Kerry Hampton Knives

[KnifeHead]

Finding and fitting good stag is an art unto it's self. Stag often times "tells" YOU how it is going to sit on a knife and it is up to the cutler to "read" it in it's raw form and gauge how they THINK it will look when finished. Then, with what is basically a leap of faith, they will start cutting and shaping these free-form, flowing, natural pieces in the hopes that they will look as good in the confines of a knife handle as they did in the imagination.

Good stag (for me, stag that will work on a pocket knife) is hard to find and I am always amazed when I'm able to make the pieces I have work on a project.

[ken erickson]

Finding and fitting good stag is an art unto it's self. Stag often times "tells" YOU how it is going to sit on a knife and it is up to the cutler to "read" it in it's raw form and gauge how they THINK it will look when finished. Then, with what is basically a leap of faith, they will start cutting and shaping these free-form, flowing, natural pieces in the hopes that they will look as good in the confines of a knife handle as they did in the imagination.

Good stag (for me, stag that will work on a pocket knife) is hard to find and I am always amazed when I'm able to make the pieces I have work on a project.

Kerry ,

First let me say this one looks great! And secondly you put into words exactly how I feel about halfting a knife in stag

[texasflyfisher]

That is one sweet looking backpocket! Everything (shield, stag, blade, bolsters, etc.) looks perfect!

[KnifeHead]

Thanks, Ken. I recon only a slip joint maker would catch what I was trying to say.

[Morrow]

Kerry,

It looks perfect. The stag is causing a puddle of drool to form on my desk.

Jason

[KnifeHead]

Kerry,

It looks perfect. The stag is causing a puddle of drool to form on my desk.

Jason

Thank you. There is nothing enhanced about the images either...that's the natural color of the stag.

[ken erickson]

I have a small pile of stag scales next to my bench as a reminder. A reminder just how hard making that transition from cut scale or roll to a handle on a knife can be. It is also a reminder just how precious this natural material is, and to turn a piece into scrap is unacceptable.


I did not mention it in my first post but you really did a nice job matching from side to side. That is a facet of stag scales that really adds to the challenge. Not only making one side fit and look good, then having to duplicate the other side with material that by its nature is anything but duplicate!

[rprocter]

Kerry (or Ken), i'd like to see pics of the stag as it is when you receive it, and maybe a few words on the steps involved in turning it into a properly fitted knife scale. Might give me(and others) a better idea of the challenges you must ( & have) master(ed).
roland

[FLymon]

Kerry,
Really nice knife!

Why not use damascus for the spring on this one?
Not suitable for spring material?
don't like the look?
customer request?
Genuine curiosity, not a critique.

[KnifeHead]

I have a small pile of stag scales next to my bench as a reminder. A reminder just how hard making that transition from cut scale or roll to a handle on a knife can be. It is also a reminder just how precious this natural material is, and to turn a piece into scrap is unacceptable.


I did not mention it in my first post but you really did a nice job matching from side to side. That is a facet of stag scales that really adds to the challenge. Not only making one side fit and look good, then having to duplicate the other side with material that by its nature is anything but duplicate!

You are so right on the money, Ken. Making the the sides match as close as one can is an expectation that comes with the territory but isn't as easy to achieve as the average joe might think. I have seen rounds that have had pieces cut from them that could possibly be considered mismatched when viewed side-by-side. To make matters worse, the price of this stuff is going through the roof so it's even more of a blessing when the right combination is obtained.

[wagglebee]

That is amazing Kerry!

[KnifeHead]

Kerry,
Really nice knife!

Why not use damascus for the spring on this one?
Not suitable for spring material?
don't like the look?
customer request?
Genuine curiosity, not a critique.

This particular stuff doesn't make a good spring but is ok for a blade. It is nickel damascus and nickel is soft. We did an annealed bend test on it and it basically just tears apart. Other types of damascus might make a better spring and I would consider making the spring out of the same material as the blade.

[KnifeHead]

Kerry (or Ken), i'd like to see pics of the stag as it is when you receive it, and maybe a few words on the steps involved in turning it into a properly fitted knife scale. Might give me(and others) a better idea of the challenges you must ( & have) master(ed).
roland

That's a good idea. It takes me so long to make a knife anyway and it's interrupted at that (because I have a real job ), what's a few more hours shooting pix and such. I will try to remember that for the next stag project.

