Selecting Stag on traditionals...

[Old Engineer]

I have such respect for makers that can get their stag thin on their builds. Seems to me you'd have to start out with quite a fat piece so as not to have a lot of curve and taper at the edges of the liners. That's the biggest hurdle I have when fitting stag, the battle between thinning it out enough, but still having enough width to cover the liners/scales. Here's one of my more decent attempts, on this Miller Bros. re-do. You just can't cheat on a knife this thin and skinny. While not as good as I wanted to achieve, it was acceptable IMO.


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I have thought that you have done some of the very best Stag Cover re-dos that I have seen Glenn . The ones that come to mind immediately are the ones that you did for Randy . The ones you have just shown only reinforce my thoughts . Thanks for the photos my friend .

Harry

 

[007hunter]

I cut swayback covers from tapers. It works! Correct curvature. Biggest problem now is no more stag available and has not been for 9-10 years. Only going to get tighter and then nonexistent unless you have a stash.

Thanks for checking in Mr. Lloyd...the two knives that @joeradza has shown in the above photos are some of the nicest stag I have ever seen on a knife, bar none. I'm assuming you must have a great stash which in your hands is pure knife gold!!

 

[lambertiana]

I found pictures of another example of how I like stag, on an Eye Brand sodbuster

 

[jblyttle]

I found pictures of another example of how I like stag, on an Eye Brand sodbuster

Now THAT is why they call it bark.

 

[John L]

A short explanation of stag and its’ installation. There are three shapes of stag, straight, saddle(dip downs in center, and humped, high in center. A maker wants perfectly straight but the damn Sambar stag forgot we use his antlers and grew them any way he felt like. A saddle is usable and both ends can be ground off flush to bolsters. The humped is almost unusable and ends up in a very fat handle. Problems.....problems. I have tried to straighten stag with boiling and other methods. Does not work. You get what you get. Large cos like Case and GEC do not care much as they have to use it all. This is why you need to personally inspect the knife before purchase. Custom makers either buy the best, make do, or do not use it at all as the choices now are very limited if at all. Again....it will only get worse. Elk is a poor substitute.....softer, less interesting bark, pithy, etc. You now will see makers using Micartas, jigged bone, ivories(but manny are now outlawed), and a few others. Stag is on its way out.

John Lloyd

 

[Txjohn]

John, What exactly is causing the decline in stag ? Is this poiitical ?

 

[waynorth]

I cut swayback covers from tapers. It works! Correct curvature. Biggest problem now is no more stag available and has not been for 9-10 years. Only going to get tighter and then nonexistent unless you have a stash.

I hope your stag lasts you a while, John!!
Thanks for making that beautiful stag knife!! It's been through a couple of owners, but it stops here!!

 

[John L]

John, What exactly is causing the decline in stag ? Is this poiitical ?

The country of India banned the collection and distribution of Sambar stag in about 2006 or so. I could be off 2 years. They have a green movement just like we do here in the states. Most people know that antlers are dropped every year....you do not need to kill the deer. However the farmers began to burn their fields looking for antlers and this created problems. India took off all laws that allowed collection and distribution from their books. They are not going to allow it again. Last importation into the states was about 2008 or so. There is some getting in from China but it is of poor quality because the diet is so different. Deer know no political boundaries! What is now in the states is the very last of the stag and that would be from 2008 primarily.

 

[John A. Larsen]

lamertiana, nice looking Eye Brand. I have a single bladed version of that knife I got for the Princely sum of $5.00 at a knife show. Been EDC'ing it for about two years now, and like the feel of the handle, the size as I have a big hand, and because I can open the blade with one hand. Quick question. On mine on the inside of the handle, there is bump on the spring so that when you close the blade the tang hits the bump, keeping the sharp part of the edge from hitting the back spring. Does your model have the same bump? Thanks. John

 

[arizonaranchman]

Wow some beautiful stag here guys... Awesome!

 

[lambertiana]

lamertiana, nice looking Eye Brand. I have a single bladed version of that knife I got for the Princely sum of $5.00 at a knife show. Been EDC'ing it for about two years now, and like the feel of the handle, the size as I have a big hand, and because I can open the blade with one hand. Quick question. On mine on the inside of the handle, there is bump on the spring so that when you close the blade the tang hits the bump, keeping the sharp part of the edge from hitting the back spring. Does your model have the same bump? Thanks. John

Mine does not have a bump on the spring, but the edge does not hit when I let it snap closed so there is no problem with it. It has strong springs, too. The saw cuts really well. I usually take this knife on family camping trips.

