Finish For Sambar Stag??

R

rlinger

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Mar 29, 2002
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Just finished a Scandi with Dan Gray Sambar Stag. It looks just fine after buffing but this is my first antler and wonder if I should coat it. Advise please from Sambar experts.

Thanks.

RL
 
Roger my favorite sambar stag finish is to heat the stag over the electric burner until it will melt and absorb Kiwi dark brown shoe polish. Be sure the stag is completely done including sanding and buffing. Try it on a scrap piece first to see if you like the color. It helps condition the entire piece including the rough areas. My pistol/knife "Highroller" was done this way if you want to check it out
 
Bruce, I never would have thunk of that one. I'll be posting pictures here tomorrow. Please look at them and see if you think I should still do that. I've got a lot of white around the profile where I rounded it. You'll know how to advise me when you see the pics.

Thanks.

RL
 
Roger I use Fiebings Leather Dye - you can use combinations of colors to get what you want - one favorite combo for me is British Tan which will give that old orange gold - if too orange then tone it down with medium brown. To apply you can wipe it on and let dry - then rub down with a coarse cloth. If you get too much on wipe it down with acetone or alcohol. You can also remove excess color with 4/0 steel wool. Let dry for 24 hours at least and then to finish I use three or four coats of Neutral Watco Danish oil - wipe it on and rub it in good, let dry 24 hours between coats. If after the last coat it is a bit tacky wipe it down with a rag soaked in mineral spirits and then rub dry with a clean lint free rag (use a toothbrush to get down into the crevices).
All of the stag (and other antler for that matter) on the CactusRose pieces as well as my other pieces over the last thirty years have been done this way. If you want a bit more "shine" apply a coat of carnuba based car wax and buff with a soft buff.

Some folks will recommend potassium permanganate and it gives a nice color, but myself and several of my mtn man reenacting friends have found that after a couple of years of use it gets ratty looking so we switched to the leather dye/oil (some use boiled linseed oil or tung oil instead of Watco) and have found that it stands up well even with heavy use. A once or twice a year wipe down with the oil of your choice will keep the stag looking good.
 
I use super glue on my Elk horn and really like the finish.Rub thin super glue on the horn with a vynil glove on and it won't stick. Do any coloring first. I like the white that shows up at the ends. Can't post a pic but try some on a piece of scrap.
Take Care
TJ
 
I like your knife natural but if it were mine I would warm that baby up and melt some kiwi into it. I read about this years ago in a knife magazine. Im not smart enough to come up with it on my own. Be sure to play with it first so you dont scorch the stag. One bad thing I did once is to use stag from two different animals. They matched great until I used the heat and kiwi trick, they were a total mismatch then. I sometimes like to use black and then brown if you want darker. One more thing, I wonder if it works if you already waxed the stag? I do the heat and melting after sanding to about 2000 grit and light buffing with white rouge. I will say it again....play with it first.
 
Bruce, it is difficult to see in the pictures but one side is darker in color and also whiter at the profile (where they are curved to tang). I have NO scrap pieces to test on. Let me ask you this: What will the brown polish do to the white contours? I have no fear of heating the scales enough. I think I can control that part of the procedure. I just wonder about what is going to happen to the contrast between face of scales and profile edges of scales with the polish. And also this question: is the polish for protection or mainly for looks??

EDIT: NEVER MIND. I am going to do it as you prescribe. Timidity never gained anything.

Chuck, thanks for that info.

RL
 
Roger is one gent that is not afraid of expensive material. Roger, how about trying it on some whitetail antler? It sounds like you are going to try it anyhow, and it does sound like a great treatment. I gotta try that on my next antler handle, Bruce.
 
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