Aftermarket scales for Grip 551

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KenHash

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Sep 11, 2014
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I just installed a set of AWT Aluminum scales on my Griptilian 551. It looks great and turns the knife into a total tank.
The only issue I have is with the pretty noticable weight increase.
Does anyone have experience with G10 and.or Micarta scales and can suggest any? I am looking for something
that comes closest to the originakl scale's light weight.
Thanks
 
KenHash said:
I just installed a set of AWT Aluminum scales on my Griptilian 551. It looks great and turns the knife into a total tank.
The only issue I have is with the pretty noticable weight increase.
Does anyone have experience with G10 and.or Micarta scales and can suggest any? I am looking for something
that comes closest to the originakl scale's light weight.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Bear in mind that the original FRN scales are lightweight material to start with and milled out / moulded pretty thin, hence the “clacky” noise and light weight. I’ve got G10 scales from Cuscadi, Wilkins and Death of all Things. All add a fair amount more weight as the material is heavier and the scales are more solid In construction.

The Cuscadi “Anso pattern” scales added the least weight, Death of all Things scales the most as they are (or at least were) solid G10, the thickness of the original scales, with no milling internally to reduce weight other than the recess for the liners.

edit : just put a few on a scale
stock 551 (no clip) 3.7 oz
550 with Wilkins scales 4.65 oz
552 with DOAT scales 4.8 oz
 
Last edited:
psquared said:
Bear in mind that the original FRN scales are lightweight material to start with and milled out / moulded pretty thin, hence the “clacky” noise and light weight. I’ve got G10 scales from Cuscadi, Wilkins and Death of all Things. All add a fair amount more weight as the material is heavier and the scales are more solid In construction.

The Cuscadi “Anso pattern” scales added the least weight, Death of all Things scales the most as they are (or at least were) solid G10, the thickness of the original scales, with no milling internally to reduce weight other than the recess for the liners.

edit : just put a few on a scale
stock 551 (no clip) 3.7 oz
550 with Wilkins scales 4.65 oz
552 with DOAT scales 4.8 oz
Click to expand...

Thank you very much for the detailed response. The Aluminum AWT looks great, feels rock solid, but comes out at 5oz with clip. I doubt the little lanyard adds much.
I wasn't aware that the G10 scales would add as much as they do, but yes the stock scales are molded very thin. I could live with them if only they felt better
in the hand. Wilkins is discontinued. I am looking at the Flytanium CF ones but I don't have a weight on them so I may have to email them.
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KenHash said:
Does anyone have experience with G10...
Click to expand...
AWT are superbly made for sure, yet they take away the nimbleness of the Griptilian, I took mine off again in lieu of the stock scales, which I still quite like.

I just bought a set of G10 scales from Bladescales.com, albeit for the Bugout, not the Grip; I find them rather pleasing. Today I checked their online offerings, they have G10's available for the 551.
 
.577NE said:
AWT are superbly made for sure, yet they take away the nimbleness of the Griptilian, I took mine off again in lieu of the stock scales, which I still quite like.

I just bought a set of G10 scales from Bladescales.com, albeit for the Bugout, not the Grip; I find them rather pleasing. Today I checked their online offerings, they have G10's available for the 551.
Click to expand...

Glad you mentioned that you went back to the originals. I've been thinking of doing that. The AWT feels better in my hand when the blade is opened and I am using the knife. But 99% of the time when the knife is closed and being carried, the stock scales are better.
Thanks for that site but unfortunately all Grip scales are out of stock.
 
KenHash said:
Thanks for that site but unfortunately all Grip scales are out of stock.
Click to expand...
Ken, it appears Bladescales.com still has the red and blue Grip G10 scales available under "Classic Griptilian Scales.
 
.577NE said:
Ken, it appears Bladescales.com still has the red and blue Grip G10 scales available under "Classic Griptilian Scales.
Click to expand...
Thanks. Yes, I am looking for black. Preferably plain.
There are G10 scales offered by a couple of Russian makers, as well as one in CF on etsy which I am
now looking at.
 
Don't forget about Igor.

BM Griptilian scales custom

Hi I do scales for all BM Griptilian (full size), mini Griptilian, 940/943, 710 Use titanium standoffs only (no back spacer) My works https://www.facebook.com/igordedscales/ I will be glad to do scales specially for U Any questions- PM or igorded@mail.ru Regards Igor
www.bladeforums.com www.bladeforums.com
 
The AWT alum scales Look great and are precisely engineered. However the edge and the flat surface make them far less ergo as compared to the stock scales. I'd rather go with contoured aftermarket CF scales (or even better with the kind of wood inlays).
 
If you are looking at carbon fibre … 551BK-101 is the droid you are looking for.

I have a quite a few carbon fibre scaled knives, the gold class 551 scales are probably the nicest I own. The milling is really very well done. Just enough texture to keep the soft tactile feel of CF and also feel like it isn’t slippery.

Rebladed with a Ritter
 
razorburn said:
Don't forget about Igor.

BM Griptilian scales custom

Hi I do scales for all BM Griptilian (full size), mini Griptilian, 940/943, 710 Use titanium standoffs only (no back spacer) My works https://www.facebook.com/igordedscales/ I will be glad to do scales specially for U Any questions- PM or igorded@mail.ru Regards Igor
www.bladeforums.com www.bladeforums.com
Click to expand...

I have never weighed my grips before but the micarta scales that Igor makes are top notch. I hated the sound and feel of the full size standard scales so decided an upgrade was in order. Top two were made by Igor
 

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