GEC 2nd Cut Stag - What exactly is it?

[coyote711]

I guess it's stag, as opposed to bone, but I'm not quite sure what to think of it. An example I've seen (online) looks almost like bone thats been carved and then torched with fire. Any info you could share would be appreciated, as well as any experiences/impressions with the stuff in real life. Thanks much!

 

[Blues]

Keith, I'm not familiar with GEC's offerings per se but generally second cut stag is the portion of the stag remaining after the outer "bark" has been removed.
So it's a smoother (less figured) material that sometimes gets jigged or torched to add texture, color or other characteristics. It can look very much like bone.

 

[richstag]

I always wondered with GEC if it was just less desirable cuts after they cut out the most appealing pieces. That is only because some of the second cut stag from GEC I have seen on vendors appears to be bark, just not quite as desirable. I would be interested as well to hear the real answer.

 

[Blues]

Here's a quote from a Case vendor website I just found via a search engine:

The origins of Second Cut Stag are somewhat of a mystery. The name Second Cut is derived from the piece of antler that would remain after the outside layer with the Stag bark texture had been removed. Those interior pieces, the scut from the antler, would then have a jigging pattern cut into them. More frequently, exterior pieces of Stag, which didn't have enough character, were jigged, often by hand to create Second Cut Stag.

 

[coyote711]

Thanks Elliott! The particular knife I'm eyeballing looks a whole lot like jigged, burnt bone. Again, not quite sure what to think of it. I generally don't like handle materials masquerading as something they're not. It may not be intentional, but it sure "looks" more like bone than stag.

I wonder if this would get that "pocket worn" smoothness & beauty sooner than a jigged bone knife? Is stag "softer" than bone? Would 2nd cut stag be harder or more dense than regular stag?

 

[Blues]

Thanks Elliott! The particular knife I'm eyeballing looks a whole lot like jigged, burnt bone. Again, not quite sure what to think of it. I generally don't like handle materials masquerading as something they're not. It may not be intentional, but it sure "looks" more like bone than stag.

Funny you say that, Keith, because the idea of bone stag (such as many production companies from yesteryear would refer to it) was to jig and work bone to mimic stag.
Some got so good at jigging the bone that many folks actually preferred it to stag (and you can find several of our members that feel the same).

I guess the bottom line is you pick the scales you like and go from there. As long as the vendor gives an honest description of the material utilized the consumer can make a rational choice.

At least that's the way I see it but then I like most scale material as long as it's artfully and tastefully done and resonates with me on one level or another.

Oh...and you're very welcome.

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

Thanks Elliott! The particular knife I'm eyeballing looks a whole lot like jigged, burnt bone. Again, not quite sure what to think of it. I generally don't like handle materials masquerading as something they're not. It may not be intentional, but it sure "looks" more like bone than stag.

I wonder if this would get that "pocket worn" smoothness & beauty sooner than a jigged bone knife? Is stag "softer" than bone? Would 2nd cut stag be harder or more dense than regular stag?

I have only one Case example of their 2nd cut stag BONE, on a small trapper pattern (think it's '90s vintage, I'll have to dig it out and look again). I have the same impression as you've indicated above. It does look like jigged, burnt bone, and the one thing that always bugged me is, it's noticeably softer than bone would be, when tested with a fingernail. Sort of an odd mix aesthetically; stag that's carved to look like bonestag, but doesn't seem up to the same quality as bonestag (in this particular example, anyway; can't say if my impression really gives a fair shake to others of the same variety).

Never mind the above. I dug the knife out, it's actually a 'second cut bone' SC6207 SS mini trapper (1993), which does look like some odd mix of burnt stag/jigged bone.

 

[reader1]

Elliott,

Thank you very much for your patient, persistent, careful and thorough attempt to
properly and clearly define "Second Cut Stag," especially the quote from the
"Case Vendor." I had not seen that definition. The definitions I knew were less
precise.

I am now comfortable with your definition.

Mike H.

 

[coyote711]

David, thanks for your reply. It makes me think the knife in question would get that pocket worn look & feel fairly quickly, which in this case I think would be a plus.

I know it's not apples to apples, in fact just the opposite, but I like the looks of the Case 6.5 Bone-Stag (which is bone carved to "look" like stag), better than the GEC 2nd Cut Stag (which is stag and "looks" like bone).

Elliott, it's hard to argue with your bottom line though - good thoughts there. :thumbup:

 

[Blues]

Elliott,

Thank you very much for your patient, persistent, careful and thorough attempt to
properly and clearly define "Second Cut Stag," especially the quote from the
"Case Vendor." I had not seen that definition. The definitions I knew were less
precise.

I am now comfortable with your definition.

Mike H.

Mike, it sounds like you got me mixed up with someone else.

In any case, I'm glad that all is now right with the world since I've been having trouble sleeping of late.

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

Keith,

I edited my original reply, in case you hadn't seen. My knife really is an odd duck. The particulars of it, I don't think are relevant to 2nd cut stag generally. Sorry for the mis-direction of my previous post.

 

[coyote711]

Thanks for the heads-up, David. No harm done, and thanks also for checking further on your knife and updating your post.

Still not quite sure what to think of the GEC in question. I'm hoping someone who owns one will check in and give their impressions.

 

[robbobus]

I have my GEC 2nd cut stag Executive Whittler in my pocket today. It is smooth, has lots of colors in it. It is mostly a cream to yellow mix, with some red patches, green hues and a bit of blue. Very interesting handle material. Feels harder than bone to me. I had understood it to be the inside of the antler when I bought it. I don't carry it often, but it is quite beautiful material.

 

[black mamba]

I have two GECs in second cut stag, one smooth and one jigged and burnt. Here is the smooth, a Cuban stockman.

The jigged and burnt example is a toothpick. It's the top one in this pic.

The two are very different looking, but both beautiful to my eye. I really like gnarly, burnt stag, and this toothpick has that look.
But on the other hand, I really like the range of colors in the smooth Cuban, as well.

 

[Noddy]

The name is unfortunate in that it makes you think it is a lesser material than stag bark. Taken for what it is though, it is nice stuff. There are a number of stag-handled fixed blade knives (especially 'bushcraft' ones) whose scales that have been shaped and smoothed past the bark (after application) - or maybe with just a portion of the bark remaining. They look good

 

[coyote711]

Robbobus, Jeff, Noddy ..... thanks for your posts! That smooth 2nd cut looks really sweet, Jeff! :thumbup:

The jigged and burnt looks like the one I'm considering. Is it pretty much a flat handle scale material like bone, or swollen like most stag handles?

 

[waynorth]

Just to confuse us all,

I thought I'd put these pictures up, of Case's Second Cut Stag, from the 1980s.
If nothing else it helps to broaden the picture. This is actual Stag, jigged and burnt. Case style ca. 1985.

 

[black mamba]

Keith, I just pulled out the 'pick and took a photo from the top down to show width. Very slim and pocketable.

 

[Noddy]

Here for example is a bushcrafter that has been recently re-handled in stag (the original thread is on BB)

 

[Railsplitter]

I have this Tidioute Congress in 2nd Cut Stag. Mine looks a little different than the other pics posted. I like the 2nd Cut Stag but I think Burnt Stag and Genuine Stag look better. My wife gave this knife to me for Christmas last year and I treasure the knife because of that.

I have never used this knife so I cannot comment on the question of pocket wear.