The disclosure is related to knives (fixed blade or folding) with removable scales and scale attachment systems for such knives. In accordance with some examples herein a scale attachment system for a knife having a blade and a handle defined, at least in part, by a pair of scales removably attached to the blade, includes a plurality of U-shaped clips, each of which is configured to be received in a pair of corresponding grooves on opposite sides of the handle. In examples herein, each of the clips may extend transversely along a spine side of the handle and at least along a portion of the two opposite sides of the handle adjacent to the spine side.