How do they put knife scales on without screws?

[wildromanian]

I have looked at some knives with wooden scales and they have no rivets or screws holding them on. Also Swiss army knives with their plastic scales also have no rivets or screws.

How would one remove such scales and how are they held on to the knife?

thanks. JLP

[agteacher2]

I suspect the SAK handles are molded in place?

The wood, bone, etc. handles are most likely glued. Makers use a two part adhesive that is water resistant and has a very high shear strength.

Case, Boker, Camillus ... are generally pinned in place with out any adhesive. Other manufacturers (bear and Sons for example) use glue.

Hope this helps,

Jeff

[wildromanian]

I have seen advertisements for replacemet blades and tools for Swiss Army knives. I am wondering if there is someway to remove the scales without breaking them off?

[stressmaster5000]

Genuine Victorinox knife scales of the most common cellidor type have small holes to line up with the rivet heads that are exposed outside of the main body plate. You wrap in a cloth and use a vise to press them on. The plastic is deformed around the rivet head and holds quite well. To remove just use a flat blade and insert at one end and gently pry the scale off. Once removed the scale will no longer "hold" since the holes have been deformed. Wood and other hard material SAK scales have the holes but glue is added to hold the scale on. Check out SOSAKonline.com and check out Rotokid's shop for replacement and custom scales for SAK's.

[wildromanian]

thanks for the reply.