Home Forums Gear Knives and Blades Armadillo shells for scales

I have a build coming up this summer and I have been looking for something different. I ran across the armadillo shell on the 'net and it caught my eye.

Has anyone actually felt of this material?

Not nearly durable enough. Without glue, etc., it eventually becomes a pile.

If they have been stabilized?

not on a knife... felt it on plenty of dead critters.

Seems some here wrap their knives in velvet and store them in a safe so I don't see durability being an issue. I'm certain a knife maker could complete the job and provide a workable speciman - for a price.

Many woods aren't durable without being stabilized.

I have used some on folders over the years and it holds up good

Explain, please. Over the years I've seen hundreds of armadillo shells, and I see no way to make knife scales from one.

A knife with Armadillo scales needs a sheath made out of a Sow's ear.

I can't figure out which would be harder, figuring out how to make it durable enough or figureing out why you'd want to?.....................DJ

I cut mine over size for what i need and them heat the back side with a torch and when good and hot i put it in a wood workers vise and tighten it up .Be careful not to tighten to much as you will bust it you will have to do this several times .Then i flat sand the back of it on my 6x48 sander .Then you can epoxy a liner on the back of it or leave it off and you are ready to go /The only problem i have found is they are a little brittle and you will have to be careful if you use pins and brad them Hope this will help ~Raleigh PS they make nice handles

I guess the same reason a dog licks his nuts....

Have seen examples and the really do turn out nice... Ones I have seen were stabilized...

There's a folder about the 4th down on this guy's site with Armadillo scales.

Armadillo example

I looked at that pic you posted and have to admit that knife at least looked better than I thought it would. I still can't separate armadillo from road kill though. They say that there's a place that whales go to die. With Armadillo's it's highways in west Texas............DJ

Careful with the armadillo scales...you'll get leprosy!

Thanks for that reference. After seeing it in use, I don't think it is for me.

Guess I will keep looking.

Thanks

Sharpeblades,can we see a picture of one of your knives with these scales? I would have never considered armadillo shell for scales, but I also never would have considered using petrified dinosaur crap. I have seen a photo of a knife with scales out of ancient crap and it was fantastic.

Willowcreek1996- ill see if i can dig some up

I actually liked the Armadillo scales. Would also love to see more pics.

I did, too. I just can't believe they'd last through even semi-hard use. The many shells I've seen in the woods disintegrate into piles of little but thick fish-scale-like pieces.