Why is the Pile-side Stag Better looking?

[jackknife]

I can't prove it, but on a gut level I really believe it all comes down to the shields fault. Shields are evil on knives with stag, and small knives in the peanut range. It should be a flogging offense to put a shield on some knives.

Carl.

 

[Stich2442]

100% agree with jackknife, I have thought about removing the shield on my peanut and replacing it with something more attractive than the currant Case shield. No shield would be proper but want to back fill with something.

 

[kamagong]

The mark side on this Northfield has the better stag, but then again it's a new knife so it might not be a good example.

Shields are evil on knives with stag...

That's quite a broad brush you're painting with. A shield is often a nice aesthetic touch, especially with the abundance of less than premium stag out there. Case in point.

- Christian

 

[richstag]

Christian,

what is that shield? I like it a lot. Propeller?

Thanks,

Kevin

 

[kamagong]

I think it's a bowtie shield.

- Christian

 

[richstag]

Thanks, it looks perfect on that knife.

 

[jon_slider]

> with the abundance of less than premium stag

I had similar thought about lack of highly textured stag, be it popcorn, and or deep canyon.. etc

fwiw, Case imo mis-uses the term "premium stag" to mean thick, low texture stag, like you picture on your bowtie scale..

could you please also post the pile side?

regarding the idea that the pile side is nicer, per OP, I think he finds deep canyon nicer, and that is not necessarily so. Some will prefer popcorn, which in some ways lends itself better to getting a slot cut out for a shield to sit flush. Here is a poor example of that idea, but I think you can see, the pile side IS less shield friendly due to the longer natural canyons. I personally prefer the mark side of this knife, and it has more popcorn than the pile side, imo.

probably mentioned earlier, but I would reinforce the idea that to the touch, having popcorn on one side, and deep canyon on the other, makes it easier to index the knife, before looking to open the blade.

In fact, I open my peanut blind, I can feel the scales and other features on the knife so I dont really have to look to find the thumb nick. point being, the deep canyon is one of the prominent indexing marks.

So I would say the tradition continues in knifemaking culture still, to put the deep canyon on the pile side.

these two follow the deep canyon pile side, not deep canyon mark side, tradition

I would not say the deep canyon side is nicer, necessarily, thats personal taste I suppose. In the above 2 pictures, I like the pile scale of the left peanut better, and the mark scale of the right peanut better.

 

[kamagong]

could you please also post the pile side?

No problem. As I said, less than premium.

- Christian

 

[Berkley]

In days of yor, stag-scales knives often had no shield and those that did tended to have the shield protruding above the scale rather than flush.

Astute observation.:thumbup:

 

[CUTS LIKE A KRIS]

I noticed that on my newer stag knives that both sides were pretty well matched, but then I think that my older stag knives were also well matched. My Executive Whittler does exhibit more canyon on the pile side, and more of a popcorn texture on the mark side. Personally I like most bark stag, as long as it is well matched. I have a hard time liking Case stag because to me they remove way too much bark to call it good stag, I've rarely seen Case stag that I can admit to liking at all. My Kissing Crane Cigar is a good example of this- not much popcorn or canyon, but great color and decent texture, but best of all the same type of stag on both sides.

My 'old' guys:

The knives I've been the only owner of:

Interesting observations here! I guess I need to find more stag to see how I feel about better quality on one side than the other, thanks for giving me a reason to add more to my collection

 

[Peter Parker]

Had to redo my post. Should've had another cup of coffee before posting!

 

[300Bucks]

First thing is that all stag is not equal. Older EU knives were made of Red Deer antler as often as imported Sambar stag. There are a few companies back in the business of importing and selling Sambar stag from south Asia after an import ban. You also see some Axis deer and fallow deer, along with elk. NA Whitetail and Mule deer is more pithy and less desireable. Second, in past times there were less people, which led to less knives; but there were many more stag pieces available. Makers had a much better choice and could pick more 'generously'.. My creative thoughts are that makers have good pieces and less good pieces. They put the less good on the back to utilize them because of the cost. There would be some consideration to have the best foot forward, so-to-speak, with the front of knives showing from packaging and in catalogs. I don't like drastic differences from the front to the back. Elk scale is less this way, so I am drawn to it, but it also can be found with rougher backsides. Good stag (whatever that is) on both sides would reguire not using expensive 'rougher' pieces. So there you go. 300Bucks

For new folks here is a thread you might find interesting with brief descriptions of the animals that produce the antler.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...ing-Stag-Deer-101-class?p=7236458#post7236458

 

[shrapne1]

pictures as requested:

jon: i just cant get over how well that beautiful damascus blade contrasts the stag, gorgeous knives

 

[jon_slider]

you have beautiful scales, thanks
yes, the damascus makes me smile too. Fun sharing pics

again your scales fit the pattern of deep canyon on the pile side

you have nicely matched thick middle and tapered ends scales

 

[jon_slider]

These two peanuts, pictured earlier in worse light, just came back from having the blades centered by Case. It takes about 4 weeks to turn around a warranty request. Case also repolished the scales I think, they came back looking really pretty..

Again, deep canyon stag on the pile side, popcorn stag on the mark side.

 

[markv]

i like stag so i'm reviving this thread.
thanks for your reply

buzz

 

[John L]

I make a lot of knives and use stag more than any other material. Stag is probably the most difficult material to install at least for me. I pair up two pieces of similar texture and coloring or try to, look for curvature of the pattern, and then use the one that curves the same as the liner and use the opposite curve on the other side regardless of pile or mark side. It is the only way I can see that makes any sense. If I start picking for texture and hand comfort it just gets much too involved. I cannot imagine the old guys did much different. You can pick up 10 stag knives and find the best on both sides or crummy stag on both sides......! You just never know.

John Lloyd

 

[Jack Black]

^ Interesting post, very good to have your perspective :thumbup:

 

[waynorth]

The stag does indeed look its best when the curve in the texture follows the pattern.
John, you did a great job on the Stag Ettrick here!

 

[wlfryjr]

I'll say,that's amazing how that grain matches the flow of the pattern. Ebony,ivory,and stag;where have I seen that before.