All About Pocket Knives

Does anyone have a way of determining whether stag is Sambar or other, such as European? I believe the current ban on Sambar went into effect about 1999. I guessed that as we proceeded into the early 2000s the German knives would be switching over to European (Red) stag. But just recently heard that the Olbertz factory had/has large supplies of Sambar Stag that would last a long time. So, back to my original question. Is there a practical way to distinguish the type of stag used on a knife?

I don't know the answer but I would like to know, also. I don't mean to hijack the thread, but I think most German stag covers have been European deer for decades. Looking forward to somebody who knows! I thought that the export of sambar stag was controlled, not banned, although it was indeed banned for awhile in India?

Getting reliable information on this subject is difficult. Apparently, around 2006, the Indian government did authorize a small amount of Sambar for export as a one time exception. It is reported that the prohibition on the export of Sambar is due to poaching of the deer for their antlers by poor people. I know that some knife makers in the U.S. did, like Olbertz, have stockpiles of Sambar, but what the status of those supplies is today is another unknown.

I am hoping that someone knows a way to visually identify the type of stag. I assume that would be impossible if the stag had been burnt or torched.

The only thing I know for sure is that at least out toward the ends instead of North American deer species' porous center Indian stag has on a small vein like passage for blood flow. India stag is denser. No matter how it is advertised I doubt that any stag with porous material not very deep under its bark actually is India or Sambar stag.

Many of the Parker Bulldogs were European stag.

Quick Steel wrote:Getting reliable information on this subject is difficult. Apparently, around 2006, the Indian government did authorize a small amount of Sambar for export as a one time exception. It is reported that the prohibition on the export of Sambar is due to poaching of the deer for their antlers by poor people. I know that some knife makers in the U.S. did, like Olbertz, have stockpiles of Sambar, but what the status of those supplies is today is another unknown.

I am hoping that someone knows a way to visually identify the type of stag. I assume that would be impossible if the stag had been burnt or torched.

QS, I never thought about it. I know it when I see it and I know European stag when I see it as well. Usually I am correct, but not always. Outside of some visual distinctions or a DNA test I know of no way to tell for certain.
It would be interesting to have a test on here. Post European stag and Sambar side by side w/out distinguishing them and see if folks can come up with the correct answers. That might establish a visual test that can be measured.
KJ did this recently w/ Ivory and Mammoth Ivory. A good many of us got it wrong.
Just a suggestion.
SSk

After posting that last post I went searching in my photo library. Here are three examples. These stand out as obvious, but I do have some pictures that on second look make me wonder if my first assessment of the type of stag is correct.
I didn’t post which stag is which on the three below. See if you can tell the difference.
SSk

Wild guesses here:
bottom knife is European stag, middle is Sambar and top is Sand Bar I have seen "Sand Bar" stag on ebay so i know it exists
kj

kootenay joe wrote:Wild guesses here:
bottom knife is European stag, middle is Sambar and top is Sand Bar I have seen "Sand Bar" stag on ebay so i know it exists
kj

You did better on my test than I did on yours kj. You got 2 out of 3 correct. The 1st and 3rd are European stag and the middle one is Sambar.
The look of those European stag handles are what I recognize right away as European stag. I associate those w/ a lot of German made knives, and those two are also German made.
Does anyone have any examples of European stag that has been torched? I have some that I think are torched European stag but I wouldn’t swear by it.
QS, I hope this is helpful.
I would like to see more examples to compare.
SSk

It will be great if a real expert could publish an article complete with color photos of the various kinds and sources of stag used for knife handle covers over the past, say 100 years or more. RalphAlsip (Jerry) and I had a discussion about this a couple years ago, lamenting that neither of us knew of such a resource.

There are probably enough different types that have been used to make for a good article. Knife Magazine are you listening? But there are enough different types to make it a daunting task to identify them and find supporting documentation.

Case has been one of the more prolific producers of stag-handled knives historically, and they alone have produced numerous different varieties in just the past 40-50 years. I wonder if they’re just different treatments of stag from one source, but even that and how it was done would make for interesting reading.

Ken

SSk, I got photos 2 and 3 correct, but my instincts didn't help me figure out the first photo at all.

Quick Steel wrote:SSk, I got photos 2 and 3 correct, but my instincts didn't help me figure out the first photo at all.

Same here.

I have no idea on how to tell the difference. Stag varies so much that I just look to make sure the stag is solid with little or no porosity. Then if the color and figuring/texture appeals to me it's all good from there on.