Newbie Question

[cowboycharlie]

OK guys--what exactly is 'amber' stag?

 

[Gary Mulkey]

It is stag (usually sambar) which has been dyed amber.

Gary

 

[dbl-edge]

Charlie,

Most of the amber stag you see today is dyed so that when ground through the bark layer you see colors ranging from a dark rusty red to amber instead of the normal creamy white or beige. In the days before the ban on export of stag from India (and the average stag was far better than the good stuff of today) you would occasionally see stag that exhibited the amber colors along with some depth and translucency when you ground under the bark. That's where the term originated. I'm sure it was caused by the diet of the elk or deer.

The scales on the hunter in the attached pictures are contemporary amber stag from Culpepper.

David

 

[Kevin Jones]

Very good answer to the question David. The natural "amber" stag David speaks of is very rare these days. Here's some additional examples of "dyed" amber stag. It's right up their with good ivory as my handle choice for knives in my collection.

 

[betzner]

Ah, always love these opportunities to post a good amber stag pic, and right after another big lover of amber stag!

 

[vice o33]

boys them knives' lost for words

 

[Jon Brand]

So if it just has a hint of amber color, its amber stag? If its the same stuff but with the natural tan color, its just sambar stag?

 

[jdm61]

Now I am no expert, but I would think that "real" amber stag would have gotten that color either with age or from sitting out in the field for a good while after the deer had shed his antlers. I get the "aged" looking color using Fiebings leather dye.