What do you look for in a Stag handled GEC?

SDknifeguy

SDknifeguy

Joined
Jan 19, 2020
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not sure if this is the place to ask this or not, still figuring this place out. But what do most of you look for in a Stag handled GEC? What makes one better than another? Whats popular? I just can't quite see what all the fuss is about stag..
 
SDknifeguy said:
not sure if this is the place to ask this or not, still figuring this place out. But what do most of you look for in a Stag handled GEC? What makes one better than another? Whats popular? I just can't quite see what all the fuss is about stag..
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Stag has a unique feel to it.
It's a very traditional natural material. And pricey. because getting it just right means finding exactly the correct piece for that particular knife. And treating it just so.
I am far from an expert about stag. But we have folks here who can wax poetic about it.
 
Stag has been an acquired taste for me. I love the individuality of each piece. It feels very good in hand and has some of the best retention in hand of any scale material wet and dry while using.

For me, I love thin stag that has some good "popcorn" going on. I also like more sleek texture on some. The fun is finding one that speaks to you and enjoying it.

This is an example of thin with popcorn on a #35 churchill

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I enjoy that both sides are different, some scoff at it. Just like some love a big thick chunk of stag. To each their own. You really wont know what you like till you handle a few.

Here is some smoother stag on a #77 frame forum knife

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You can see it still has texture but not as extreme. Just as grippy imho. It is not super skinny but it is also not even close to fat. Variety is the spice of life :)
 
It’s unique. It feels great in hand. And it ages well. I, personally, mostly look for evenness in the scales; not too bulging, nor saddle shaped. Bolster to bolster gnarliness is usually what I’m drawn to first, but sometimes really plain stag grows on me. Polished areas, popcorn bumps, and ravines make stag the perfect “worry stone” scale.
 
Does everything have to be about GEC? I don't understand this question. Why is it GEC specific?

I look for the same qualities in stag, regardless of maker. I want the covers to have good figure and color. I don't expect the sides to match, we are talking about a natural material with all the idiosyncrasies that entails, but I do want the two sides to at least look like they came from the same animal.
 
kamagong said:
Does everything have to be about GEC? I don't understand this question. Why is it GEC specific?
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Couldn’t agree more!


Small folders, I agree with the thinner “popcorn” stag...however in larger models, I prefer thicker palm swell stag. Even though it’s a natural material, gotta be somewhat matching too.
 
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There is no Bad Stag . Some is just better than others. It is a matter of personal preference . Just some of mine :



Two of my favorites .


.
For me it is all about Texture and the More Texture the better .
I never will consider what I have as my Stag Collection as being complete .

Harry
 
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Old Engineer said:
There is no Bad Stag . Some is just better than others. It is a matter of personal preference . Just some of mine :



Two of my favorites .


.
For me it is all about Texture and the More Texture the better .
I never will consider what I have as my Stag Collection as being complete .

Harry
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Very impressive Harry! I need to up my stag game.
 
kamagong said:
Does everything have to be about GEC? I don't understand this question. Why is it GEC specific?

I look for the same qualities in stag, regardless of maker. I want the covers to have good figure and color. I don't expect the sides to match, we are talking about a natural material with all the idiosyncrasies that entails, but I do want the two sides to at least look like they came from the same animal.
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Well, the thing is that GEC is currently THE provider of most of the Stag handled patterns on the market. That said, I very much regret that they've funked out about inletting shields on any of their models:thumbsdown: However, compared to CASE and defunct makers, GEC leads the way in quality Sambar, for now. There is some decent stag on older CASE knives but pretty scarce as far as I can see.
 
I like the thickness of the slabs to match, they can look different-it's a bonus- provided they are both attractive. Stag is like a famous recipe, everybody has their own taste in it and likes that best;)

Here, deeply grooved Sambar on a liner lock 73 from 2008. Note that shield inlet into a 'canyon' :cool:

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