Yes i use a 00 checkering file for the tang (a bit polished because it was a bit too rough
In europe, guys enjoy the wood, in usa it's hard wood, or something more technical as g10, carbon fiber. Copper is good to have a vintage look, but it's not traditionnal at all. Horn, bone, ivory and nice wood are often good choice. I don't enjoy horn at all (the odor and it's not water friendly) but in the past that was used very often.
i use titanium, g10, copper, stainless steel, carbon fiber,
1/16" g10 from usa knifemaker is perfect to make ultra easly straight razor scale. Strong and flexible enough to make exactly what you want ultra fastly without effort
It's function of you blade and what you want to show, with a nice and perfectly shiny blade, a copper scale as i did will not matched at all
. Iron wood or a nice ebony would be perfect. Buffallo horn give something ultra nice but as i said, i don't enjoy horn
With carbon fiber you have always a good look, class and efficient.
With G10 you have a modern look, but it won't fit with the way of thinking of a lot of guy (french especially ....
)
With titanium, you can have something really fun , but there are not a lot a straight maker whose use ti for scale.
With stainless, that is functional, but heavy. It's for an "utilitarian" straight razor which need a great protection during numerous travel
Bone give always something interesting, especially after some year, but the odor is not great during the work.
I hope to have given to you some idea
