Stag laws

[milo]

I was wondering if stag is getting hard to get for knife makers and what’s a good website to check if it is or isn’t embargoed?

[Mumbleypeg]

I know of no current “embargo” on stag. There have been some in the past however. It is my understanding that some countries governments have made it illegal to harvest stag by means other than gathering of naturally shed antlers. Which has resulted in decreased supply, hence higher prices especially for “premium” quality pieces. I could be wrong but that’s what I remember reading somewhere.

If no one here knows, recommend you call Culpepper & Co. and ask them. https://www.knifehandles.com/

Let us know what they say.

Ken

[milo]

THANKS MAN !

[Quick Steel]

India has forbidden export of Sambar stag several times since I have been collecting.

[Mumbleypeg]

India has forbidden export of Sambar stag several times since I have been collecting.

Yes, it’s been off and on. The U.S. also banned import of stag at one time due to concern over the spread of Hoof and Mouth Disease. Sambar deer are on some kind of conservation watch list so governments where herds of those deer exist are managing the herds to some extent. Since there is a market for their antlers, poaching is a danger and even if the deer are not killed, I’ve read that at one time habitat was being set afire and burned to make it easier to find sheds. With the net result being decreased habitat for the deer.

If you look at the Culpepper site you can see that a set of two 3-1/2 x 1-1/4 inch Stag handle slabs are $45-$50 for the pair. Probably why you rarely see makers like Case offering stag handles on larger patterns. And why stag knives aren’t cheap.

Ken

[Log Cabin Knives]

Bill Howard at GEC told me a month ago that he was not able to get large Stag pieces and that's why there was no Stag 23's on the production schedule. Rich

[milo]

Yeah Culpepper & Co. said there has been a ban on India stag for 20 years! But I also heard from another place that United States gets stag from Australia.