This is definitely going to be one of the longer "in depth" sections (just a friendly heads-up).

In an earlier section we discussed the scales quite extensively already. This was exclusively from an outside view of the scales and centered around the ergonomics and aesthetics.

This time we're going all-in and taking a deep dive into the inside of the scales.

I think a good place to start is just to have a fairly rigorous look at the scales...

[[[ IMG, IMG, IMG, ... ]]]

To cover:

-- Pocketing (not flat, but curved to allow for outside contours), Left material in blade area (but removed elsewhere)

-- Cross-members (strength)

-- Thumb relief + Thumb lip