ShadowchaserUFP said:
Anyone have any suggestions to keeping the antler this nice looking but still being able to utilize the knife (afer all, a knife is meant to be used!).
Jack, one of the best substances to use on antlers (and most other materials used in knives) is called Renessaince Wax.
This is the stuff used by many museums and collectors.
If you intend to use the knife, a change in the appearence in the antler will be unavoidable. Antler is a special bone which has many small pores where the blood vessels run when it was still growing. These will take up oil from your hands or the preserving materials, which will lead to darkening of the white material. It will also become yellowish and slightly translucent, especially where the material is thinner. Some tiny cracks might "appear" or better say: become visible.
Many people prefer the golden, aged look of the antler over the white new look.
If you dont mind the aged look of the antler, and dont have access to Renessaince Wax, you might use food grade mineral oil (sold as laxative in pharmacies like Walgreens etc.). Its is cheap and will protect the steel and the brass from rapid oxidation too. Some people soak their antler knives for several hours or a day in mineral oil each year. This will prevent the antler to crack up due to drying out but will definitely darken the color.
If you use mineral oil on the blades, remember to spread it very evenly and leave just a very thin film behind. If you leave a lot, the mineral oil will coalesce in droplets and leave large areas uncovered. Humidity from the air will attack unevenly the surface and you might end up with blotchy surface, a mixture of shiny and darkened or rusty areas.
Do a search on "Renessaince Wax" and "mineral oil".
Some people might suggest Ballistol.
I myself am using mineral oil on all of my khukuries and most of my knives, the stag/antler handled ones included.
