From Plastic to Perfection: Bocote Wood Transforms the 4Max Scout
How These Custom Scales Breathe New Life Into a Forgotten Blade
What a difference a little wood makes… (That’s what she said.)
Just last week, Rob Pena of Snaggletooth Tactical (maker of the Snaggletooth MF pocket catch opener) sent me a set of Bocote Wood handle scales for my Cold Steel 4Max Scout. Under the moniker “Alien Scales,” Rob has been using any extra machine time he may have between batches of the MF to make handle scales, and how beautiful they are!
The Bocote Wood scales he sent me have reinvigorated my love of a knife I respected but very rarely carried.
After the raw beauty of the Bocote Wood, the first thing I noticed about these Alien Scales was how perfectly milled they were to fit onto the liners, pins and frame of the 4Max Scout. Changing out the FRN for the wood scales took about 10 minutes, soup to nuts, and it only took that long because I am out of practice.
The three jimps on the thumbward part of the upper handle aligned perfectly with the thick lock bar, making for a very gratifying feel when gripping the knife. The pocket clip is tight but engages with the smooth scale and the seam of the pocket in a perfect, retentive but non-abrasive manner.
In hand, these Bocote wood scales feel warm and soft, leaving me excited for more. I am sold on these Alien Scales and hope Rob has that “extra” machine time to make more wooden scales for other Cold Steel knives.
The company makes great cutlery, and I think I would carry them more often with the luxurious feel of perfectly fit wood. I imagine the Voyager series or the AD10 with scales like these… it'd be hard to get them out of my pocket.
For now, I will enjoy my “new” 4Max scout and urge Rob to “make” more machine time to produce more Alien Scales.
Knife Junkie Out!
Shawn Old, Gross Motor Gear: The Knife Junkie Podcast (Episode 583)
In the latest episode of The Knife Junkie Podcast (Ep. 583), host Bob DeMarco sits down with Shawn Old, founder of Gross Motor Gear, who creates unique self-defense knives inspired by his background as both a martial artist and an artist.
Shawn’s knives feature distinctive Japanese-style tsukamaki handle wraps and designs optimized for real-world self-defense scenarios. As a former Krav Maga instructor, he brings practical experience to his designs, focusing on knives that work well with gross motor skills when adrenaline is pumping.
What makes his knives stand out is the intentionally shorter blades paired with longer handles — a design choice that Shawn explains provides better leverage and control in close-quarters situations. His popular Mamushi model exemplifies this philosophy, working effectively in multiple grip positions.
Listen to the full interview at TheKnifeJunkie.com/583 and check out Shawn’s work at GrossMotorGear.com. You can also find him on Facebook and on Instagram.
OUTSTANDING!!