GutRot Posted November 3, 2020 Share Posted November 3, 2020 Anyone know where I can get American Flag scales? Having difficulty finding a supplier and have a customer wanting a bowie with American Flag handle. Carvex or resin or micarta or anything! Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Latticino Posted November 3, 2020 Share Posted November 3, 2020 Suggest you look up Carvex. Looks like they posted American Flag scales in August and are now discontinued. I would research why it was discontinued before buying... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted November 3, 2020 Share Posted November 3, 2020 A internet search for American Flag knife scales returned about 27,100,000 results (0.65 seconds). How many of those have you tried? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GutRot Posted November 4, 2020 Author Share Posted November 4, 2020 Thanks Latticino yeah I checked them out and can't find any of those anywhere and the company Mental Co doesn't make them anymore it seems. Or reply to their emails. Glenn, indeed 27.1 million results but I couldn't find any selling American Flag scales. If only I was making the handle out of search results!! But seriously I've searched quite a bit and found nothing. Frankly I'm shocked if no one makes American Flag knife scales for retail. You'd think that would be an obvious seller to American knife makers or maybe it's too cliche? Or is it maybe considered disrespectful to the flag? Maybe my search results are throttles because I'm in Canada? Conclusion, customer is getting is getting a wood handle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted November 4, 2020 Share Posted November 4, 2020 GutRot, I did a brief search of the 27.1 million results, and did not find American Flag scales either. Lots of knives with the scales attached, but no individual scales. Sorry for the bad reference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GutRot Posted November 4, 2020 Author Share Posted November 4, 2020 (edited) Haha it's fair man you see all those handles already made with them and it seems obvious at first glance but there is nothing! Really strange to me that no on is making those. I mean American patriotism + knives just seems like a given but no where to be found. I tried making one with a small flag and 2 part epoxy but after several very lame looking attempts had to stop as I need to get the project done and every attempt requires the wait time of the resin setting. Not going to give up on the idea but won't have anything ready for this in* a reasonable time. If you guys see anything let me know please! Still kinda shocked this isn't a thing. Edited November 4, 2020 by GutRot Spelling error Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted November 4, 2020 Share Posted November 4, 2020 Doesn't help with your search, but if you haven't seen it already, google Daryl Meier's American Flag Bowie knife. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buzzkill Posted November 4, 2020 Share Posted November 4, 2020 I don't know if knife scales would fall into this category or not, but I believe it is illegal to use the flag in advertising. It's also prohibited to make clothing out of the flag, and there are a number of other particular provisions regarding the use of the flag. Penalties for misuse may vary from state to state. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted November 4, 2020 Share Posted November 4, 2020 I think the laws have changed since Abbie Hoffman was prosecuted for wearing a shirt made from an American flag. I believe there were some First Amendment lawsuits involved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted November 4, 2020 Share Posted November 4, 2020 While those laws may still be on the books they were shot down on 1st. Amendment grounds. There was a real spate of arrests and suits in the late 60s when folks were burning the flag along with their draft cards and bras. Nobody served time. I see the American Flag in advertisements everywhere, saw a bottle of booze with a flag label. I'm thinking flag knife scales just aren't selling anymore. So charge time and materials to make micarta scales. You can buy star, paper punches. Pick the appropriate colors of cloth, cut and stack the pieces. Once placed in a clamp it won't take much vacuum to saturate the cloth with resin. Get good at it and you might make a niche market for yourself. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deimos Posted November 5, 2020 Share Posted November 5, 2020 Maybe something dumb, but cant those things just be 3d printed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mod34 Posted November 5, 2020 Share Posted November 5, 2020 MOD NOTE: The legality of various forms of representation and display of the American flag is a legitimate subject for discussion on IFI. Political commentary is not, per the IFI Terms of Service. The comment that violated this policy has been removed, as have the comments that followed from it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted November 5, 2020 Share Posted November 5, 2020 26 minutes ago, Deimos said: cant those things just be 3d printed? Interesting idea; I would assume so. It might be cool to print the red and blue and then cast the rest with a pour-in white resin. One might also print the flag with wavy lines, as if rippling in the breeze. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deimos Posted November 5, 2020 Share Posted November 5, 2020 That was what i was thinking, since i dont think the printing plastic is very nice to the touch, or very hard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buzzkill Posted November 5, 2020 Share Posted November 5, 2020 You might also be able to use a photograph, drawing, or other object and clear resin to make your own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GutRot Posted November 10, 2020 Author Share Posted November 10, 2020 Thank you for all the great responses advice and information!!! I decided to put the flag on the blade in the end, what you guys think? I know it's not perfect but I'm fairly new at this.