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Stag. Is it bone or antler?

When I see a knife advertised as having a stag handle is it deer bone or antler? I understand when a knife has a bone handle it is probably cow bone. I think I read stag can be either deer bone or antler. Is that correct? If so, how do I know which if it isn't mentioned in the description or preferrable in the model name. Example: Queen torched stag serpentine jack? That is the model quoted from a catalog. Is it antler or bone? Can you tell which by looking at it? I've seen stag antler that is obviously a piece of an antler. But is antler sometimes sanded smooth? Is one considerable more expensive that the other? Is antler hard to come by to use for knife handles? Any help is appreciated.

Jack

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Permalink Reply by Steve Scheuerman (Manx) on August 22, 2013 at 19:46

You know...I've been wondering the same thing as well. Good question!

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Permalink Reply by Jan Carter on August 22, 2013 at 19:48

Stag is an antler. It is generally consider to be a species of deer unless it stated otherwise. Like elk

Stag is generally advertised as stag, yes there is smooth stag. It is not done often but it done.

Bone stag is cow bone burnt/dyed and jigged to appear like antler.

As you become more familiar with looking at knives yes you can generally tell the difference in stag and bone stag. There are some bone stags that are so well done they hard to distinguish

Stag is becoming increasingly hard to get in the amount that most manufactures would need. Some species of stag cannot be imported or exported due to the Lacy Act.

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Permalink Reply by Jack Haskins, Jr. on August 22, 2013 at 19:53

When I see "stag" I will assume it is antler unless the word "bone" is included. Safe assumption?

Jan Carter said:

Stag is an antler. It is generally consider to be a species of deer unless it stated otherwise. Like elk

Stag is generally advertised as stag, yes there is smooth stag. It is not done often but it done.

Bone stag is cow bone burnt/dyed and jigged to appear like antler.

As you become more familiar with looking at knives yes you can generally tell the difference in stag and bone stag. There are some bone stags that are so well done they hard to distinguish

Stag is becoming increasingly hard to get in the amount that most manufactures would need. Some species of stag cannot be imported or exported due to the Lacy Act.

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Permalink Reply by Jan Carter on August 22, 2013 at 21:12

Safe assumption

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FeaturedPermalink Reply by Craig Henry on August 23, 2013 at 0:05

WAAAY back in the old days at least one company called stag/Deer antler - "Buckhorn"! I wish I remembered what company it was. It was in one of the old catalog reprints I had that went bye-bye.

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Permalink Reply by Colonel666 on August 23, 2013 at 1:19

Hi Jack,

Natural Handel material is unique and no two exactly the same. Hard to imagine that manufacturers would take on such a venture that has variation that might effect sales or not. Uniformity is generally a goal of mass production. Anton Wingen Jr. had a "special" factory just for custom work and his "Othello" brand is really great most of the time. No two exactly alike so beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Horn is recognised by looking at it's cross cut end. It is actually a clump of "hair" and made of same stuff. Bone tends to have "fractures" or "discoloration" over time as the material decomposes. The sources of which vary between makers. Even the use of "human" collarbone has been seen during extended periods of war. So, look closely at the end grain and have fun!

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Permalink Reply by Carl Bradshaw on August 23, 2013 at 13:52

The most common "stag" used in history has been the Sambar stag from India. As Jan said, it is becoming difficult to get due to export laws, so American Elk stag is becoming more popular, also some European deer/elk are being used. The old traditional style of burnt stag prior to the 1970's was almost entirely Indian Sambar stag. You can tell the difference very easily between Elk stag and traditional (red, Indian, Sambar) stag, as the color is much different. The reason that the Sambar stag is so popular is because it is the most dense antler species that also gets the gnarly texture on the outside. US whitetails have the gnarly look, but the inside of the antler is too spongy to use for large production. American elk is not as dense as Sambar stag, but it is the closest we have in the US that companies can get without importing from overseas.

Bone stag started due to the desire for stag handles, but the embargo that prohibited US companies from getting Indian stag (late 70's, through the 80's). That is normal bovine bone, jigged in a way to mimic stag, and dyed accordingly.

Sometimes a very worn stag will appear to be smoothed, but traditionally the stag is meant to be gnarly because that is what distinguishes it from other handle materials. Additionally, second cut stag is a material using the inside section of the leftover stag after the outer gnarly section is cut off. Then it is machine grooved to mimic the gnarly outside texture. It is still stag, but it is a man made version of what nature produces.

Traditionally, stag is always valued higher than most any other handle material, because every one is unique, it is hard to get, and it is strong/durable. Also, in my opinion, it holds the highest visual appeal of any handle material.

Now as far as "horn" goes, there are many (buffalo, sheep, zebu), but that is for another discussion.

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Permalink Reply by Jan Carter on August 23, 2013 at 15:01

I borrowed this pic off the web but it is an excellent example of smooth stag

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In MemoriamPermalink Reply by Robert Burris on August 23, 2013 at 16:38

Miss Jan, that's my boy Matt's knife. He uses a lot of American Elk, in his knives. They work great.

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Permalink Reply by Billy Oneale on August 23, 2013 at 20:46

I have a Hen & Rooster that is smooth stag.

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Permalink Reply by Tobias Gibson on August 26, 2013 at 13:08

For the most part "Stag" should mean Antler material of some kind. Typically it refers to antler from the dropped horns of Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) native to India and Pakistan (Also called India Sambar Stag) While the deer are native to India and Pakistan there are domesticated herds in America.

Elk, Moose, White Tail Deer antler are also used and more reputable dealers will be upfront as to where the "stag" comes from.

Also understand that like any natural material some stag is poorer quality than other stag. Hence, the stag you get on a knife made in Pakistan is not going to be the same quality as what you find on an America made knife from say Queen, Case, Silver Stag, etc.

Stag needs to be properly dried and prepared before it can be slapped on a knife.

If you see something listed as stag-bone or bone stag, it is normally cattle bone that has been jigged and burnt or dyed to look like deer stag.

If you see something called stagalon, it is plastic made to look like Stag. It used to be a trademark term used by schrade. Stag Delrin, is Delrin jigged to look like Stag.

Second Cut Stag is suddenly making a come back which is really kind of strange. Second cut stag is the internal part of the antler which is considered inferior in quality to the external part that is normally used to make the knife handle. This internal slab is then jigged and burnt to look like the external part of the stag. Why the price on second cut is demanding a high price is beyond me.

Hope this helps.

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Permalink Reply by Art Cooper on February 9, 2014 at 11:33

Back in 1976 when J. Wiss and Sons had the rights to use the "Tree Brand and Logo" from Boker, they produced some knives that were referred to as having Del-bone scales. These looked like stag but weren't. Anyone know if they were simply cow bones jigged and stained?