School me on bone and stag handles.

[robertj298]

Being new to collecting all these terms are kind of confusing to me. You have bone and you have stag handles. Then you have queen amber carved stag, Is it stag or bone? Then you have stag? I assume stag i antlers but off of what? Deer? Elk? or any number of animals. The same with bone handles. Bone from what? To me its confusing.

 

[JustinR]

Usually when it says "carved' it is bone carved to resemble stag. Probably the most popular stag is sambar stag but you also have whitetail, red stag, elk, moose, etc. Most bone handles are from cattle shin bones, unless otherwise stated.

 

[robertj298]

Usually when it says "carved' it is bone carved to resemble stag. Probably the most popular stag is sambar stag but you also have whitetail, red stag, elk, moose, etc. Most bone handles are from cattle shin bones, unless otherwise stated.

Ok so is one stag better than the other? I haven't seen any knives that actually say what kind of stag handles they have.

 

[JustinR]

Not really, some is denser or has a better color but it is mostly personal preference. It all looks different.

 

[Bigfattyt]

There is also a distinction between burnt stag and natural stag.

 

[Amos Iron Wolf]

This relates mainly to Case's use of materials, but is a good start on understanding handle materials.

http://www.wrcase.com/case_college/handles/handlematerials.php

The links on the right sidebar get you to things like blades shapes and jigging patterns too.

 

[link2derek]

^^^ Great link, Amos - I somehow missed that one - thanks for posting.

 

[black mamba]

GEC has specific designations for their stag.

Genuine Stag (undyed, not burnt or toasted, cut by GEC)

Natural Stag (undyed, not burnt or toasted, but pre-cut slabs)

Burnt Stag (undyed, flame burnt for color)

Elk Stag (undyed, unburnt)

Red Stag (dyed, may or may not be burnt)

Stag Bone or Bone Stag (bone jigged to look like stag)

 

[henryhide]

It sure is a good link. Thanks.

 

[MerryMadMonk]

Good info in this thread:


Going Stag - Deer 101 class

 

[300Bucks]

I need to go back and fix up that post with some fancy pictures, time flies. 300

 

[Alnamvet68]

The OP, since he stated he is new to collecting, should also be aware of Stagalon, Indian Stag (Camillus & not to be confused with genuine India Sambar stag), and Dura-Stag (also Camillus), which are synthetic, typically Dupont's Delrin, that are cut/jigged to look like stag.

 

[2Dead]

To add to Jeff's post regarding GEC stag, sometimes GEC offers 2nd Cut stag. This is stag that, for whatever reason, wasn't used for the other stag handles but instead sanded down.

Here's Smooth 2nd Cut Stag


but it's usually offered jigged

 

[ptradeco]

GEC has specific designations for their stag….

Excellent post Jeff. This will be most helpful to many, especially newer folk to knives.:thumbup:

 

[black mamba]

Thanks, Brad, and to Trand for the additions.