damascus full tang blade

Hi guys, I have a cable damascus full tang blade and I would like to know the procedure of putting scales on it. If I etch it and then put the scales, I,ll scratch the etched edge of the tang, Is there a way to to do this and maintain the etching on the edge of the tang and still get a good fit on the scales and bolsters?. Any help on this will be appreciated. I have put scales and bolsters on full tang blades before, but never on damascus and the thought about the tang edges never entered my mind until I drilled the holes for the bolsters and scales. Did I blow it or is there a way to do this?. Any help on this will be appreciated.T.I.A.
Roland

I usually clean and polish the edges on my damascus pieces. It's a tall order to put one together without messing up the edges.

Thanks for your reply Ed. That,s what I,ll do.
Roland

I do the same thing Ed does, but I guess some guys are able to assemble the handle with screws and get it all shaped before etching. Then they etch, and attach the scales permanently.

I'm sure I'm going to get the "Wrath" from someone, but here goes. I've only told two people ever, this little secret I came up with, very late one night and after tipping a few, so I guess the whole world will know by tomorrow!!! Call it cheating, not real, or whatever else you want to call it, but what I do sometimes (not always) is, after the knife is completely done... I take a small needle file that I have bent in a V, and literally drag and steer, left to right motion along the spine. Then, I etch with a Q-tip, and Walla, instant layers! Ok, ok, let me have it, guys....

Hey Charles!
You won't catch any flack here! That's what this whole thing is about, sharing ideas and finding better ways to do things.
But since your expecting to get some grief, I wouldn't want to disappoint you......................

Naaawwww............your one of the the "Good Eggs"!