Questions about antler

P

pmel018

Joined
May 12, 2004
Messages
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Hi Guys
i purchased a nice set of antlers from a local pawn shop to provide handle materials for the very few knives I make in a year, also wanted to change a UBBB Seax to a more original grip. Having carried the antlers through the middle of the city, removed them from the mounting board and sawed them off the remnant of the skull, I realised I have no idea how to clean, buff or otherwise finish the antler once I have it mounted on a knife!!!
Any tips, hints etc would be much appreciated
Thanks
Phil :confused:
 
What kind of antlers are they? How deep does the solid part go before becoming porous? Can they be made into 1/4" thick slabs or do youneed to use a stick tang? Etc.
 
Majority of saexes was tang mounted. The ones with rivet holes through handle have offset handle like choppers. So you dont want to use slabs.

My idea is that the ancient makers doesnt have antler which is 20 years old and basically dry, but one from fresh kill, which is full of blood and has different consistency. So they just took a piece and nailed the tang which was roughened with file or by smithing in the antler. When it came eventually loose, they just took another piece of antler. Suppose there was lot more antler to work than today.

I did two antler handled saexes recently. I just drill the holes so that the tang goes in and one of them through all the piece of antler and then mill the area just at the start of the blade to be oval or round (with dremel). I stick the tang in and make two halfmoon pieces of wood, which must perfectly fit and with use of glue I stick them from each side of blade so they fit perfectly and fill the oval hole. With that the blade is first secured. Then I take epoxy and put it in the handle through that hole I drilled through from the rear. Then I make a horn end seal, or wooden one and stick it in, as long the epoxy is still wet.

I suppose that saexes didnt have any metal fittings at all, otherwise there would be some found. Even the longest example from thames (almost yard long) doesnt had any fitting and this is richly inlaid example.
 
Watch out for the antler dust. It's yucky and dangerous to breath. Others more skilled will chime in on this...


Ad Astra
 
Hi Guys
Thanks for the replies.

Rusty- not sure what type of antlers they are,each one is about 2.5 ft long with several branches. The thickest end could easily be sawn into slabs, but I intend to strip the seax down to the blade and convert to a through(stick) tang

Hawkwind- thanks for the comments. There are some seaxes that have metal fittings and a few that show evidence of riveting. I'm sure your theory about the antler fitting has considerable merit, but i will do something along the lines of your (modern) technique.

Ad Astra- thanks, will use a mask when working it.

I'm really interested in finding out how to finish the antler, wax, oil of some sort, abrasive compound???


Thanks Phil
 
pmel018 said:
I'm really interested in finding out how to finish the antler, wax, oil of some sort, abrasive compound???


Thanks Phil
Click to expand...
Phil, antler doesn't need anything except an occasional bath in glycerin or mineral oil. Just finish it like you would any good hardwood as far as grinding, sanding, and polishing it. Antler buffs out beautifully but will burn if too much speed/pressure is used so use a light touch on it.
It can also be stained to an extent with Instant Tea with the lemon jouice already added too it.
The citric acid helps the penetration of the tea. Make it very strong, and hot, and let the antler set in it until you get the desired color.:D
 
Phil?

There's a lot to be said for keeping the original texture.

Steve Ferguson polished the prototype SARGE and made it glow, but kept its original finish.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=302082

On rougher blades I've attempted, I've ground down the antler to taper it to fit the guard. As long as you don't hit the porous center, you should be fine. Finish it off with fine grades of sand paper.

Another technique you may want to try is to burn the antler over a low gas flame (it stinks) and create shadow or browning to lend some variety to it. I've done this with scored antler that I sanded, but didn't want the repaired spot to stand out.

Others here will have much better information. I just screw around with stuff.


Be well and safe.
 
Yeah, Kis is right. If it were me I would leave what ridges and such that are there alone. They add too the beauty and the grippiness of the antler. Look at N2S's khukuri with the stag handle in the thread, "Anyone seen a khuk with a guard."
That's the epitome of what a stag handle should be!!!!:D
 
Hi Guys
Thanks for that. The antler appears very dry, its probably been sitting in someones garage/shed for years. I will dress it with some mineral oil once it is mounted on the knife. I don't think I will attempt to remove the surface texture other than to give it a light clean.
Thanks Phil :D
 
pmel018 said:
Hi Guys
Thanks for that. The antler appears very dry, its probably been sitting in someones garage/shed for years.

Thanks Phil :D
Click to expand...
Phil since it is that old and dry I would put the oil in a container of some sort and let it soak for about 3 days or so.
Or you can wrap it in an oil impregnated paper towel. just be careful of spontaneous combustion.:eek:
That would not only ruin yer day but also probably your whole damned year or longer.:grumpy: ;)
 
Try soaking it in Olive or Mineral oil before you work it. And put it in a container with a lid like a canning jar or something similar .



James
 
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