What will you put on your next custom knife if Stag isn't available?

S

Sid Post

Joined
Oct 14, 1998
Messages
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While comtemplating my next 'big' custom knife purchase, I began thinking of the handle materials. My tastes have begun to turn away from pure function above all else to, pure function with some flash
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Stag sure seem plentiful at this time and, I must say that I have stumbled into a couple of nice knives with good stag that have struck my fancy but, at some point reasonable priced stag is apt to be a thing of the past. That got me thinking about other materials.

As I looked around, I kept searching for a good functional 'using' material for a hard working knife that had a good deal of eye appeal. I keep getting drawn to premium woods. Assuming the wood is stabilized properly, it seems like possibly a better material then Stag and even prettier to the eye in some cases.

What handle materials are you considering for your next knife? Anything in paticular hot in the marketplace right now? Excluding fragile materials, what should I consider (colored Giraffe bone, some sort of Ivory)?

How about suggestions for the following:
  • folder
    fixed blade hidden tang
    fixed blade exposed tang
Would you consider something like Ivory for a folder but, not for a fixed blade?

Stay Sharp,
Sid
 
Sid,
I too favor a little flash every now and then. One of my favorites is a large Kasper by Pat Crawford that has some stag overlays. I just received another Crawford folder, a Covert, that I had Pat do up with ironwood. I have always liked the look of this material, and it looks outstanding on the Covert, especially since the Crawford's threw in some additional filework that has turned this into a real dress folder. I think that both stag and woods, if properly conditioned, can stand up to everyday use.

------------------
Art Sigmon
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me"
Php. 4:13

"For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword"
Heb. 4:12
 
Stag is my #1 favorite handle material and no doubt about it, it is getting harder to find. What I've been doing is buying the stag myself and sending it to the makers I'm working with. I have three knives on order and stag for two more knives. I'm hoping to find some more good stag at Blade Show. There are still some makers out there with a good supply of stag, when I can't find any on my own my plan is to go to those makers that offer it. Or I'll stop having customs made and just buy stag knives as I find them.

As an alternative to stag, there are lots of beautiful woods to choose from, but I still prefer bone, ivory or other horn. I have a couple of knives with jigged bone that don't look out of place with my stag knives. I've seen some mastadon ivory that has a lot of color and texture to it, but I'm also tempted to go with some elephant ivory and have some beautiful scrim work done.



------------------
"Will work 4 Knives!"
My PhotoPoint Site
 
Sid,
I too favor a little flash every now and then. One of my favorites is a large Kasper by Pat Crawford that has some stag overlays. I just received another Crawford folder, a Covert, that I had Pat do up with ironwood. I have always liked the look of this material, and it looks outstanding on the Covert, especially since the Crawford's threw in some additional filework that has turned this into a real dress folder. I think that both stag and woods, if properly conditioned, can stand up to everyday use.

------------------
Art Sigmon
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me"
Php. 4:13

"For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword"
Heb. 4:12
 
Good topic. It seems so common to see the same materials being put on knives all the time. The standard being ivory, micarta, pearl, and wood. I've been thinking about maybe some picasso marble or even a handle inlayed with some type of meteorite. Anyway, something out of the unusual. I guess there is always the fear of getting something that is unstable or fragil. Depends on what you're going to do with the knife; let it sit or use it. D'Holder comes to mind when original thoughts on handle material is put to use. He really has a beautiful variety of natural materials in his fixed bladed knives.
 
Desert Ironwood is an excellent choice.

Golden Ring Gidgee (Australia) is a beautiful wood.

I love stone.

Lapis Lazuli
Jade
Azurite
Malachite
Tigers Eye
Fossil Dinosaur Bone

Pearl

Paua Shell

Kudu
Impala
Spring Bok
Cape Buffalo Horn
Sheep Horn
Elan

Elephant Ivory
Mastodon Ivory
Fossil Walrus Ivory
Hippo Tusk

Lots of choices!


------------------
Les Robertson
www.robertsoncustomcutlery.com
Custom Knife Entrepreneur
 
I am pondering this as well. Stag is my first choice (well, good stag is
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) but other materials interest me as well.

I have a couple of John Fitch knives in desert ironwood that are beautifully figured and lighten up the knife a bit. I really like the mammoth ivory on my Crowder folders as well. I think if the knife is well executed well and the handle enhances the overall package, I am open to many materials
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-John-
 
I have knives on order with the following handle materials:
Denning - Sheep Horn
Caffery - Desert Ironwood
Snody - Mastodon Ivory

I'll run out of funds long before I run out of choices.
 
Guys,

Don't give up on Stag. I have had several makers tell me they keep getting real good material. I'm not sure this will go on forever, but I can hope.
My next choice is going to be Sheephorn,
I briefly had a small fixed blade with it and
I really liked it.
Mammoth Ivory is also great and you have
wonderful color choices. I have a small folder with Chocolate Milkshake color that is
too cool. The bark Ivory can add a lot of character to a handle, I've got a couple and like it alot.
Don't personally like wood but I have a Herron with some mind blowing wood. Wish I new what it is. My first custom did have wood, so I guess at some point I liked it.
Black Lip Pearl for gent folders, and I'm
going to order White MOP on a couple of fixed blades just for fun.
Try some other materials, it's fun.

Win
Preferred Edge
 
I've got a folder from Rob Davidson on its way next week with Desert Ironwood slabs. My next custom will be a small Terzuola with mammoth ivory if I can find one.

I like the idea of supplying your own handle material to the maker. There was a post recently in the shop talk section from a guy who had incredible mammoth tusk for sale:

http://www.ivoryworksltd.com/testing/Knifemaker/knifemakers.htm

------------------
Peter Atwood

email: fountainman@hotmail.com
 
If and when the natural materials that we now use become too rare to use the challenge will be to effectively utilize manmade products. I predict that you will see some dramatic mosaic handle scales made up of carbon fibre, micarta, and other plastics encapsulated in resin.

Until then I will continue to scrounge around to be able to keep stag handled knives and such on the table for my customers. Stag is out there but not in large quantities or a wide range of sizes. Some individuals are importing European Red stag which is similar but not as thick.



------------------
george
www.tichbourneknives.com
sales@tichbourneknives.com


 
stag,i gotta admit,looks good on knives.
but how does the european stag compare to indian? i read that (i dont remember where) that european stag is inferior to the indian stag (which has been banned from being exported from that country.)
can anyone clear this up?
 
Had to smirk when I saw this post, and came in to see what PhilL would say.

I had imagined someone asking PhilL "What will you put on your next custom knife if stag isn't available?" My thought was that he would say "Return to Sender".
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