Knife with removable handle scales

A method for forming a knife assembly comprising:

• forming a blade having a cutting edge and a tang, the tang having a first aperture formed therein;
• arranging a first handle scale on a first side of the tang, wherein the first handle scale comprises a scale release actuator;
• arranging a second handle scale on a second, opposing side of the tang, wherein the second handle scale comprises an opening that is shaped and sized to receive at least a portion of the scale release actuator;
• and
• releasably coupling the first handle scale to the second handle scale using the first aperture in the tang, wherein the releasable coupling further comprises biasing the scale release actuator at least partially through the opening in the second handle scale such that the first and the second handle scales are locked together until the scale release actuator is depressed.

A knife assembly comprising:

• a blade having a cutting edge and a tang, the tang having one or more apertures formed therein;
• a first handle scale removably coupled to a second handle scale of the knife, wherein the first and second handle scales are arranged on opposing sides of the tang and releasably coupled to each other through the one or more apertures in the tang,
• wherein at least a portion of the blade is configured to be received within a knife sheath, the knife sheath comprising:
• a sheath body;
• and
• one or more engagement features configured to interface with the blade to releasably hold at least the portion of the blade within the sheath body,
• wherein the blade comprises one or more cutouts, wherein each of the one or more cutouts is positioned along one of an upper spine or a lower spine of the blade, and wherein the one or more engagement features comprise one or more releasable locks, each of the one or more releasable locks configured to engage with one of the one or more cutouts of the blade to releasably hold at least the portion of the blade within the sheath body.