Stag handle care

[Shawn B.]

Can any of you buckaholics give me any advice for the care of my custom shoppe knives with stag scales.

Thanks,
Shawn B.

 

[Samael]

The big enemy of stag is sudden changes in temperature and/or humidity. This can be a result of going outdoors and then back indoors in the winter, and also from the dry winter air in your house when the furnace is running.

This is less of a problem with stag than with bone and ivory, but can still happen. Coating the stag with a light coat of mineral oil three or four times a year will help, though how much it will help is debatable.

Mineral oil will yellow the stag a little, but that's going to happen with age anyway. And it's about the best thing you can do to ward off cracking.

That said, as a good friend of mine has said in the past about all natural handles, "it's not a matter of if it will crack, but when."

Good luck!

 

[Shawn B.]

Thanks, Samael

 

[Samael]

Optimally, you want to treat your stag, bone, ivory, and wood handles like a good cigar - 75% humidity and 75-degree temperatures 24/7.

Since most of us don't happen to live in a humidor, though, that's probably not going to happen. This is a common complaint about "natural" handle materials; I happen to think it's worth it.

 

[ohen cepel]

Some also use wax on them. Either Ren Wax or even car wax.

I haven't done anything to any of mine, probably will go with Ren wax myself. If you search around some there are people who have issues with all the options. I'm not really sure what is the best answer, just wanted to through another option out there.

 

[arksknives]

I use baby oil on mine with no problems. I also use Renaissance wax.(great for Damascus blades)

Eric