[sextant]

Kerry, thanks for showing us this beauty!
Only a real master can manage all these challenges and form them into a great knife like this - pure perfection

This explains long waiting times as well - until the next perfect pair of scales will show up

[KnifeHead]

Kerry, thanks for showing us this beauty!
Only a real master can manage all these challenges and form them into a great knife like this - pure perfection

This explains long waiting times as well - until the next perfect pair of scales will show up

Oh my...well, I'm not a master at this. I only know one of those but thanks for the complement.

Reese Bose held on to a particular piece of stag for a saddlehorn for several years before he found a suitable match. You don't see many saddlehorns with stag.

[cnas122]

You don't see many saddlehorns with stag.

Looks good. I remember when Mike Z. called me and said he found a piece for the saddlehorn he made me last year. We were thinking bone until he sat around one night and went through all of his stag. He did a great job.

Backpocket looks great.

[VCM3]

Man that's sleek & beuatiful! Wonderful Kerry!!

[blades&grace]

Kerry ,

First let me say this one looks great! And secondly you put into words exactly how I feel about halfting a knife in stag

I have a small pile of stag scales next to my bench as a reminder. A reminder just how hard making that transition from cut scale or roll to a handle on a knife can be. It is also a reminder just how precious this natural material is, and to turn a piece into scrap is unacceptable.


I did not mention it in my first post but you really did a nice job matching from side to side. That is a facet of stag scales that really adds to the challenge. Not only making one side fit and look good, then having to duplicate the other side with material that by its nature is anything but duplicate!

You are so right on the money, Ken. Making the the sides match as close as one can is an expectation that comes with the territory but isn't as easy to achieve as the average joe might think. I have seen rounds that have had pieces cut from them that could possibly be considered mismatched when viewed side-by-side. To make matters worse, the price of this stuff is going through the roof so it's even more of a blessing when the right combination is obtained.

That's a good idea. It takes me so long to make a knife anyway and it's interrupted at that (because I have a real job ), what's a few more hours shooting pix and such. I will try to remember that for the next stag project.

+1 To all the above!

Kerry that really does look great. Even the shape of the halves match at the bottom of the butt ...and are near full in texture! There are only a few knives that I have assembled in stag that I can say "truly match". It's frustrating at best!

Now that being said... How many emails do you reckon you'll get from customers that attach that picture saying.....

"Make me one in stag that looks just like this"????

[bakerg2g]

Kerry, You did an amazing job with that Stag! The entire knife
is awesome! As much as you say you're not a Master! You sure
are close!! If not already? imho!

I enjoy using my Hampton made slip joints! Doesn't get much
better then these things!

Jason

[John L]

Kerry, Ken and Brent, others: I have been cutting scales from rolls a lot lately and have now cut about 1,000 rolls and a few tapers into scales this past year. In the past a man would cut several rolls into scales and he might get 1,2,3 or very rarely 4 scales, from a roll. Normally you get one. Now after cutting several hundred scales form a hundred rolls you must match as best as possible. This is not easy by any means. You have to match for texture, match for width and length, and then try to determine the interior color.....from bright white to a dark tan. At times I just about give up and cannot match any. Well...this will not work as these scales must be matched up as best as possible or all the $$ is down the drain. To make matters worse no more stag is coming from India for a long while....thus the reason for the high pricing currently and for the forseeable future. The Sheffield cutlers tried to match also but if you look at many old knives the stag does not match at all. They had the same problems as we do. They also colored the stag with different agents...potassium permanganate being the most popular. Dyes and stains were a close second in Sheffield. Often they also used shellac over the coloring to set it. PP was most always used here in the states as the material was delivered with a spray of PP on all the stag to act as critter control. It also colored the stag a deep brown or black. American cutlers and their buying public came to accept this as the real color of stag. Every piece takes the PP differently. If you simply cleaned the stag you would have an off white or light tan material. Dark brown or black is caused by both dirt and the PP. The velvet or moss that grows on most all antlers, whether Sambar, whitetail, mule, chittal, etc. also has to be cleaned off of about 1/3 of all stag. This amount of velvet depends upon the season and the amount of activity for the stag. The farmers harvested the antlers .....but more accurately the found the drops and collected them at a centralized collection center. There was then a distribution center also. Collection and distribution is now outlawed in India. Sambar know no political boundaries so there still is a bit coming from China and elsewhere. Very limited however. My favorite part of knifemaking is the fitting of handle material. Kerry put it very well..it is an art and I have not done very well yet....not too artsy I guess.