. Last but not least, the mighty Creutzberg 6/8. It's one of my three best shavers and sees regular action, but the scales are hard rubber and we all know how wonderful those smell the minute they encounter any heat. Something a bit more...fragrant would be nice. Like say, no fragrance at all.


For the Bockla, I'm thinking something classy in a darkish wood:



Note the silver inlaid Soningen coat of arms, echoing the blade etching. I don't even know if that can be done but a guy can dream, right? Probably onyx or copper butt spacer.


Next up, for the Creutzburg I want something with pizzaz:



Slightly untraditional scale shape, and some nice in-yer-face spalted maple. Bright brass or Nickel butt spacer. No inlays, they'd get lost in the spalted maple's figuring.


Two different ideas for the Ruski razor:



For both I'm thinking Chinese style laquer and paint. Brass/bronze for the star inlay in top one, brass for the bottom...or, yellow cedar scales and the star shape stencilled out from the laquer. Cedar might not be good scale wood, but anything yellowish will do. Red banded jasper for the spacer.


One day... *sigh*

Nice ideas! Like the shape of the maple scales. I might have to "borrow" that idea!

Originally Posted by Kyle76

Nice ideas! Like the shape of the maple scales. I might have to "borrow" that idea!

I borrowed it myself from some horn scales I saw somewhere.

How'd you do the pictures -- photoshop?

sho nuff, my friend.

I just got a piece of zebrawood that, while not as highly figured as your picture, would be similar in color to that spalted maple. I might use that shape when I make some scales out of it.

Awesome job there. Now that you have the ideas, take them from the digital world and into the real realm. I am sure you can get someone to do them for you if you are not up for it on your own accord.

Originally Posted by Kyle76

I just got a piece of zebrawood that, while not as highly figured as your picture, would be similar in color to that spalted maple. I might use that shape when I make some scales out of it.

Here's another one I cooked up:



Sort of an extreme take on old Stanley knives, or an Arabian twist. This would look great with a swayback blade. I need to work on the curves here, it looks better in my sketchbook.

That first design looks VERY similar to a set of scales I put on a 4/8 Henckels this weekend! This is a razor with a HIGHLY filed spine, that I was cleaning up for my next eBay postings....

The scales were already made, but I sanded them smooth and aligned them (they were drilled crooked), and added the Henckels blade and custom collar/pin-work.

C utz

Originally Posted by Noam

Here's another one I cooked up:



Sort of an extreme take on old Stanley knives, or an Arabian twist. This would look great with a swayback blade. I need to work on the curves here, it looks better in my sketchbook.

I liked your first designs better, this is too much for me. Quite heavy for the blade