Does anyone else prefer Bone over Stag?

[tomcrx]

I have always liked bone, micarta or wood scales more than stag. I never caught the stag bug. I understand it is a hot commodity but I usually buy a non-stag handled knife even if stag model was available.

I have never prefered stag for a few reasons-

1. The scales were always over-thick for the knife. This always ruined the symmetry and ergonomics of the knife to me.

2. I grew up in a time when there was a glut of knives from Europe with Stag handles and cheap steel, so I used to associate stag with cheap import.

3. My granddad never liked them so I guess I inherited his predjudice

I always thought that well done jigged bone or Micarta always looked "cleaner" and more refined.

So if you have a preference for or against stag let me know why.

 

[stockman242]

I'll take a well jigged bone over stag any day, but there is something about stag... Well its hard to describe.

Peter

 

[d.parker]

I don't remember the cheap steel, stag handled knives from Europe. With that said I like Stag covers on some knives. The type of knife dictates the scale cover choice for me. I think all choices are good but a few, I'm leery of celluloid and probably wouldn't buy that. the other choices are a personal preference, so in certain choices I would choose bone others stag....

 

[APerna]

I prefer bone to stag especially when it's Don Morrow's.

 

[Bob W]

Stag material seems better suited for larger-handled knives, while I definitely prefer bone for pocketknives. I can't explain why exactly, something about the texture/size ratio in addition to aesthetics; stag looks best when used as full handles, not cut into small fragments.

Not saying stag pocketknives look bad, only that it's not the ideal material for that application.

Proper use of stag:

 

[knifeswapper]

Stag is more of a crap-shoot; but when you get that perfect one it is unbeatable...

 

[Peregrin]

I'll take a nice stag any day, especially on a handmade knife. My favorite slip joints by Ohta, Chamblin, and Morrow all have excellent stag. None of them make the knife "fat". If it's done right it can't be beat.

 

[LarryM]

Put me down for bone over stag. Larry

 

[rifon2]

I'll generally take bone over stag, especially on smaller knives.
One reason: I like a slim carry, and (as already mentioned) knives with stag scales tend to be thicker than those with bone scales.

But for some knives - like the Puma Original Bowie I owned many years ago - stag does seem like the right choice of handle material.

 

[Gmountain]

I like stag on the classic Puma folders, but it just doesn't seem as nice on the modern slippies. I like bone on most slipjoints.

 

[tomcrx]

Wow .. a lot more fans of bone scales then I thought. I do agree with BobW on larger knives it can look good.

 

[popedandy]

Stag is fine, but I almost always go with the bone. I don't like stag enough to justify the extra cost, and well-done bone feels pretty good in the hand.

 

[Bob W]

Wow .. a lot more fans of bone scales then I thought. I do agree with BobW on larger knives it can look good.

I've been thinking about the issue today, trying to find words to explain exactly how the stag looks "less-right" than bone on pocketknives. Here's what I've come up with:

When the stag is cut down to fit a small knife and trimmed down to mate with the bolsters, much of the original texture and color is lost. It no longer looks or feels like deer stag as it's found in nature.

Here's an example:

And here's an exception (photo from BudK ):

 

[kodiak]

I love Bone! My new Tapperlock has beautiful bone. (IMO) The skeleton is bone also.

 

[mdauben]

I much pefer bone over stag, too. From an estetic point of view, I just never cared for stag as a handle material for knives, fixed or folders.

 

[Peregrin]

I've been thinking about the issue today, trying to find words to explain exactly how the stag looks "less-right" than bone on pocketknives. Here's what I've come up with:

When the stag is cut down to fit a small knife and trimmed down to mate with the bolsters, much of the original texture and color is lost. It no longer looks or feels like deer stag as it's found in nature.

To each his own I guess. There are makers out there that know how to put stag on a small knife.

 

[JatMat]

I like stag when it fits the knife, such as this one by Amherst.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

I can't really stand stag, even when properly done. I prefer bone in a traditional folder over all other handle materials.

 

[db]

There is some nice stag no question about it. But 99.9% of the time I'd prefer one of the other handles wood bone and yes even micarta. Truthfully I wish there were more micarta slipjoints available.

 

[KnifeHead]

I like GOOD STAG and GOOD BONE

Most production knives that are covered with stag have either burnt stag :thumbdn: or second cut stag :yawn:

Good stag: :thumbup: When done properly is perfection :thumbup:

Good Bone: :thumbup: