GEC dealer stocks: abundance of stag?

N

Nomo4me

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Mar 22, 2014
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I'm just jumping into the GEC madness :eek:
Scouring all of the dealer inventories it seems that samples in stag far outnumber those of other materials.

Has this always been the case or is stag the material du jour for GEC production?
 
I've always thought there were so many in inventories because stag is so expensive.
 
I have noticed that too. Figured it was due to price and for the reason that it may crack easier than other materials, but I do not know this sure sure. I always thought it was cool because it looks good and each piece of stag is unique.
 
I recently read a notice from Case (in volume 1 of the 2014 Case Collector's Club newsletter) that Sanbar Stag from India may soon be embargoed again. That will effect the price and availability of stag handled pocketknives. OH
 
Don't get me wrong, wanting *some* type of stag knife is what lead me down down the GEC path Min the first place. I've got nice examples in Sunfish, Viper, #73 lockback and toothpick en route to scratch that itch :-)

Some of the jig bone really appeals to me but I suspect the really nice examples are snapped up pretty quickly.
 
Scouring all of the dealer inventories it seems that samples in stag far outnumber those of other materials.
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I suspect it's because of the extra-premium asking price of their stag products. I like stag just fine, but I'm not willing to pay so much extra for it.
 
I recently read a notice from Case (in volume 1 of the 2014 Case Collector's Club newsletter) that Sanbar Stag from India may soon be embargoed again. That will effect the price and availability of stag handled pocketknives. OH
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I recently purchased a really nice Case knife, inspected and bought in person, on closeout for $45. Maybe I should have gotten the entire stock of those. ;)
 
AddictedToGear said:
Figured it was due to price and for the reason that it may crack easier than other materials
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I do believe that price is a factor, but not the cracking. These are stabilized and won't crack under normal use. I can't speak for everyone else, but when I'm looking to buy a stag knife, I'm making sure that both scales match up right. Often you'll find that one scale is far thicker than the other and many times, these are the ones that are left behind after every other material of a given knife has been sold out.
 
I thought it was because the cream of the crop is picked out early and the less impressive examples are left over.
 
Stag is an acquired taste, and as stated by one poster, should be acquired only after one has handled and taken an up close and personal view. I for one have returned a few stag knives because the scales were a mis-match not only in color, but in scale thickness. To me, it's not worth any premium, but that's me.
 
I don't quite get the stag thing.
Some of it is just ugly,some is astoundingly beautiful.
The sources of good antler are what I imagine makes the price go up.It doesn't all come from noble wild beasts.
Much of it is farmed and therefore limited and costly compared to cow bone. One of the main uses of antler is Chinese and Korean concoctions for a huge variety of ailments(mainly to do with what Stags are really good at;))
Stags don't usually break it so it must be tough and flexible.
It also stinks like burning hair when its worked.

I think it is the individual nature of the material that holds the appeal.
 
India Sambar stag is not farmed. It is shed antlers that farmers pick up in their fields. About 7-8 years ago, maybe longer ..I cannot remember... the Indian government outlawed the collection and distribution of stag as they thought farmers were burning fields to recover antlers, killing stag for the antlers, and many other reasons including a popular uprising of the "green" movement in India...just as here. Note Obamas' determination to outlaw elephant ivory.....from elephants long dead. It is all a bit ridiculous but politicians will do anything for a vote. All laws in India pertaining to the collection and distribution of Sambar stag antelrs were taken off the books and to reinstate the laws would be time consuming, cumbersome and just not worth the fight now. This is the reason Sambar stag has gotten to be considered a premium material now like ivories...whether it be walrus, elephant, mammoth, etc. There will be no more stag coming out of India for a long..long time. The politics just don't work. Stag does not crack, lasts a very long time and if properly matched up on knives looks good......if you like stag!

John Lloyd
 
Stag is one of those handles you have to get the bug for. Once you do, they are almost impossible to resist. :)

I think dealers have so much stag because, as people have noted, it is very pricey. Also, because it is pricey and becoming less and less available, fewer people are getting bit by the bug.

The result is a temporary glut in the market of stag on dealers shelves. It will, however, go the way of ivory. People will at some point say, "Holy cow, we may never be able to have good stag again." and there will be a run on it and it will be gone.

GEC's stag is on the decline (IMO). Queen's stag got better with the Daniels family ownership. However, Ken was telling me at the SHOT show that they are having a terrible time finding good stag of the right length to make even medium sized knives. So they have gone to putting end caps on their stag knives to keep the price down.

I continue to buy stag deeply because I hate to see that part of the industry fade away.
 
I like bone handled knives best but the main reason I don't buy more stag handled knives is for a few reasons. The majority of dealers don't have pictures of all four side of the handles/stag - mark, pile, top and bottom. I really only like the stag that is approx. the same thickness as the bolsters. You'll find that most of those stag knives you are seeing have very different thickness to the stag on each side or both sides have very fat stag (which is still pretty uneven).
 
Joey,

Most of the stag (at least GEC) is well matched front to back and mostly on thickness. there is always some variation. Most dealers will take the pics you need if you ask.

Derrick
 
I watched a review on YouTube about a gec knife with stag covers and the right side was much thicker than the left. The reviewer said this was his experience on several of his stag models and it was intentional, makings the side that fits into the palm of a right handed user more "filling." I had never heard of this before and didn't take what he said too seriously. But I am curious if any of you have heard something similar.
 
perchjerk said:
I watched a review on YouTube about a gec knife with stag covers and the right side was much thicker than the left. The reviewer said this was his experience on several of his stag models and it was intentional, makings the side that fits into the palm of a right handed user more "filling." I had never heard of this before and didn't take what he said too seriously. But I am curious if any of you have heard something similar.
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I've seen this on German stag folders as well.
 
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