Would like to try a GEC in stag. Are the scales all "wide"?

[Fred Sanford]

What I mean is that when you look at GEC's in stag from the top it seems that the knife scales are super wide in the middle compared to bone or wood or anything else. Is there a type of stag that could be not so wide or do I have to ask for the retailer to pick one that is thin?

 

[black mamba]

Stag comes in all shapes and sizes, but the best are well matched with an even thickness from end to end. Unfortunately, these seem to be getting more and more scarce. If you cannot see photos of both sides and the width from top or bottom, you will have to rely on the selection of the retailer.

 

[knifeswapper]

Definitely not all thick. I have seen them in every thickness imaginable.
Most dealers will respond quickly if you simply ask them if they have a thin variation available.

 

[Gary W. Graley]

GEC does an exceptional work with stag covers, here's one I had and miss dearly;

VERY nice 23, stag is to die for, amazing...

The stag swells out near the end of the knife, making a positive grip

Now Case on the other hand, for some reason they have quite the thick middle so it would certainly pay to find out before something is shipped to you.

G2

 

[Joe58]

Gary - exactly right. I've a couple in stag that are nice and even down the sides, but I've also purchased a couple Case models that's only showed a pic from the side. But then when it arrived, they had this, to me, big goofy swell in the middle, like a snake eating a ground squirrel or something. Just can't stand that.

It's kind of turned me off of stag scales. But now I won't buy one unless I can see a top down pic too.

 

[Fred Sanford]

Thanks folks! Just what I wondered.

 

[Will Power]

There are more variations in stag due to the random nature of the material I suppose. I don't mind phat stag at all, a CASE Mini Copperlock I have has that huge hump in the middle, looks horrid but do you know what? It makes for a fine grip.

GEC is offering some of the nicest production stag around and many examples are slender or have flared ends on the Barehead patterns which enhance grip too. Here's some shots of Burnt Stag on a 25 Barlow Jack and a 33 Conductor stainless, thin panels I think. Thanks, Will