Where to buy stag/elk/antler for handles.

U

unknownuser

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Sep 5, 2016
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Hello all!

This is my first post here although I have frequented the forums for years. Hopefully some of you can help me out with information regarding stag and related materials. I am not new to knife making but am new to stag and related handle material, and I can not find anything like what I'm looking for on eBay or locally. I would like to know where I can find some that look like the pictures below. I am going for the black and white look as in the pictures. I does not have to be stag, it can be elk or anything else that can achieve this look. Thanks!

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Culpper and Co sells both Stag and Elk in various different sizes, grades and piece. types (slabs/scales and rounds). What is creating the black and white look you're after is potassium pommerate. Its an easily available chemical that when mixed with water makes a great disinfectant and dye for antler. The piece comes out a very darkish brown and then when worked on the handle, you are left with the highlights being white. I use a lot of elk that I process my self. This pic shows you what I mean. This is one of my Gordo models that I just sold recently. It has an elk handle treated as described. It is resting on an elk shed that has not been treated.

k4som7E.jpg
 
Potassium permanganate is used to dye stag.
Leather dyes can also be used, but they penetrate deeply.
All antler is generically called "stag." Elk is very good for slab handles, but has a pithy core that makes it difficult to use for stick tangs.
 
Horsewright said:
Culpper and Co sells both Stag and Elk in various different sizes, grades and piece. types (slabs/scales and rounds). What is creating the black and white look you're after is potassium pommerate. Its an easily available chemical that when mixed with water makes a great disinfectant and dye for antler. The piece comes out a very darkish brown and then when worked on the handle, you are left with the highlights being white. I use a lot of elk that I process my self. This pic shows you what I mean. This is one of my Gordo models that I just sold recently. It has an elk handle treated as described. It is resting on an elk shed that has not been treated.

k4som7E.jpg
Click to expand...

Thanks so much Horsewright! The old "just google it" didn't work out as I have already done that, and I wouldn't want to kill just for a knife handle; especially when the antlers fall off of living ones! I'm still a little unclear about the process though. So I could start with a piece that looks like this , rub potassium pommerate on it and it would blacken the dark parts and make the highlights white? What exactly should I do if I have a piece like the one in the link? What is the process exactly? Just rub the potassium pommerate on the antler? Thanks!
 
Elk has a lot of pith as Bill mentioned so not so great for stick thangs. I make full tang knives so it works for me. Here in Kali I've got to use sheds. Thats how the law is. So I trade with local folks that find em. I cut the elk up and cut the solid outside off from the pith if that makes sense. So I'm cutting into scales. Then I sand on a 6x48 with a 36 grit ceramic belt, the inside to get it flat and to the thickness I want. Final flattening I use a flat disc at 60 grit. I then put the scales in a plastic container with the liquid PP soloution in it. Make sure the scales are completely covered. I'll leave em in there for 30-45 mins or so. Pull em out (gloved hands of course) and let dry on a piece of tinfoil. Don't freak cause they are gonna be a deep purple color when you first pull them out. They will dry to that darkishbrown you are looking for. Once dry I hit both sides with Deft spray Semi Gloss Wood Finsh. When dry stick em on a knife.
 
Horsewright said:
Elk has a lot of pith as Bill mentioned so not so great for stick thangs. I make full tang knives so it works for me. Here in Kali I've got to use sheds. Thats how the law is. So I trade with local folks that find em. I cut the elk up and cut the solid outside off from the pith if that makes sense. So I'm cutting into scales. Then I sand on a 6x48 with a 36 grit ceramic belt, the inside to get it flat and to the thickness I want. Final flattening I use a flat disc at 60 grit. I then put the scales in a plastic container with the liquid PP soloution in it. Make sure the scales are completely covered. I'll leave em in there for 30-45 mins or so. Pull em out (gloved hands of course) and let dry on a piece of tinfoil. Don't freak cause they are gonna be a deep purple color when you first pull them out. They will dry to that darkishbrown you are looking for. Once dry I hit both sides with Deft spray Semi Gloss Wood Finsh. When dry stick em on a knife.
Click to expand...

Thanks again. So the antler scales will be purple-ish after the soak, and after drying outside of the soak, they will be darkish brown? If so, then how is the whiteness achieved? The knife picture you posted is about what I'm going for. White with black(ish) recesses.
 
Bill DeShivs said:
Potassium permanganate is used to dye stag.
Leather dyes can also be used, but they penetrate deeply.
All antler is generically called "stag." Elk is very good for slab handles, but has a pithy core that makes it difficult to use for stick tangs.
Click to expand...

I see. Thanks for the good info. I intend on making a folder with antler scales, no stick tangs! :)
 
The whit just come from the sanding of the handle during the knife making process.
 
Horsewright said:
Culpper and Co sells both Stag and Elk in various different sizes, grades and piece. types (slabs/scales and rounds). What is creating the black and white look you're after is potassium pommerate. Its an easily available chemical that when mixed with water makes a great disinfectant and dye for antler. The piece comes out a very darkish brown and then when worked on the handle, you are left with the highlights being white. I use a lot of elk that I process my self. This pic shows you what I mean. This is one of my Gordo models that I just sold recently. It has an elk handle treated as described. It is resting on an elk shed that has not been treated.

k4som7E.jpg
Click to expand...

Dave that is really beautiful knife brother!!!
 
not long ago I baby-sat two bull mastiff's for a fellow service member. The dogs were nothing short of a complete PITA.

However while buying dog food and searching for toys they would chew, instead of my personal property and power cords...I noted they sell "bleached" antlers as chew toys in pet stores. They look a hell of a lot like the ones you posted up. I have doubted their use as knife material for some time, and never tried them. But they are "bleached" white, like your examples.
 
Ok, I have searched Amazon and EBAY for Potassium Pommerate with zero luck. Does anyone know where to obtain this stuff, I have some pale scales that I want to darken. Any help will be much appreciated
 
Knife Butcher said:
Ok, I have searched Amazon and EBAY for Potassium Pommerate with zero luck. Does anyone know where to obtain this stuff, I have some pale scales that I want to darken. Any help will be much appreciated
Click to expand...
Try searching for Potassium Permanganate
 
I’ve got some elk antlers that I use for hidden tang knives. I just use the ones and twos...the brow tines. I have no use for the flats that you’d be looking for. PM me if I can help you. Pick up a bunch of sheds each October when I’m out there looking for a bull.

Horns out there are going for about $15 a pound on the retail market.
 
Followup: potassium permanganate is not necessary to get that nice brown color. I use it, but it’s a royal pain in the butt to use. Instead, I now use use a wax based wood stain called Briwax. It comes in several colors for staining wood...dark oak or dark walnut work like a charm. Brush or rub it on...it’s about the consistency of, say, toothpaste. Let it sit on the antler for a few minutes and then rub off the excess with a ratty old towel. Polish it up with another, somewhat cleaner, towel and you’re done. I can do an entire shed elk antler in about 5 minutes tops. Looks just like it did when the bull was carrying em! Learned this trick from a gentleman that made antler chandeliers, lamps, and such.

You can thank me later!
 
I’ve bought some elk pieces at Petco that are not bleached. I dig through the bins every time I go.
 
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