Sambar color

[P.K.Hansen]

I recently got some sambar scales, which are not the same white color. One is more like plastic and the other is perfectly white.
Should I dye them like whitetail-antler or is there another way to make the difference less apperent?

 

[L6steel]

PK, where did you get them from?? I have never seen white sambar stag. I bet I've used 40 pieces of it that I buy from Jantz and it's always nicely colored. Take care! Michael

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"Always think of your fellow knife makers as partners in the search for the perfect blade, not as people trying to compete with you and your work!"

 

[C L Wilkins]

You can dye them if you want but parrot Michael's question, "Where did you get them?"
Evidently, they weren't very well matched.

I have found sambar stag in basically three different varieties. White as you mentioned, agate, which from the ends look something like an agate stone, layered colourings and amber or rootbeer. If the scales are not matched, contact your supplier and request an exchange. Honestly, I have no idea who you got them from, but they can do better than that.

Personally I like white and agate and I don't much care for the amber colour but some folks just love it.

As far as dying it, I have used a leather dye with good success. Look farther down the Shop Talk forum and there is a fairly recent thread concerning dying stag, less than a month old.

C Wilkins

 

[P.K.Hansen]

I got it from a guy here in Denmark, but where he gets it from I dont know. When something like this happens I normaly put it on a shelf until I find a match, and so far I've been lucky.
L6 - of course the stag is brown on the surface, but under that its the same color as my fossil ivory - maybe I didn't explain it right, maybe I'm wrong, but to me thats white

 

[C L Wilkins]

PK,
What I have done in the past is to use the one scale on a single knife by using two different materials as the handle. On a full tang knife just have stag closest to the blade and then something else like a figured wood burl. Looks nice but it essentially doubles your time when putting the scales on.

This way, the stag on both sides of the knife are "very" well matched.

C Wilkins

 

[P.K.Hansen]

I've thought of that too, and maybe I'll do it with some amboina - might look good. Thanks for the tip anyway Wilkins.