More antler added - Good handle material? or just weird antler?

[Fletch Helical]

I don't know what you should charge but my first thought would be cheap. I may be interested in some elk after though.

 

[Phil Dwyer]

Richard,A few years ago my wife and I were driving down the coast and saw a herd in a field so we did the dumb tourist thing. We parked the car and walked over to about 25 yards from the herd. I told my wife not to go any closer, I was going back to the car for my smokes. When I got back with a burning cigarette one of the younger bulls looked over at us and started making some weird noises. I told the wife we should go back to the car because he was acting funny. When we were almost to the car the young bull came running toward us. I don't even remember how we got into the car it happened so fast. He stopped a few feet away and just paced back and forth until we left. I wonder if it was the cigarette.

I bet he thought you took one look at him and split, thus leaving your sweetie to expand his harem. When he saw you come back he got pissed. When you left with her it was more than he could take.

As for selling stag....

You can easily see what antler is selling for on eBay in the taxidermy section. Checking out a few of the dealers sites, their product and pricing would give you some higher end retailing background. (Elk won't fetch near as much as sambar.) Finding your place with this lot will be as easy as seeing if the darn stuff sells. Folks won't buy it if they don't want it, or don't like the pricing. I bet you could do a search in the sale forum on stag, antler, sambar, elk, etc and see what has happened in the past there.

You'll get a sense for the quality of the pieces, just like you do with wood. The better the size, shape, solidity, bark texture and color, the higher the price. Tapers usually cost less than rolls. I don't know if there will be much of market for the extremely weather beaten stuff or not.

Knowing you, you'll host competitions and give-aways and have us bidding against each other in no time in order to buy this stuff. Let the sales begin....

All the best, Phil

 

[Burl Source]

I have already learned a bit what to look out for with the weathered stuff. I will probably be wasting a lot of the big rack. Looks like it was too far gone. I did notice that with light sanding you can get a look like the crackle on ivory. I think it is similar to spalted woods. There is a fine line between just right and too far gone.

Some of the deer antlers have a real gnarly look that I like. Maybe I'm just into the weird stuff. I can't wait to see what Russ and Bill do with their pieces.

My decisions to proceed with the antler will be based more on what the knife makers will do with the material than how much money I can make from it. Mr Clark provided some good information along with pricing at Jantz. I will be able to keep the elk under that.

 

[R.H.Clark]

Don't throw away any of that weathered stuff,especially if they are tapers that are handle size.You can put some in my first box as filler.I think I can make it turn out very nice.