119 crown stag

[eveled]

This knife is a mystery to me. I don’t understand why it’s not more popular. Crown stag is hard to get compared to just a short section of stag. It beautiful and well proportioned and reasonably priced.

It’s one of the only crown stag Buck knives to be produced.

When it came out I thought I’d better get one quick it won’t last!

Yet they are still available all I’ve seen have the 75th anvil stamp. So I don’t think they have made more of them.

I don’t get it. Why isn’t it more popular?

 

[eveled]

One thing I’ve noticed is the crown end is very dark and rough. I think it was died. It just doesn’t look right to me.

So I finally got the nerve to take a chance. And sand it down a little.



I like the results. I’m going to proceed slowly and take a little more off. I don’t want to go too far. I’d like opinions. Did I improve its looks? Should I go farther?

Thanks

 

[pjsjr]

Ed, IMHO, crown handles are for looking and or display. To carry it would be bulky and get in the way. I have one, a custom, not a Buck so I'll not show it. I did plan to carry and use it, but, it's to good looking and hard to carry and use.

I think you improved the looks and should continue on, little by little!

 

[jbmonkey]

I dont care much for crown stag myself. the shape of it is awkward typically. carrying and using is harder and not so great. for a display piece it's fine in that regard.

it's your knife. I expect, but don't know, some value may fall from the modding, but its your knife.

 

[pease]

One problem for me is the fact it is a right handed knife the way the handle curves. The other thing for me is I don’t like the look of stag.

 

[eveled]

It actually is usable in both hands. But definitely favours the right.

 

[eveled]

I’m finished and happy!

 

[eveled]

 

[pease]

I like the way it looks with the sanded crown.

 

[pjsjr]

Ed, I just found a photo of mine it has a nickle silver plate on the end of the stag...sent you a pic.

 

[eveled]

Thanks. It’s a nice knife. That plate finishes it off right. I’d have it engraved with my last initial I think.

 

[pjsjr]

Thanks, Ed, I'll think about that. I do like yours 'au naturel', maybe do a bit of polishing and call it good!

 

[Lesknife]

If I could hand pick one I probably would get one but some I’ve seen have enormous crowns that for me aren’t appealing and they feel awkward. I have a knife I made with my own antler that’s just the right size and it feels right for my right hand.

 

[eveled]

Hand pick is right some look good and feel bad in hand. Not just crown stag either. Even stag with a pommel. The only way to tell is by holding them. Also sometimes they index wrong and the blade doesn’t line up right.

But when it works right for your hand. Stag is awesome.

That’s a beautiful knife LesKnife

 

[st8yd]

It didnt look natural being black.
To often the crown is used just because of what it is, and not properly chosen took and feel right.

 

[jb4570]

To each his own, if you like the crown sanded flat with the natural shape forever gone. That's all that matters, as far as the dark color that the inside of the crown was dyed. Well I would have used some hair dresser's bleach to lighten up the crown end (removing the color dye). If that did not get the color result's you were looking for. Then I would have hand sanded to try to preserve the natural crown shape until the color was what you want.

Your Crown end does now match the sanded sides for good color contrast. Can you shoot another photo of the whole handle crown end side to show the sanded side & sanded crown?

Thank you
JB

 

[eveled]

Honestly I wasn’t a fan of the texture either. It was very porous and rough. It would have been a funk magnet. Also it is the side that rubs against your side when it is sheathed. The roughness was grating on my nerves. Most crown stag knives I’ve seen were treated more like it is now. Value doesn’t matter to me. My stuff is never sold.

 

[eveled]

Nobody else has one of these?

 

[Lesknife]

That looks much better! Now maybe you could get some scrimshaw art work on the smooth white end.

 

[Hickory n steel]

Probably because the shape is random and the crown is bulky.
They can look nice depending on the knife but I'd have to agree they're mostly for looking at in most cases.