Deer Antler on Full Tang Knife?

[JakeThomas]

So I am planning out the design for my first knife and I am wondering what I should use for the handle I was thinking deer antler. I have seen it on hidden tang knives, but would it work well on full tang?

 

[Del Raso Knives]

Antler scales have been used on full tang knives for ever, pin or bolt them on like any other material. Your biggest problem is finding scales big enough and then justifying the price. Take a look at Culpepper's for a good selection of matched pairs in various sizes. Best of luck with your project.

 

[Horsewright]

I've bought a lot of stag from Culpeppers. I will often use an ironwood spacer as a contrast and also it lets you use a shorter piece of stag (less $) then you would normally need. I've used a lot of different antler materials, Sambar Stag, Elk, Moose, Whitetail, Mule deer etc. No problem going on full tang knives.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

A tip on how to cut a piece of stag or other irregular or rounded shape material ( ivory, bone, etc.) is to epoxy it to a flat piece of wood. A piece of 1X4 pine works great. Draw a line down the center on one side, put some quick set epoxy on the line where the material will touch the board and set the antler in place. Brace with some blocks of wood while it cures. If needed, glue on some pieces of wood to brace the antler or support it from underneath. Once the sled is ready, place on the table/band saw and slice down the center. The epoxy can be removes with a heat gun and a chisel or pocket knife tip ( warm it up and it comes right off). Any final clean up can be done with acetone or denatured alcohol.

When slicing up a mammoth tusk, this is the only practical and safe way of getting even and multiple slabs.

 

[John "Hutch" Skierka]

Granted I'm just as new to this as you Jake, they have worked well for my first 5 knives (all that I've made). Every one was whitetail antler cut lengthwise with a bandsaw and then flattened out with a disc or belt sander (disc would obviously be better). The more careful you are with the bandsaw, the less you'll have to flatten it out. I do like Stacy's idea though- never would've even thought of doing it that way. As soon as I can post a picture I'll do that, or you can email me.

 

[LARRYZ10]

Dave, I really like your full tang knives with antler scales. I get antler that is pale and boring and have tried a few dyes with not much success. Do you stain or dye your antler before/ after sanding? If so what do you use. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks, Larry Lehman

 

[Del Raso Knives]

Best and most traditional colouring medium is potassium permanganate. Mix about 1/2 a teaspoon of the crystals with a pint of water and let the antler round or scales sit in it over night if you want them very dark. Don't freak out when they initially turn purple, they will end up brown. The colour is only on the surface. PP should be freely available at any drugstore.

Strong tea or coffee can give ok results, as can lightly scorching the surface.

If you want "amber" stag as pictured in the bottom knife in the last pic, I'm afraid you will have to buy it already processed. I am yet to meet any maker that has successfully managed to figure out the method. Believe me, I have tried for years.

 

[Robert Erickson]

Dave, I really like your full tang knives with antler scales. I get antler that is pale and boring and have tried a few dyes with not much success. Do you stain or dye your antler before/ after sanding? If so what do you use. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks, Larry Lehman

Very cool! I've been hesitant to try stag/antler because the pins/thong tubes look difficult to finish. You obviously have that figured out! Do you use a dremel or foredom device to finish? What is your technique?
Edit: Oops I thought I was quoting Peter's post. That said I would appreciate anyone's advice! Sorry for the confusion.

 

[Cajun Kamikaze]

Very first knife I made, I used an Elk Antler crown and cut it in half to make scales... Keep in mind, my first knife.... There is much left to be desired in this design....

 

[jdm61]

PP doesn't stay purple....most of the time. I have one purply piece that just won't go brown and I also have one on a knife where the white parts turned pink. As for "amber stag" how bout this? Homemade amberizing.

 

[Horsewright]

Larry that piece came from Culpeppers already dyed. All stag antler has been dyed if its got that color everyone likes, regardless of the critter. I use the Potassium too. However when I say it it comes out potassium pomegranite. Anyhoo. I do a lot of elk that I trade for, sourced here locally. Local cowboys find sheds while they are out working and bring em to me. The PP gets it looking like bought sambar. Most of the time the elk I'm getting doesn't have as much color as that piece that Cajun Kamikaze showed. Or its colored on one side and sun bleached on the other. PP is a great disinfectant for this stuff too by the way and was why it was used originally, the cool color was an unintended by product. I get the PP off of Amazon for like $9. Mine is premixed. I keep it in a tuppaware container and just put my pieces in for about 15 minutes or so. Some need a second bath and some don't. I give the scales a light clearcoat finish after they have dried Just gives the down in there a little gloss. If I have to finish a pin to the contour of the stag I will use a 120 grit flap wheel on a Dremel tool. That will marry the pin to the contour pretty quickly and effectively. Then a light buffing to get any scratches out. You gonna have to share Jdm61.

 

[William Schrade]

Don't do what I did. I soaked the stag antler in a 50/50 vinegar water solution for 2 weeks. It softened up and I squeezed it in a vice, between 2 pieces of oak, and applied heat and continued to close the vice. I was pleased with the results but what I didn't count on was the STINK! I did this in my basement shop. Good thing my wife was out of town visiting our daughter. I went to HD and got 3 of those air fresheners that clip to your return air filter in the heating system. It covered it up really well. I keep those fresheners handy now.