All About Pocket Knives

Good evening! On this Case knife the handles look very different from one side to the other. The front almost looks like bone and the back is definitely stag and the 5220 indicates stag. The front seems to be different colored than the back and I was trying to figure out why. If it sat in a display case would that change the color? Thanks for any input!

It is hard to tell in detail from pictures, but both handles look like stag to me. Stag can vary greatly in appearance from one piece to the next, and with both pieces being hafted down so far (Case does that often), it makes them look very different.
By the way, sunlight will definitely fade most materials. UV light from fluorescent lights will also fade many materials, though not as badly.

Both sides are stag. Case typically makes no attempt to match appearance of stag on both sides of a knife. It’s pretty much random what pieces go on each side, so it’s not unusual for the two sides to be different. Another factor is that stag is a natural material that varies in appearance from one piece to another, even pieces from the same antler may look vastly different. Then at the hafting each piece may react differently - stag (and bone) density can vary from piece to piece, so the colors may come out looking different from side to side. Some stag is torched to bring out more color - again with the possibility of stag on one side reacting differently than the other side.

Ken

Thanks for that explanation! I really appreciate the help I have received here.

Another factor that I have noticed concerning the stag handled knives is that the more rugged side is usually on the pile side. Just my observation but it is surely easier to inlet a shield on a less rugged side, a less pronounced stag pattern if you will.
My 5172 4 dot (1976) show this thought: Does this hold water with any Case Stag aficionados?
Treefarmer

I have worked with a lot of stag and antler. It never looks the same on both sides, if it did, I would say it's probably man made material. That's why I like it! got character. Terry

Case would put the smoother side on front for a simple reason - they had to install the shield on that side. So the more rutted pieces would be on the pile side.