Wilkinson sword Ray Mears Knife dilemma

[swotty]

I have a Wilkinson Sword knife that I have owned from new (when they were £90 not the silly amounts they fetch now!)
I love the knife and it has been my main user for about the 8years, my only problem with it is that I have always thought that the scales were a little thin for my grip. I have seen several of these knives and the handles vary considerably in thickness.

So my dilemma is do I get this knife rehandled and possibly devalue it or does matter that as it is and always will be a working tool and not stuck in a draw.

If I were to get it rehandled I was thinking of the stag scales as per the RM knives issued to Woodlore instructors. Does anyone have any idea how much this would cost and what are your thoughts?

 

[udamiano]

Personally, a knives to me is a tool that gets used until it dies, so for me the idea if selling doesn't come into it, but comfort of use is a major issue, so I would have the scales remade to make it more comfy to use.

 

[Bundleman]

Re-handle it, yourself. Then it'll feel even more personal, think of it more as a repair or tinkering with it to get it just right...

 

[spandit]

+1 for rehandle otherwise what's the point in keeping it?

 

[Hoodoo]

I'd sell it and use the money to get a clone made to your specs.

 

[Retired Member southey]

If the blade shape works for you then value doesn't matter, just make it comfy dude,

 

[Ratbag]

I'd sell it and use the money to get a clone made to your specs.

I agree. The knife looks to be in pretty good saleable condition so, unless there's a sentimental reason not too, if it were mine I'd sell it and put the proceeds towards a custom number.

....but then I've always been a ruthless cold-hearted ratbag

 

[Big Stu 12]

As the others say , if you like it, why sell it for something you may not like.

 

[robevs73]

If you like that blade then do what you want with it.
You could take the handle off carefully and place a linner or two in.
Its difficult to get some decent antler these days and it has a tendency to move, the last knife I re-handled in Sambar shrunk quite quickly and a Bison knife i have the scales have swollen.
I think you should stay away from reindeer antler its not brilliant , lots of pith.
pikebite sells really nice handle woods in stabilised scales.

 

[robevs73]

Have you thought of re-handling it in birds eye maple?
Keeping the woodlore feel and look?
I have re-handled a few woodlore's and Spyderco's with no complaint's if you need someone to do the job.

 

[Johnnyboy1971]

Looks like the micarta one. I have the same one and has been a good working tool. Handle is bob on for me.
Personally i would boil the scales off and save them. Replace them with something to your liking and size.

 

[JonathanD]

Get it done. If it is done correctly, well and with some quality sambar, then the value will increase anyway. The Woody will feel much better with a wider handle and sambar ages beautifully with use.

 

[swotty]

Thanks for all your input chaps......and thanks for the warning about shrinkage/expansion with antler.

I quite like the idea of birds eye maple Robevs and yep Johnnyboy it is the micarta one, i've seen several and the handle width varies a lot a couple that i've played with have been the perfect size for me, it was just luck of the draw from WS! I would definately save the old scales and remove with care!

JonathanD...I will google sambar as it's not a wood I am familiar with........watch this space

 

[JonathanD]

I have a lot of sambar handled knives, including my instructors Woodlore. Shrinkage has never been an issue if you get some good quality dense stuff. Plus you can stabilise it yourself very easily to prevent this anyway.

EDIT: Sambar is a deer from India. It's what RM gets his Woodlore handled with....

 

[swotty]

Ahhhh...that explain why it's not a wood that i've heard of then!

Your Deval bushcrafters look absolutely stunning........I like the idea of sambar.....a google for suppliers me thinks

 

[bushwacker bob]

I'd sell it and use the money to get a clone made to your specs.

Woodland Wisdom. and you'd have enough change for a few bottles of single malt.

 

[Silverback 1]

Keep the knife exactly as it is now for sentimental reasons and get another one made to your specs,best of both worlds.

 

[rapidboy]

The WS knives didn't have very consistent scale thickness, i had 3 and all quite different.

I did this one about 7 or 8 years ago, it had very thin scales originally

 

[John Fenna]

Flog it (the RM logo is worth more than the steel and wood together ) and get a custom made one to your specs

 

[swotty]

The WS knives didn't have very consistent scale thickness, i had 3 and all quite different.

I did this one about 7 or 8 years ago, it had very thin scales originally

Now that's nice...is that a birch or a maple?

The scales on my knife are more like the bottom one i'm sure if they were more like the middle they would be fine.