Needing to put scales on an old scale-less blade

**JGKC9AYC** · 05-02-2020, 04:18 AM

I had a guy quote me $120 for scales, honing, and some polishing.
I saw some bone scales on ebay for ~$27 with one pin and the wedge installed and the tang part drilled and came with a 1" piece of bar stock(?) and washers.
Is it that hard to rescale if one hasn't done it before?
Was the price quoted me seem high?
Anyone here do that kind of work reasonably?

**cudarunner** · 05-02-2020, 05:10 AM

Originally Posted by JGKC9AYC

I had a guy quote me $120 for scales, honing, and some polishing.
I saw some bone scales on ebay for ~$27 with one pin and the wedge installed and the tang part drilled and came with a 1" piece of bar stock(?) and washers.
Is it that hard to rescale if one hasn't done it before?
Was the price quoted me seem high?
Anyone here do that kind of work reasonably?

Not all razors are the same length, depth etc. Therefore the FleaBay scales may or not fit.

What you are calling 'Bar Stock' is probably a length of 1/16" brass or nickle silver to pin the razor using the washers.

You pay for experience, and if you break the $27 bone scales then the $120 starts to look more reasonable.

With that said, pinning 'usually' isn't all that hard, but there's some skill required and there's always the chance of something going wrong.

I've made many, many scales but if I want scales for a razor that's special then I ask a pro for some help as he has much better design and execution skills than I do.

Here's a video done by a friend and fellow Mentor and it might be of some help to you.

http://<a href="https://www.youtube....3kno59xC4U</a>

**gssixgun** · 05-02-2020, 05:10 AM

Custom Bone Scales on a full restore for $120 sounds about right for any restorer worth their salt

As to doing a rescale with the $27 scales No not hard at all, whether they fit and function properly is a good question, most of those are made for a 5/8 - 6/8 razor. Also, you said "Old" razor so that brings up more questions and fit issues

But a rescale doesn't fix the polishing or the honing

Decisions decisions

**JGKC9AYC** · 05-02-2020, 05:17 AM

The gentleman that quoted that price said that if re-scaled, polished and honed would bring in the neighborhood of $400.

**cudarunner** · 05-02-2020, 05:36 AM

Originally Posted by JGKC9AYC

The gentleman that quoted that price said that if re-scaled, polished and honed would bring in the neighborhood of $400.

Sounds to me that you should be looking around for some other 'Bids'.

Also it would be of some help if you would include your location in your profile.

Now if you are in the Witness Protection Program--then it's understandable. Perhaps you would consider to at least include the state, province etc.

**Gasman** · 05-02-2020, 06:23 AM

400 is a lot. Its a nice razor. But stilll. As said, monting it in scales is only part of the issue. You might get lucky but there are so many shapes and sizes.

**JGKC9AYC** · 05-02-2020, 06:33 AM

OK, I updated my profile.
As for the $400 quote, he provided a link to a similar, but in not as good of condition, that sold for ~$350.
He's done a rescale for me before and did a good job, but at that time he didn't have the supplies that he has now. I traded him some fairly large, thick bone scales and I think a straight to do the work.
I still have bone slabs lying around as well as some exotic wood and some acrylic in a couple of different colors.

Originally Posted by Gasman

400 is a lot. Its a nice razor. But stilll. As said, monting it in scales is only part of the issue. You might get lucky but there are so many shapes and sizes.

And as far as getting lucky, it's been a looooooong time!

**tcrideshd** · 05-02-2020, 12:23 PM

That razor doesn’t look like those ready made scales would fit.

**Gasman** · 05-02-2020, 05:10 PM

Sounds like what you need is time and some pinning material and you can make your own scales. Scales are not hard to make. It just times time and efforts. All the info needed to make them are in our library. As far as getting lucky, TMI! Lol.

**JGKC9AYC** · 05-02-2020, 07:33 PM

Originally Posted by Gasman

Sounds like what you need is time and some pinning material and you can make your own scales. Scales are not hard to make. It just times time and efforts. All the info needed to make them are in our library. As far as getting lucky, TMI! Lol.

I dunno. I'm kinda dumb and real clumsy.

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