What gives stag that honey color?

[kamagong]

A recent photo of Gev's recently got me to thinking.

How does stag acquire that rich color? I have a few knives handled in stag, but only one that has color similar to the knife above. It's an old knife, at least 80 and perhaps even 100-years-old. It's a carving knife, part of a set I acquired on EBay a while back.



The knife below it is a GEC 73. I've carried it almost every day for the past two years, and though the color has changed some, it is still pretty close to white compared to the older Henckels. A bit surprising really, as I doubt that the Henckels was used as frequently as I use the pocketknife.

So what gives stag that honey color? Oil? Blood? Dirt? Age maybe?

 

[Will Power]

That Carving knife is an excellent find! :thumbup:Can't locate decent examples on the Bay myself....

I've been wondering about this too, it may have a lot to do with the porosity of the stag or how it was cured.

Probably it's SWEAT, pockets and endless grime that gives it, as it has a burnished look.

This GEC 73 from 08 shows promise though...

 

[black mamba]

I believe it to be skin oils and sweat from handling, and also agree with the porosity of the material being a deciding factor. This old Moore Maker is my most "honeyed" stag, and has been carried and handled a great deal.

 

[waynorth]

I think the diet of the donating stag has something to do with it. That and the animal's DNA. Some stag has yellow undertones right from the get-go, while others are very white under the brown texture.
And I think aging and handling enhance both of them, with varying results.
Makes me wonder why some people's sweat will etch fingerprints into steel, while other's has little or no effect.

 

[jackknife]

Lots and lots of years of very loving carry and care, with a fair amount of fondling thrown in.

 

[hamsco]

Here is a carving set that is from the 1920s. I have never seen stag so black !

I've been wondering what makes stag so knobby ?

 

[Bill DeShivs]

Stag simply yellows with age. Oil can age it quicker.
Black Mamba's knife has stag that has been burned with a torch.

 

[wazu013]

It's all good :thumbup:

 

[Sonnemann]

Age and oil, I agree with Mr. DeShivs. Great pics in this thread! Gonna spam some more!

 

[meako]

I think the diet of the donating stag has something to do with it. That and the animal's DNA. Some stag has yellow undertones right from the get-go, while others are very white under the brown texture.
And I think aging and handling enhance both of them, with varying results.
Makes me wonder why some people's sweat will etch fingerprints into steel, while other's has little or no effect.

Good point Charlie.
A giutarist mate of mine went through frets and the metal plate where the pickups attach on his Stratocaster like cold beers in a bushfire-because of his corrosive sweat.
Also with the antlers -could it be affected by when it was culled from the beast or shed naturally?