Does stag get dirty??

J

JD Bear

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I wanted to ask you guys about stag retaining dirt. I work with trucks and truck parts in a dealership and I never want to carry my stag knives here because I don't want to ruin them. Does anyone have any experience with wrenching on cars, farm machinery, or any other greasy stuff and carrying a stag knife? I'm worried about brake dust and fluids that might be on my hands when I grab my blade. It might not be worth it to bring it, but I really love stag and I'd like to throw the couple I have in the rotation a little more...
 
Pick one for a user and not worry about it. I'm sure the old mountain men and trappers didn't.
Mineral oil is supposed to be good for it so why not a bit of motor oil...:)
 
It is very porous so yes, it will soil. Pre treat with linseed oil or maybe wax.
A user is going to soil and patina, can only be avoided if you leave it in the safe.
Convince yourself the knife gaining character with age, just like you.
 
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I had heard not to put mineral oil on Stag but small amounts shouldn't be an issue and I will say I do find some dirt/grime collects in the groves but just take a tooth brush or something and brush out any of that.
 
I agree with DeSoto. After all it is a bone like material and in a fully dried state will absorb liquids to some degree. I have a couple that have a golden like patina from someone rubbing gun oil or other treatment (maybe wood floor wax) on them. I would pick one to EDC treat it with Ren wax or mineral oil or a sealer of your choice and go. If you got it covered in used diesel oil, I would wipe it off, wash with soap and water and dry well at work. Then at home use some Dawn detergent, after all it cleans oil spill ducks, give it a old toothbrush scrubbing, let dry and re-seal and take it to work the next day. I carry a EDC vantage stag. But just can't bear carrying a David YH or Ivory knife. 300Bucks
 
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PirateSeulb said:
I had heard not to put mineral oil on Stag.....
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That is contrary to anything I have ever read, it is supposed to be the best thing to keep your bone and stag handles from drying out and cracking.
Hopefully others will weigh in on this.
 
It was basically the oil softens and discolors the stag this was in multiple threads on this forums. I think very minimal light application probably does help and it is just over use that causes the problems. I have heard Ren Wax recommended numerous times.
 
Eh, maybe I'll keep the stag in my pack and switch before I leave for the day. Keep the 110 pro or AG on me during work. But a part of me says screw it...I bought them to use so I need to use them and see what happens. Neither one is irreplaceable so what could it hurt?
 
The 110 pro would be my choice for work. Save the stag for the weekends. But that's me.:)
 
I would not handle any natural handle on a knife with hands soiled in mechanic grease/dirt/gunk. One thing to get natural stains on your knives such as from hunting, vegetation or other organics - that stuff can be cleaned off - OR kept off with a good coat of oil and/or wax on the handle, not so much with the mechanic slurry that you describe.

Of course knife smith environments and hands aren't the most pristine either :confused:. Otherwise I agree with
DeSotoSky - don't worry about using it. One caveat - CLEAN motor oil only! :)

Ray
 
Makael said:
The 110 pro would be my choice for work. Save the stag for the weekends. But that's me.:)
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That's pretty much what I've been doing. Maybe when I get the forum knife I'll keep that in my pocket and let the 110 pro do all the dirty work :thumbsup::thumbsup:
 
I like this lemon oil furniture polish for stag and bone. works great! it has mineral oil along with bees wax and lemon oil in there. smells good too.
 
Ive been using a Elk 111 since 2008 and Dawn and a brush will keep it looking good ..The shieth is the real problem .When you handle it at work and put it in and out of the shieth you will transfer grime to the inside of it that even weeks later will transfer back to your hands. Brake dust is especially bad for you. But really its not that big of a health hazard the little that you might get on the handle or in the shieth. The great grip that stag or horn gives you IS worth the slight amount of time it takes to clean it up.
 
I say go ahead and use the stag, but just clean it up and wipe it down every so often. its best to keep all tools as clean as you can anyways. within reason.
 
You say it's a user so enjoy it as such.
Some stag gets stabilized, don't know that the Bucks are, if so that shouldn't change much.
My 501 stag handle I think has yellowed quite a bit, but I don't recall it being as white as some others that I have either.
My next stag user I am going to tape it off good and put some super thing super glue on it. The stag will absorb it, it won't yellow, and it should help keep it from soiling.
 
The stag Buck knives I have seem to be sealed really good or stabilized.
 
JDB,
Why don't you do a before and after picture thing? Take a before picture and then another after a couple of months of use at work.
 
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