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- Dec 2, 2005
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That's a generous offer Jack. I think some people who are newer to traditionals don't realize that the Mark side of a knife is the presentation side of the knife. As a result, some manufactures will put a very nice piece of stag on the Mark side with a lesser piece of stag on the Pile side. It wasn't long ago that some manufactures polished the Mark side of the blade and left a satin finish on the Pile side.
Thank you Ed. I think this Oxhorn example demonstrates that Wright's (and other manufacturers) traditionally saved the best horn for the Mark side, and used plainer horn on the Pile side.
With the 2016 Guardians knives, I asked them to use their best horn on both sides of the knife, which they not only thought extravagant, but rather odd. In retrospect, it might have been a mistake as it has led to them having to do the same with other knives.
With stag it's traditionally been the same, as you say, but then everyone has their own tastes in stag, while one man likes popcorn, another likes smooth, and while one likes dark stag, another prefers light. The cutlers have no idea of course. In the case of the Hartshead Barlows, the Sambar stag (which is no longer available in England due to the Indian Government's export ban) is vintage material, cut decades ago for steak knife hafts. Employing someone to try and match pieces of it would increase costs hugely, and create a large amount of waste. Even then, those cutlers have no idea of the standards someone on a knife forum might want, or what their individual tastes are. I imagine they try their best.
I have noticed, with regard to all patterns, that some folks seem to confuse the standards one might apply to a custom-made knife to factory-made knives, something which is just unrealistic, since custom knives cost many times more, and are made to match the specific tastes of the customer. For those with very specific tastes in stag, or who are dissatisfied with the standard of factory-made knives, I would suggest that the custom route is the way to go (that or moderate your expectations). Mr John Lloyd, for example, does excellent stag, well-matched I am sure, and he has also made Lambsfoot knives
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