Question About Stag

[vikingdog]

I just bought a knife with burnt stag scales and I'd like to know the difference between genuine stag, burnt stag, second cut stag etc. How many variations, styles and grades of stag are there?

Can any of you stag collectors fill me in?

[Aimus Moses]

Mike, you forgot vintage stag... Then you have sambar stag & sandbar stag (as a certain much known fella called it). I think the second cut stag is gotten after the better part of the stag has already been cut off. As far as grades, styles, and variations of stag goes, I'm a lost ball in high weeds. I have seen what looked to me to be a better quality stag used on some (well known) knife brands and a lesser quality used on others (knife brands). I personally think the burnt stag and the red colored stag has the best look on a knife to me. That's just my opinion though. I'm sure there are some very knowledgeable stag loving AAPK members that will jump in and give you way more information about stag than I ever could. I'd like to learn more about stag myself.

Aimus

[vikingdog]

Oh yeah...and vintage stag and sambar stag too. We'll have to wait til one of the stag men steps up to the podium Aimus.

[big monk]

If you guys don't mind,I'm gona' pull up a chair,amd wait with ya' __________I'd like to know also,cause sometimes, my burnt stag,looks better than genuine stag,but cost a little less

The bottom knife, is Genuine Stag in the first photo

[philco]

OK I'll take a swipe at this.........

Sambar Stag is from the antlers of the Sambar deer found in India and is widely considered the premium quality stag for knife handles.

Second Cut Stag is the inner slab of stag. When the outer layer is sawed off then a second, inner layer is exposed. This inner layer may be left with a smooth surface or it may be jigged. Often times it is jigged to resemble the surface of the outer layer of stag. Sometimes other jigging patterns are employed. The stag may or may not be dyed to obtain color variatiions. It also may or may not be toasted. (I''ll explain that below)

Toasted Stag is a term used to describe a slab of stag that has been colored a brownish hue by applying heat to the surface. My understanding is that a flame from a gas torch is applied to the surface to change the color.

Burnt Stag is stag that has been more heavily toasted to the point that the surface is darkly scorched.

Most of the Red Stag you see on the market today is actually stag that has been dyed to give it a reddish color hue. Apparently there is or has been some stag on the market that came from a species of deer whose antlers produced a slightly reddish hue but I'm hoping someone else can fill in the gaps on that.

Stag bone or bone stag is actually cow bone that has been jigged and treated to resemble the texture and appearance of genuine stag. Some of it is really pretty.......some not.

Genuine Stag is a term used to differentiate stag from bone stag and indicate that the stag is from a deers antler not a cows leg. (see stag bone above)

Sandbar Stag is the rarest of all the stags. There have been some lengthy discussions here on AAPK regarding this mysterious strain of stag and its origins. If you want to learn more about it, I encourage you to utilize the "search" function for SANDBAR STAG and see what you can learn. I warn you it may make your head spin a bit.

Well that's all I got to say about that.

Phil

[smiling-knife]

The old Sheffield cutlers used mostly Sambar stag. Here's a photo circa early 1900s of the Jos Rodgers store.

[vikingdog]

Thank you Phil and S-K. Nice. I thought maybe burnt stag wasn't authentic stag but some kind of copy.

Monk, when did you get the red stag? It about knocks me out.

[Jethro Bodine]

Mike, here's an old link that has some good info.

http://www.rod-neep.co.uk/rod/knives/reviews/stag.html

[vikingdog]

Thanks JB. Excellent info! Some of the large pictures don't load but the information is all there.

[big monk]

Monk, when did you get the red stag? It about knocks me out. [/quote]


Hey Mike_______ain't they, purrtty !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I just really ""LUCKED UP"" on that find---got them in this week--I was buying a couple of knives,online,and the order went through,without me paying (with pay-pal)---so I called the dealer,to let him know,and to send me a bill.We get to chatting,and he tells me he has a couple of the Red Stags,coming,and I bought, both of them,right then !!!!!!!!! Back in July,when they were produced,most were scooped up pretty fast--so I was thrilled to be able to get em''______I also found me a #73 Scout ""Ivory Casein EC"" made in 2007____I'll try to get pic's after my, week-in shift_________have a great day----Monk