Stag Questions

Will Power

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Jan 18, 2007
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I need to draw from your pool of knowledge again:

It's about types of stag, grades and how you know what you are getting.

What is the difference in quality and characteristics between Sambar stag and Red stag? Is the former Indian and the latter from Red Deer? What makes Sambar superior? How easy is it to fashion into handles?

Why was Sambar stag export banned by the Indian government? Surely Sambar stag is naturally shed by the animals, it's not like shooting Rhino for horn-a disgusting waste. Which part of the antler is used, how is it prepared or dried etc?

What other types of antler are used? Roe-deer, White-tail ?Is what we call elk(you moose)antler used? Male elks have a massive set of antlers so should be a good source!

How durable is stag? Clearly I've seen pix of knives here in excess of a century and the stag seems to alter too (get better like wine?) But can it crack or chip with ease? Knives do sometimes get mishandled:eek:

I understand that Bonestag as used by CASE and QUEEN and others is cattle bone worked to give the appearance of stag. Queen Bonestag seems whiter and thus more authentic than Case 6.5. What is BURNT as I have on a Case Mini-Trapper? Is this stag or Bonestag? Certainly looks different from the Stag I have on German knives. Is there a test for stag to prove it's real and not bone?

Thanks for your consideration, I could Google some of this or Wikipede it but I prefer to consult the Oracle of Knife Knowledge, my forum comrades:thumbup:
 
As far as I know, red dear stag are more suited for scales. The center is not as dense as the sambar stag.
 
I need to draw from your pool of knowledge again:

It's about types of stag, grades and how you know what you are getting.

What is the difference in quality and characteristics between Sambar stag and Red stag? Is the former Indian and the latter from Red Deer? What makes Sambar superior? How easy is it to fashion into handles?

Why was Sambar stag export banned by the Indian government? Surely Sambar stag is naturally shed by the animals, it's not like shooting Rhino for horn-a disgusting waste. Which part of the antler is used, how is it prepared or dried etc?

What other types of antler are used? Roe-deer, White-tail ?Is what we call elk(you moose)antler used? Male elks have a massive set of antlers so should be a good source!

How durable is stag? Clearly I've seen pix of knives here in excess of a century and the stag seems to alter too (get better like wine?) But can it crack or chip with ease? Knives do sometimes get mishandled:eek:

I understand that Bonestag as used by CASE and QUEEN and others is cattle bone worked to give the appearance of stag. Queen Bonestag seems whiter and thus more authentic than Case 6.5. What is BURNT as I have on a Case Mini-Trapper? Is this stag or Bonestag? Certainly looks different from the Stag I have on German knives. Is there a test for stag to prove it's real and not bone?

Thanks for your consideration, I could Google some of this or Wikipede it but I prefer to consult the Oracle of Knife Knowledge, my forum comrades:thumbup:

Hey will, it goes something like this;

On a pocket knife handle scale, it won't make much difference using the European Red Stag, ot the Indian Sambar stag. The Indian stag is dense all the way to the core, so if you want to make a fixed blade handle for a hidden tang its a better deal. Also if you're making slab handle scales for a full tang sheath knife, you need the denser Indian stag. For the small scales on a pocket knife, the Red stag is dense enough to an adaquite depth to work well since you are only going to be using the top 1/2 inch or less. In durability I don't see alot of difference,
stag can last well past your lifetime, with the material gaiing a beautifull golden hue over the course of years. My grandads Hen and Rooster knife is part of my edc rotation, and its well past the half century mark. His sailors knife is closing on a century mark in another 10 years if I live long enough to see it. Stag is some pretty tough stuff, and is not going to crack or chip too easy.

Most of the American deer species have antlers too pithy at the core to be good knife handles, exept if you can find a really big section of moose antler. Elk also have the pithy core problem, but not as bad as white tail. Rudy Ruanna used to use elk, but he had to cut thin top layers to put under the dove tail aluminum cast handle frames. Only the top layer is good.

The stag embargo was, I heard, because some money hungrey unscrupled people were not waiting for the antlers to shed or drop, but were poaching live stags. The government used the embargo to try to knock the bottom out of the poachers market.

One of the great benifits of stag is the rough texture is natures non-slip material for wet hands. Alot of the old seamens clasp knives of the late 1700's and 1800's are knarly stag with alot of popcorns and deep grooves.

Bone stag is very good durable stuff. While not as upscale or beautifull as real stag, it has some of the same advantages. Very durable, good looking, and good texture for gripping. My bone stag peanut is grippable even when wet with fish slime.
 
The stag embargo was, I heard, because some money hungrey unscrupled people were not waiting for the antlers to shed or drop, but were poaching live stags. The government used the embargo to try to knock the bottom out of the poachers market.

I had heard somewhere that the naturally shed antler gatherer dudes would set fire to the forest in order to clear the underbrush and make the antlers easier to find. This screwed up the natural habitat of the wildlife, particularly the tiger so the government placed the embargo in an effort to stop the burning practice.

Do not take version this to the bank, I have no idea if it is true or not.
 
I had heard somewhere that the naturally shed antler gatherer dudes would set fire to the forest in order to clear the underbrush and make the antlers easier to find. This screwed up the natural habitat of the wildlife, particularly the tiger so the government placed the embargo in an effort to stop the burning practice.

Do not take version this to the bank, I have no idea if it is true or not.

That is what I read in KI or Blade (maybe both?) back when the embargo was announced.
 
Thanks for the responses.
The item about burning woodland to get the antlers is disturbing, but surely that would DESTROY the antlers too? No limit to human stupidity or greed it seems...

Still would like to know if there's a test for genuine stag or not though?

Be nice to see some more pix of ancient knobbly stag with popcorns or that nice fruitcake colour..(hint):D
 
Thanks for the responses.
The item about burning woodland to get the antlers is disturbing, but surely that would DESTROY the antlers too? No limit to human stupidity or greed it seems...

Still would like to know if there's a test for genuine stag or not though?

Be nice to see some more pix of ancient knobbly stag with popcorns or that nice fruitcake colour..(hint):D

I read recently that the Indian government has allowed the export of supplies of pre-ban stag. Also that the reason for the ban was, as mentioned, the poaching of live stag. Sambar also live in australia and new Zealand.

CRW_0701_JFR.jpg


Here is some knobbly popcorn fruitcake coloured stag as requested.

17-05013.jpg
 
Yes, that's the stuff! Almost good enough to get your teeth into:D

Are Sambar deer an endangered species as well:eek:
 
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