First work in antler...

[namaarie]

Hey, everybody.

I just thought I'd tell ya that I made something cool out of Antler today. My first time working with antler. Cool stuff.

I recieved a small deer antler, I don't know what kind, from a joke gift exchange recently. Somebody thought antler was worthless! Being the crazy baysterd I am, I decided to make a weapon. (of course.) Simple, with small alteration, really. Unfortunately, I can't post pics.

Anyways, I cut off the base and sanded the cut smooth and slightly rounded. Then I sharpened all the tips w/ sander. It just fit really well in my hand when I got it, so I decided to see if I could make something pointy out of it!

It's pretty cool. 3 prongs, one the out-growth of the longest one. I can use it with a wrist snap for a quick slash w/ the longest prong or hold it for a straight punch with another prong. Pretty mean. Anybody else ever do something like this?

As much as anything, this just makes me want to do more with antler. Stuff feels great. Easy to work with, too. Thoughts?

Nam

 

[Yvsa]

I just thought I'd tell ya that I made something cool out of Antler today.

Anybody else ever do something like this?

Only the first cave man that broke an antler with a rock.

Thoughts?

Nam

Keep up the good work Nam!
You can slice the antler crosswise with a hacksaw making pieces about 1/8" thick or so, drill a couple of holes in them and "Viola" you have a button!
You can also take the tips about an inch long and drill a couple of holes in them from the side and you have another type of button good for holding all sorts of outdoorsie stuff.

The straighter tips can also be drilled from the blunt end, sharpened and put on the end of a stick for an arrow or spear point.
Antler is a multi-purpose material.

 

[Jebadiah_Smith]

Boil them then shove a knife tang into the soft pithy part.

Or just gnaw on them for vitamins.

 

[namaarie]

Or just gnaw on them for vitamins.

Done.

Good ideas. Maybe I'll salvage the stump I threw away and make buttons.

Say, I've heard you all talking about soaking antler in oil. What kind and does it affect strength?


Nam

 

[Kismet]

Watch out for the dust. Wear a mask of some sort. Hurts the lungs seriously.

Carve a totem. Wear it.

Rent BRAVEHEART with Mel Gibson (one of the best edged weapons movies done, along with...er...maybe HENRY V, with Branaugh), and note what antler weapons can do.

Boiling antler works best with fresh antler. The older, drier ones can resist moisture for hours, you end up looking for a drill.

On drilling: wacherass. Use a vise, glasses, gloves. That sucker will jump when you don't expect it to.

Take it slow on any job. The work will be there when you come back.

Be well and safe.

 

[namaarie]

Thanks for the advice. Especially the dust! I didn't use mask and wondered about it. The dust smelled pretty bad so I considered it, if for nothing else, for stench relief! :barf:

Nam

 

[Yvsa]

The dust smelled pretty bad so I considered it, if for nothing else, for stench relief! :barf:

Nam

The masks you can buy for painting, dusty conditions, etc that just keep bad things outta your lungs ain't gonna keep the smell out.
You need a respirator for that.

 

[namaarie]

Maybe next time, I'll burn incense while I wear the mask. That way, I'm protected, don't smell the badness, and send my smoke all at the same time!

Nam

 

[Bri in Chi]

I found this pic from a while ago. My antler handled khowboy khukuri It's made from Sambar stag with an elk antler piece for the pommel.

 

[Yvsa]

I found this pic from a while ago. My antler handled khowboy khukuri It's made from Sambar stag with an elk antler piece for the pommel.

That's Still Purty Brian.

 

[Bri in Chi]

Thanks ole' buddy

 

[Ad Astra]

That IS a pretty cool little khuk, Bri. 12" AK? The handle makes it. Good show piece.

I have a half rack of deer antler, believe it or not, I don't know what to do with. It's a shed, so no "trophy" - can't even make a stretcher up about it.

I take vitamins, so no gnawing gneeded.

Namaarie, go gold & post pics! It's like the cost of one magazine sub for a year.

What one learns here is easily worth that.

IMHO.

Ad Astra

 

[namaarie]

We'll see, man. I'll work on that...

Nam