swiss knife handle help

[GlisGlis]

Hello
This is a swiss knife my father gave me many years ago. I've taken it with me almost everyday and when one of the red scales broke I kept using it.
Now my son is going to go abroad and i'd like to give it to him
I was thinking to take off the the other red scale and put new wood ones.
How would you do it? What glue / resin would you use?
How to prevent the glue to fill the inside where the blade are? (as you can see there are holes where the red scale were attached)
Will appreciate every single suggestion as I'd like to do a good job.

[AndrewS]

I think the old plastic handle scale
is clicked into the metal frame maybe even molded.
I would glue a wooden handle scale selectively on multiple points.
I would use epoxy glue and open all blades....

[GlisGlis]

thankyou Andrew
do you think that epoxy could could slip into the holes when pressed?
another friend suggested me to use loctite gel. Is epoxy stronger?
the metal part need some kind of treatment before gluing? like filing, scratching or anything like that?

[AndrewS]

A fast-setting epoxy adhesive, which is quite viscous, should not flow into the holes (Less glue is more in this case)
Many knife makers use epoxy glue to bond the handle scales of a knife to the tang.
The handle should be well prepared so that it makes good contact with the surface.
Degreasing before gluing should be enough

[Gimlis Ghost]

My suggestions are this. Remove the remaining plastic first. Tape over the holes on the inside.
I'd use acraglass gel . it is thick and contains a filler  and doesn't shrink as it sets. The packages include little packs of dye so any filler showing can be the same color and shade you plan for the finished scales.
Pick up a large bottle of 100% acetone nail polish remover, I get it at Walgrens but most cosmetic dept have it. Works fine for cleaning up excess glues or fiberglass gels.

Were this my knife I'd remove the pins , disassemble the knife and after bonding and finishing the scales drill out the holes and replace with new pins. That way the scales are going nowhere no matter what.

[GlisGlis]

thankyou both.
Will degrease and check what type of epoxy I can find. Already got the acetone.
Sure removing pins would provide a better result but I fear i could not be able to put them back properly so I'd probably find a way to mask all the holes and blades
It will take some time but I'll keep you posted when done 

[Hawkdancer]

good luck with the project!  You might contact the maker(Victorinox?) and see if they have a restoration service.
Hawkdancer

[GlisGlis]

good luck with the project!  You might contact the maker(Victorinox?) and see if they have a restoration service.

Yup I thought about that but if I can make a decent work that will add character to the family knife

[GlisGlis]

scales are ready.
I was thinking to use just plain boiled lineseed oil as finish
is it better to use it after gluing isn't it? just to be sure to have better gluing

[AndrewS]

Yes, after gluing and drying the glue, oil the grip plates....

P.S.
Prepare the gluing surface well - Make  in the scales small hollows / pits where the rivets or other elevations are, so that as much surface as possible is glued together flatly.

[GlisGlis]

Prepare the gluing surface well - Make  in the scales small hollows / pits where the rivets or other elevations are, so that as much surface as possible is glued together flatly.

  done it. they stay flat.
I still have to close the holes in the metal frame
was thinking of using very small bits of paper soaked in loctite or maybe a little film of glues

[GlisGlis]

thankyou guys
finished the oiling just couple minutes ago
Im pretty happy with the result
Hope it will last a couple generations 
 

[Pappy]

Very nice work, your son should love that.
 Pappy

[AndrewS]

Congrats, fine work.
I like it!

[Gimlis Ghost]

Excellent results, very nice.