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted November 10, 2020 Share Posted November 10, 2020 50 stars and 13 stripes? One star per state and a stripe for the original 13 colonies/states. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GutRot Posted November 11, 2020 Author Share Posted November 11, 2020 It's cut off so I could make it larger on the blade. The flag it's printed from was correct. Is that bad? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted November 11, 2020 Share Posted November 11, 2020 I personally do not like seeing the flag on anything but a flag pole. Too many of our country men and women have died for that flag. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GutRot Posted November 11, 2020 Author Share Posted November 11, 2020 Fair enough. Thanks for the input guys. Customer was super happy with it so I'll go with that. Certainly no disrespect for the flag ment from me on my end of the transaction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George N. M. Posted November 11, 2020 Share Posted November 11, 2020 I would have used a smaller flag, if I had used a flag at all, to get the entire field of stars and all 13 stripes on. As it is, I see a piece of the American flag. I'm kind of with Irondragon on this. I am slightly uncomfortable with the flag being used as decorative element on or in most anything. I'm not an absolutist and I have seen uses that are tasteful and respectful to the symbol of our country. One of the reasons I think the flag should be approached carefully when thinking of using it as a decorative element is that it is often used to try to demonstrate some sort of cheap and shallow patriotism. The sort of thing that says, "Oh, look at me. I've got a flag on my house, truck, lapel, etc. and that proves I'm a patriot." That said, the flag is still just a piece of cloth that is a symbol, not the actual thing any more than a photo or a bust is not the actual person depicted. Therefore, respect or disrespect is at least one step removed from reality. Loving the flag is not the same as loving the country in a meaningful way any more than tearing up the photo of someone is not an assault on them. There are plenty of other American patriotic symbols that can be used that do not involve the actual flag. The 13 star/13 stripe shield and the spread eagle are two. And I do understand, more than most, Irondragon's thoughts about people who have died for their county but I understand that they sacrificed for the country, not the flag that is a symbol of the country. I usually only mention this around Memorial Day at the end of May but while we have a number of military veterans here at IFI I may be the only old combat infantryman around. 50 years ago I was leading an Infantry Platoon in Viet Nam. Sorry to get so philosophical but the use of the American flag as a decorative element is a sensitive subject that needs to be considered carefully. Everyone has to decide for themselves what they are comfortable with and who might agree with their decision and who might not. Thoughtfully, George LTC AUS (R) late of 1/C/1/12 Cav, 1 Cav Div (Airmobile), RVN 1970-71 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted November 11, 2020 Share Posted November 11, 2020 Thank you George, from another Vietnam era Vet. USCG '64-'70. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GutRot Posted November 11, 2020 Author Share Posted November 11, 2020 My dad was drafted served in the road runners. Unfortunately I was born and raised in Canada after he left the military. Again no disrespect ment at all and will certainly consider all this next time I am asked for such a thing. I'm super proud that my father is American and served in the military even of he was only stationed in Germany. The American who asked for this also lives in Canada and uses his radio show to push for Alberta to become the 51st State. I don't believe for a second that he would intend to be disrespectful either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George N. M. Posted November 11, 2020 Share Posted November 11, 2020 Gutrot, just to make sure you understand, I was not trying to imply that your use of the American flag in your context was in any way disrespectful. I just wanted to point out my own feelings and to put out there that this can be a sensitive subject, both pro and con. I suspect that the prairie and mountain provinces and states probably have more in common with each other than they do with the eastern states and provinces of their respective countries. "By hammer and hand all arts do stand." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted November 11, 2020 Share Posted November 11, 2020 Your use doesn't push my hot buttons; I just didn't know if you knew the correct makeup of the US flag with that CA location. I know I couldn't do a proper Canadian flag without checking---though I can probably do the Mexican flag being on the border down here. What does torque me; is when a business puts in a LARGE American flag and then doesn't maintain it. I went in and talked with one telling them that yes it is their First Amendment Right to show their dislike and disrespect of the US Government by displaying a flag in tatters; but I thought it reflected poorly on their business. As it was an advertising gimmick to them; learning that it had the opposite effect resulted in it being replaced. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.