Blood and Bone

Trout Hound

Trout Hound

Joined
Sep 28, 2014
Messages
693
Question for everyone: will blood stain a bone or stag handled knife? I'm thinking mostly in terms of cleaning fish and game. Ive gutted many a fish in my time, but it just so happens that I've never done it with a bone or stag handled traditional. Now that I'm gathering more of those into my collection, I just want to know what I'll be getting into if I use one for that purpose. Thanks!!!


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Yes and no.

If you leave the blood soak in and dry for a long period of time it can seep in and stain stag and bone, that is if your bone scales knife has a lighter dye to it. I usually let my knife go for a while after cleaning a deer, because 9 times out of 10 I'll have another one to clean before the day is over. At night I'll hit it with some hot water and a little Dawn soap, then dry it off and add some oil. It tends to dark the stag, but because I clean it, the stain doesn't stand out.
 
It can stain them, but if you are cleaning up your knife in a reasonable amount of time it probably won't. Food prep is one of the things for which I prefer synthetic handles when possible.
 
I'd think Stag is more likely to stain as many parts of the antler can be very porous, dark bone not so much. But staining can enhance Stag too. A wash&brush up fixes it nicely so no real worries.

johnny Fine liner lock there is it 73 or 23?
 
Btw, the most significant risk is probably from swelling (and later shrinking) on the bone or stag when you wash it (as you should). Generally this is temporary, but it can give rise to a gap or two. I much prefer the appearance of good honest use on knives like Johnny is using. My preference for synthetics is more about my health than preserving the knife (but I am pretty sure that is mostly in my own head, as none of my friends has been ill from using natural materials).
 
Will, it's a #73. It is by far my favorite pattern and perfect for getting up in the chest cavity of a downed deer. It's got plenty of blade to gut, skin and quarter most any game we have here in PA.

Bartleby, those old Buck fixed blades with the synthetic black scales ruled our farm for many years!
 
Nice knife. Is that a CZ leaning against the stump?tapatalk_1490575117031.jpg

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