Elk Antler

panch0

panch0

Joined
Jun 16, 2008
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Hey I got an offer to trade this piece of elk for a small hunting knife. It is approx 41" some parts are 1.5" wide. Is this worh an even trade for a 120 dollar knife? Below is a pick of the antler. Maybe some money and the antler? I have never used bone or antler for scales. I figure now is a good a time as any to learn how to work with it. It is a year old shed. Here are the measurements he sent me. Total length 41". Tines are 8-9" about 1-1 1/2 inches wide. The last tine is about 14" from branch.
 

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Generally antler is bought and sold by the pound, Others can chime in here but the current price paid, depending on where you are, is $1.50 to $5.00 a pound for fresh raw antler. In the long run, it is worth what you think it is worth, if you like it, trade for it. You may want to look around your area and see what similar pieces are selling for.
 
That seems WAY overpriced to me. I was at an antique mall last weekend and a set of two of them was priced at $95... and I passed on that deal. That's FULL antique store retail price for a pair with the connecting skull (i.e. suitable for getting mounted, of that's your thing). And this guy wants $120 for one shed?

I'd pass. But then, I'm a cheapskate.

- Greg
 
I was watching some on ebay for a while, they seemed to mostly go in the range of 30-50 per side. I did a trade for four sides for a $150 knife, and it wasn't that good of a deal, IMO. I really don't like elk, having had five sides to work with. The bark is thin, so you have to have your scales cut just right or else you'll have pith showing. Try to find some axis, much better antler, and should be plenty of it around in South Texas.
 
If its nice dense horn with a good texture and color you like,it seems like a pretty good deal to me.A set of nice scales or a good taper will cost $25-$40. or so.
 
It is hard to get scales from that size without pith. The actual hard part is very thin but the tines make great stick tang handles. If you think you want it go for it at least you know next time. Nothing ventured nothing gained.

Bob
 
No way in hell I'd do it!!! :eek:

You never know for sure what you're getting with Elk until you tear into it. Don't get me wrong... I LOVE elk antler. Being from Washington state... it's an animal we have plenty of, and I have spent many a day chasing them around.... But Elk can be pretty solid, or it can have 95% pith with just a tiny bit of enamel on the outside.

$120 for one shed is crazy (IMHO) ESPECIALLY when you DON'T KNOW WHAT'S INSIDE!!!

There's a place in Oregon where you can pick out pieces that are already cut and it's a few bucks a pound (North American Antler).
 
I use a lot of elk antler on my hunting knives. It is very hard to cut pieces that are straight enough from these small antlers. Also the small antlers have no flat places to get scales from. By the time you thin the scales down enough to go on a knife they will more than likely be much to narrow. Only the very large ones will work ( for me anyway). Even the large ones have a pretty thin outer shell.

IMHO free would be overpriced.
 
This depends on wheter you can see enough cuts from the antler to get a $120.00 worthout of it.

Generally I would say, Ah NO! :eek:

Watch Ebay for a while and you will see what they go for. Someone said in the $35.00 to $45.00 range per side I think and that is about right. However you will see them for more but I think that is a case of getting caught up in the bidding war.
 
The only part of the antler that interest me is the section that attaches to the skull. It is usually dense and is nice to machine. The rest of the antler I nail to the wall and use it to hang my hat on.:D

Fred
 
(Guitar strums)........
Leave it on the ground, my friend
It's not as good as much I've seen
Now you can sell that knife of yours
And buy all the antler you'll ever need
(Mariacha kicks in).......
 
I make a ton of knives from elk antler and can tell you, like Fred says, only the ones and twos are worth a hoot to deal with. Whole antlers go for $10 a pound where I hunt in NM...more than the others are quoting. That being said, I usually trade my guide a knife a year for about ten or so antlers (give him one or two a year as well....great friend). Here is one I made from one of the brow tines that finished up well. The other parts of he antler? Too pithy, no popcorn, no shape.....

DamascusHunter2.jpg
 
I just got three sheds about the same size for $25.00 for all three at a garage sale.
I've never used it, thought I stole them but now I think it was just OK after reading this thread.
 
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