Cracks?

[Forensic Jim]

I was asked by a potential buyer if one of my Northwoods stag handled knives was damaged because it appeared cracked. I am unsure if this is truly considered a stress crack or not. I have included two different stag handles with 16X amplification which makes it appear larger and more noticeable than it really is. Need some professional advice here. This stag was bought years ago, and is quite old if that matters or not.

[Forensic Jim]

Apparently added the wrong picture. Her is the other correct one.

[Roger - 50/2050]

Howdy Jim,

It is my professional opinion (that is if y'all think I have one? ) that these are just character lines in the Stag where the blood veins are close or just below the top surface of the handles, I have seen these lines develop in Stag scales that are ten or more years old in some of my 52050's that are in my collection! Did you try the finger nail drag test over the areas in question?



"Texas collector", Roger - 50/2050

[jonet143]

hey jim, they look like cracks to me. especially the one on the corner. they may be stable and nothing to worry about.

[Forensic Jim]

As far as the fingernail test. If I really apply pressure I can barely feel a ridge. I just don't feel that whatever these are extend through the stag and are anything serious to worry about. I guess I will have to indicate this with any listings since some would feel the stag is inferior. I think some of this stag is 20-30 years old. It certainly appears better than any of the new stuff that is sold.

[Roger - 50/2050]

Johnnie, the reason I do not think these are stress cracks/cracks is because none of these lines are consistent in their lengths, everyone of these lines (if you look close) have breaks in them & venture off in a slightly different direction! I am not holding the knife to give her a closer inspection to be absolutely sure but by the way the photos look it is my own personal opinion that these are just character lines, try the finger nail drag test & see if you can feel them Jim! ....Any of you Stag scale pros out there, tell us what your thoughts are on these lines???



"Texas collector", Roger - 50/2050

[jonet143]

hey roger, in my limited experience charactor lines flow with the grain. the photo show this line crossing the grain. like i said they may be stable and never seperate any further. but if i was buying the knife i would consider them cracks.

[Forensic Jim]

Thanks for the info guys. Real shame, because the 2 bladed hunter has the nicest patina on the shield side. I'll just have to list that it has issues.

[orvet]

Jim,
You said the stag is 20-30 years old. Has it been on the knife that long or has it recently been put on the knifes. (Sorry, I am not familiar enough with Northwoods to know much about them).

If the stag has been on the knife for 20-30 years, I would think they are pretty stable, even if they are cracked. If they were recently installed stag handles, I would be more concerned.

I am afraid I would have to agree with Johnnie:

if i was buying the knife i would consider them cracks.

If you have other knives that you are worried that they might develop cracks, you might try rubbing them down with Formby's Lemon Oil Treatment.
Someone here in the forum suggested it, so I tried it. Now I use it on all my stag. I think it will help prevent some of that cracking by keeping the stag moist & more flexible.
It also makes it look nice.

I hope your sale goes well,
Dale

[Forensic Jim]

Orvet the knife was made within the last year. Ole Dave who owns Northwoods bought a lot of stag years ago. He also bought elephant ivory pre-ban that he uses for his knives. However, I think that's all gone. Real shame because this really is a great looking knife. The front side has the nicest patina for stag.

[Forensic Jim]

I decided to remove it from my store and will probably sell it in the fall at a knife show.

[rigwelder]

i didnt really read all the posts, but for me. looks like a crack and a vein in the stag. now a crack has seperation in the area of question. a vein doesnt.

[PA Knives]

The so called "cracks" in question are odd to me. The location is of most concern and if indeed they were "cracks", they typically emulate from a pin. Now if this is a poorly constructed knife, the cracks could indeed be in this location. It appears to be a well made knife though.

The next thought would be if the knife was damaged via being dropped or misused in some manner in order to quote "crack it". My gut reaction without a phyisical inspection would be that they are natural and not from misuse. The rest of the knife looks very good. Just my two cents from READING the knife.

[muskrat man]

they looks like the normal cracks you see in alot of old stag especially the case stag from pre 1970. The cracks running accross the grain could have been a result from getting it too hot when they burnt it and caused it to crack too. It has happened. They wouldn;t really bother me if I were buying it. Some buyers are just finicky about what they add to thier collection, but I can't blame them.

[Forensic Jim]

I found out from Dave Shirley that had these Northwoods Knives made by Queen. That his stag is all from the early 1970's. That's 30+ years old. He also said that anything that appears to be a vein or what ever was in the stag when the knife was produced. He is sitting on a huge stock pile of old sambar stag. I still think the knife has some of the nicest stag I've seen in a long time. The blades are D2 steel. Just a well made knife. The snap on this thing will take off a finger.