 

[waynorth]

The country of India banned the collection and distribution of Sambar stag in about 2006 or so. I could be off 2 years. They have a green movement just like we do here in the states. Most people know that antlers are dropped every year....you do not need to kill the deer. However the farmers began to burn their fields looking for antlers and this created problems. India took off all laws that allowed collection and distribution from their books. They are not going to allow it again. Last importation into the states was about 2008 or so. There is some getting in from China but it is of poor quality because the diet is so different. Deer know no political boundaries! What is now in the states is the very last of the stag and that would be from 2008 primarily.

Sounds like a new source is needed. It also seems that it is a renewable resource, but greed and stupidity has doomed it.

Fer cryin' out loud!!

So what if someone started a herd of Sambar in say - - Texas! Then what, hmmmm!!!!?????

 

[mrknife]

I have such respect for makers that can get their stag thin on their builds. Seems to me you'd have to start out with quite a fat piece so as not to have a lot of curve and taper at the edges of the liners. That's the biggest hurdle I have when fitting stag, the battle between thinning it out enough, but still having enough width to cover the liners/scales. Here's one of my more decent attempts, on this Miller Bros. re-do. You just can't cheat on a knife this thin and skinny. While not as good as I wanted to achieve, it was acceptable IMO.


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what a beaut! i wonder if theres one with a full blade!

 

[rswanson]

Sounds like a new source is needed. It also seems that it is a renewable resource, but greed and stupidity has doomed it.

Fer cryin' out loud!!

So what if someone started a herd of Sambar in say - - Texas! Then what, hmmmm!!!!?????

There is a population of Sambar stag in Florida, I believe. Also, I think India allows Sambar stag to be hunted but I'm sure most end up mounted.

 

[Txjohn]

Charlie, I was thinking the same thing. Johns's comment about China's stag being poor quality got me concerned. Can the quality be duplicated elsewhere? Wonder if there's more profit in hunting them rather than sheds ? If so, that could be another problem

 

[Rookie82]

My personal preference is the bark needs to have a lot of color contrast, a lot of texture, a nice warm color profile, and if possible some popcorn effect. One thing I don't care for is just a ho-hum smooth stag of all the same color. Here are a few examples of mine that I like, and the last image is one that I don't like as much (however this knife is quite small, so it's hard to have superb stag on a tiny knife).

 

[John L]

My personal preference is the bark needs to have a lot of color contrast, a lot of texture, a nice warm color profile, and if possible some popcorn effect. One thing I don't care for is just a ho-hum smooth stag of all the same color. Here are a few examples of mine that I like, and the last image is one that I don't like as much (however this knife is quite small, so it's hard to have superb stag on a tiny knife).

Your first, third and fourth photo are all amber dyed stag, not natural. Some like it a lot , other not so much. I like it but coloring is unnatural. On the other hand almost all stag is unnaturally dyed whe it is sprayed with Potassium permanganate for critter control before it left India.

 

[Rookie82]

Your first, third and fourth photo are all amber dyed stag, not natural. Some like it a lot , other not so much. I like it but coloring is unnatural. On the other hand almost all stag is unnaturally dyed whe it is sprayed with Potassium permanganate for critter control before it left India.

Yeah, I like the looks of burnt or amber stag. I really like the color of 60's-70's Case stag, or the Schrade stag of the early 80's. I'm not a fan of the black/white coloring of American Elk stag, I like mine to have some color to them.

 

[mrknife]

ima big fan of fat grippy stag,

 

[Leslie Tomville]

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This is such an interesting topic, and I have leaned so much. In my opinion, the most important thing is how the particular knife strikes you. As @johnny twoshoes wrote, it has to have that wow factor which is probably different for each of us. For example, I have a couple of knives that break most of the rules discussed here for great Stag. However, I still love them, because they look nice to me. Thanks also to John Lloyd J John L for your insight. What a unique treat!

Via a quick internet search I discovered that Sambar Deer are raised in several states including Texas, California, and Florida for hunting purposes. As the existing Indian stock diminishes, and the price goes up, you have to think that enterprising American ranchers, outfitters, and hunters will see an economic opportunity. It has to be that the profit potential is just not there yet. Although I guess it is possible that no one has recognized this opportunity yet?