Spyderco Forums

Howdy guys.

First time poster here, so pardon my inexperience. I am looking to get some scales made from stabilized koa or stained stabilized quilted maple wood (something durable but gorgeous, for EDC). I'd like to get them for a spyderco dragonfly, and possibly a set for a spyderco endura and manix as well. I also would like to get the blade copper washed/coated, so I was wondering if you guys had any recommendations for that as well. In a similar way I'd also like to find copper hardware (and a copper or copperwashable pocket clip). This is going to be a "welcome-to-the-family" give for my soon-to-be brother-in-law, so I'd like to do something special, and the copper and wood will go perfectly in the EDC lineup. I'd ideally like to be try to get this done by Christmas, but my timetables aren't set in stone. I thank you guys for any help that you might be able to give. Here are some references as to what sort of scales I am looking to get made.

I'm looking to get the kind of figure and look of the scales on the spyderco nilakka in picture here (albeit maybe a tad darker/redder)(bottom right):
https://external-preview.redd.it/GNJxip ... 8600e98fca

Thank you guys for your time. -Justin Utherdude.

I saw a guy on Bladeforums who does custom wood scales. Look over there in the for sale by knife maker ads section. He was selling complete knives but his web site advertised custom scales as well (website link was at the bottom of his ad).

Cuscadi and Suingab both make wood scales for various spydies and other makers aswell

I have some Cuscadi G-10 scales and I'd definitely recommend their work. I haven't gotten wood from them though.

Cuscadi is good; have couple of scales from that shop - wood and CF.

That said, I feel like wood scales are not suited for all knives. Granted I only own a set for a PM2. Scales on the PM2 are pretty thin. So wood scales for PM2 are a bit too thin, in my opinion. Feels like if I drop the knife, they would crack. Makes for a nice gentleman's knife, but too delicate for some applications on a PM2.

I believe Cuscadi recently started doing the frn dragonfly - just make sure to specify which one you are looking for (g10 vs frn). Also for a liner less knife, the wood alone may not be rigid enough and you may need to add g10 liners.

I have a set of koa scales from cuscadi for my ukpk. Very nice work, but I sanded them quite a bit to really make the grain pop.

Edit - added old pic

Sorry, i know it's not what you asked for but just in case you didn't know... Knife Center has their Pakkawood/Hap40 Dragonfly, Endura, Delica, Ladybug and Police still in stk. That might be easier and cheaper for you.

If you don't mind waiting a few weeks, Sunigab's scales are a good price and he has lots of examples on his website you can browse (by material) and request... https://g10.lt/ I've used him a few times.

Have a look here, might be up your alley
https://www.knivesplus.com/custom-spyde ... tions.html

I went with a guy on Instagram when I got cocobolo scales for my manix. He works with 20 different wood types. Currently he only does the smock and the manix. Pm2 and para 3 are in his future. If your on Instagram search the user Match_Anderson. I am new to forums and I still don't know how to post pictures on here but there is a video of the cocobolo scales on YouTube. BJ Hill at the YouTube channel called HillTop knives and gear put the scales on along with a few other things.

^ +1 for Match Anderson. He did some monkeywood scales for my TRM Neutron that turned out absolutely fantastic! He does scales in pretty much any wood you can think of and everything I've seen posted online looks great! I know from his social media posts that he does Manix and Smock scales. I also know that he is working to expand his shop and add equipment for more complex machining (pocketed Atom scales). I connected with him through the TRM facebook group and he was great to work with.. seems like a really nice guy and his work is top notch! I have a pre-order in with him for a matching set for my Atom.. I know he's been keeping pretty busy lately with TRM orders, but it couldn't hurt to reach out and see if he could make what you're looking for.. https://www.facebook.com/matchandersoncustomworks/

Chris at Trifect Custom Shop just made me a set of Watu scales.

The thread is here viewtopic.php?f=2&t=86849&p=1444362&hil ... s#p1444362
And his website is https://trifectcustom.shop/

My kids and I just made our first three sets of scales in my dad's shop (my dad has been doing custom high end woodwork for almost 50 years, but never knife scales). They turned out really well, for our first attempt. We're definitely going to make some more. It's a great family project, and I love having my kids do it with their grandfather, and create something they can keep.

Hi JustinUtherdude,

Welcome to our forum.

sal

I actually have a Koa wood handled Dragonfly, which Cuscadi made for me about 5 or 6 years ago. It’s an FRN model.




The scales were drilled with a round hole at the pivot, rather than a D-shaped hole. I ended up having to glue the female side screw to the scales to tighten it properly. The backspacer was also machined out of Koa, and the seating for the backspring broke, being thin wood.

It looks great, but I wouldn’t repeat the experience. If I had to, I would choose a G10 Dragonfly to have custom scales fitted to.

Have you checked out the HAP40 Pakkawood Knifecenter exclusive?

https://www.knifecenter.com/item/SP28WD ... -exclusive