Thread: scale tightness

I rescaled a wade & butcher with some wood scales I made and they're tight enough that I can hold the scales with the blade out and it will stay in place. That is, until the blade is open to about 180 degrees or more. Then it just swings back and forth like a pendulum. What is the cause of this? Is there any way to fix it without unpinning?

Get out your caliper and measure the thickness of the tang in front of the pivot hole; about 3 measurements 3 mm apart moving towards the heel. Then do the same starting in back of the pivot hole, moving toward the tail. Also note if there's a difference in thickness between the top and the bottom of the tang at each point.

I suspect you'll find that the tang is thicker in front of the pivot hole, which explains the behavior. Ways to compensate include adding a third pin just back of the heel, with a bushing that spreads the scales, causing the scales to angle towards the pivot hole. Re-grinding would be ideal, except that it removes the maker's marks. Sometimes, you can grind the inside of the scales just in front of the pivot hole, so that the scales fit flush as the blade is opened.

OTOH, if it's tight when open to 90 degrees, then it should again be tight when it's open to 270 degrees (shaving position). The 180 degree tightness almost doesn't matter, although it requires a little more care when honing or stropping.