Burnt Stag

[jeffbird]

Looking at a very nice knife with burnt stag. Seems like the charring will wear or wash off fairly quickly. How does it look then?

 

[Jsega51]

You already asked about stag….

https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/durability-of-sambar-stag.1909659/

 

[jeffbird]

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You already asked about stag….

https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/durability-of-sambar-stag.1909659/

Yes I did, but this is a different question not answered in that thread. This is specific to how burnt stag wears off, not the durability of stag in general. I’m new to this genre of knives, sorry to have bothered you, but the one I am looking at would be the most I’ve ever dropped on a pocket knife. Spent more on some fixed blades, but my Hinderer is priced like Pakistani slag next to some of these traditionals.

 

[Old Engineer]

Looking at a very nice knife with burnt stag. Seems like the charring will wear or wash off fairly quickly. How does it look then?

It looks great then if you don't screw it up with letting brass turn it various shades of green .

Harry

 

[jeffbird]

Thank you OE.

 

[afishhunter]

In the two or three years I've had mine, I don't think its changed. Admittedly, I don't carry it every day. I believe the longest consecutive carry was a little over a month, last year. Total carry time is probably only between 9 and 10 months, generally a week or two at a time.
View attachment 2064158
N°24 of 35 numbered with burnt stag.

 

[Will Power]

The torching effect on Burnt Stag can also be augmented by potassium permanganate dye giving it a darker look. Undyed Stag can appear with very white parts , this will begin to yellow to a fine buttery colour. The torching effect will mellow too in time depending on a) grade/porosity of Stag b) how often you handle it and how much sweat, dirt, oil etc gets onto the handle. As Harry Old Engineer wisely points out, brass liners can also cause dramatic verdigris staining- in some cases. Lot depends on storage and indeed the chemicals in your sweat, mine turns then very green. It's a pity GEC doesn't use al steel construction for their Stag knives but brass being softer is more forgiving and likely easier to haft tightly.

Stag, unlike the human body and in some cases mind; definitely improves with age and handling. Looking forward to seeing your knife, go for it!

This 25 has still a lot of burn but the lighter parts are yellower than new. The mark side is lighter.

 

[black mamba]

Usually the burnt parts get lighter in coloration, while the unburnt parts get a little darker from the oils of handling them. This stockman shows the changes from lots of handling.

 

[Jsega51]

Yes I did, but this is a different question not answered in that thread. This is specific to how burnt stag wears off, not the durability of stag in general. I’m new to this genre of knives, sorry to have bothered you

You’re not bothering me, but you are asking quite similar questions. Durability of stag and now durability of the burnt color. In the previous thread there’s explanations of how stag for knives is treated and how the “burnt” is added through treatment with potassium permanganate. Within that thread I even linked to another that I had started showing how a stag knife of mine lost a lot of color and how I brought it all back with PP.

Your questions and the responses given have a lot of overlap so I wanted to make sure you actually read and understood what myself and others have already explained previously.

 

[sceva]

I like good Sambar Stag but I'm not a fan of burnt stag. I don't care for the orangey tone from the torching. While it seems to hold up OK my feeling is that the torching degrades the stag a little leaving the surface just a little bit softer. As for wear, I had one burnt stag knife ( A Canal Street) and it did hold up but I carried it in a slip. Potassium Permanganate on the other hand can color stag nicely and wears well. I believe the so called Amber Stag is done with PP but not 100% certain.

 

[Horsewright]

I like good Sambar Stag but I'm not a fan of burnt stag. I don't care for the orangey tone from the torching. While it seems to hold up OK my feeling is that the torching degrades the stag a little leaving the surface just a little bit softer. As for wear, I had one burnt stag knife ( A Canal Street) and it did hold up but I carried it in a slip. Potassium Permanganate on the other hand can color stag nicely and wears well. I believe the so called Amber Stag is done with PP but not 100% certain.

No the amber stag is dyed that color. Usually produced by Culpepper. The PP produces the dark brown, blackish color folks are so fond of down in the depressions after the antler has been worked. Before this scale was put on this knife and worked it was all the same color, the dark brown from the PP:

Natural antler going in the PP

Drying:

Interestingly and I don't have a picture of it but when the scales come out of the PP they are a deep purple color. It then dries brown. Put em on knives:

I process quite a bit on occasion:

 

[waynorth]

No the amber stag is dyed that color. Usually produced by Culpepper. The PP produces the dark brown, blackish color folks are so fond of down in the depressions after the antler has been worked. Before this scale was put on this knife and worked it was all the same color, the dark brown from the PP:

Natural antler going in the PP

Drying:

Interestingly and I don't have a picture of it but when the scales come out of the PP they are a deep purple color. It then dries brown. Put em on knives:

I process quite a bit on occasion:

Thanks for posting those process pics, Dave!!
Worth a thousand words!!!

 

[jeffbird]

Pulled the trigger on it.

Looking at Horsewright’s photos, it may be stained with PP rather than burned. Either method, I like it. Will post up some photos when it arrives.

Thank you for the helpful information gentlemen.

Jeff

 

[Horsewright]

Thanks for posting those process pics, Dave!!
Worth a thousand words!!!

Ya bet!

 

[Horsewright]

For info a couple of things to note. Those pics show a worn out batch of PP. That was the last group of scales that I did in that batch of PP. On a fresher newer batch ya get a deeper darker brown.

Years ago, when it was legal to do so, I imported from India my own Sambar Stag. My supplier told me that all stag from India had been treated with PP. More as a disinfectant rather than a dyeing agent

 

[Peregrin]

Years ago, when it was legal to do so, I imported from India my own Sambar Stag. My supplier told me that all stag from India had been treated with PP. More as a disinfectant rather than a dyeing agent

That's what I remember, Dave. That PP was originally used as a disinfectant. Thanks for the explanation and photos. They are worth a thousand words.

 

[Horsewright]

That's what I remember, Dave. That PP was originally used as a disinfectant. Thanks for the explanation and photos. They are worth a thousand words.

Ya bet Gary! Starting a new batch of knives shortly. Gonna have to cut up and PP a batch of scales. I’m out.

 

[Jsega51]

Pulled the trigger on it.

Looking at Horsewright’s photos, it may be stained with PP rather than burned. Either method, I like it. Will post up some photos when it arrives.

Thank you for the helpful information gentlemen.

Jeff

You won’t be upset you bought it and keeping the stag oiled will help protect it while carrying it. I’ve used several stag handled fixed blades for processing deer and have no issues washing them in soapy water to clean them up.

 

[tongueriver]

I have read that waxes are a better choice for stag than oil. I would like to hear comments on that.

 

[jeffbird]

You won’t be upset you bought it and keeping the stag oiled will help protect it while carrying it. I’ve used several stag handled fixed blades for processing deer and have no issues washing them in soapy water to clean them up.

Thank you Js.

Appreciate the help.