All About Pocket Knives

I've been thinking about trying to work with stag for a long time, but for a variety of lame reasons I haven't tried it, until now. I just recently scored a big bunch of sambar seconds, so here are my first 2 attempts. The Frank Buster stockman had outgassing celluloid scales, that unfortunately weren't caught in time when I got it, and had just started to eat away at the clip. You can see the residual pitting in the last pic. (I'll probably try a little more elbow grease on that pitted area.) The Case trapper had yellow delrin scales that the owner had used for practice with an engraving tool. (Really, I'm not making this up and I have 3 more like it that I got from him and are waiting to be rehandled.) Other than the damage to each knife I just described, they both look to be totally unused. I've always been attracted to thick stag, but I'm thinking maybe I went a little bit overboard on these two? Now I just need to figure out how to cut the shield inlays in stag.

I don’t think you went overboard. They both look pretty darn nice!
I’m not a huge stag fan. I work with it from time to time but it’s not high on my list of handle products to use. I don’t hate it, I’m just not drawn to it.
Anyway, nice work Herb, they both great!
Jeff

That stag looks NICE!

Great job Herb!

Outstanding work Herb!
I think they both look just right. Not too thick. Not too thin. Good measure IMHO!
I love Stag! I don't think I have any knives with stag handles but I love how it looks.
I might have one with stag.A doctor's knife.
Anyways, you did a fine job on those two!

I'm just the opposite, I LOVE working with stag!

I'm not a fan of PHAT stag, but I understand there are those that are.

I think GEC stopped cutting shields in stag because it is time consuming. Each knife is a custom shield inlay, due to the randomness of the stag. I do think it's worth it, as it does add a lot to the knife.

Regardless, your knives look good!

I’m with Glenn, personally I like thinner stag. But that said, you did an outstanding job. Those look very nice, better than new.

glennbad wrote: ↑Fri Feb 11, 2022 7:50 pm I'm just the opposite, I LOVE working with stag!

I'm not a fan of PHAT stag, but I understand there are those that are.

I think GEC stopped cutting shields in stag because it is time consuming. Each knife is a custom shield inlay, due to the randomness of the stag. I do think it's worth it, as it does add a lot to the knife.

Regardless, your knives look good!

Glenn, I was hoping you would chime in. I have seen your terrific work with stag. So, before I ruin any stag pieces, is there any advice you can give me on the shield inlays? I'm thinking I will need to get the area for the shield sanded down flat, correct? I find that cutting out a shield inlay is challenging enough as is, and I can't imagine the added challenge of trying to work on a very uneven surface. Thanks for any pointers!

herbva wrote: ↑Fri Feb 11, 2022 9:09 pm

glennbad wrote: ↑Fri Feb 11, 2022 7:50 pm I'm just the opposite, I LOVE working with stag!

I'm not a fan of PHAT stag, but I understand there are those that are.

I think GEC stopped cutting shields in stag because it is time consuming. Each knife is a custom shield inlay, due to the randomness of the stag. I do think it's worth it, as it does add a lot to the knife.

Regardless, your knives look good!

Glenn, I was hoping you would chime in. I have seen your terrific work with stag. So, before I ruin any stag pieces, is there any advice you can give me on the shield inlays? I'm thinking I will need to get the area for the shield sanded down flat, correct? I find that cutting out a shield inlay is challenging enough as is, and I can't imagine the added challenge of trying to work on a very uneven surface. Thanks for any pointers!

How do you cut your shields in? Do you do by hand or do you chuck a cutter of some kind in a drill press? I clamp my mark side piece on a flat metal plate in a drill press vice and lower my cutter down into the piece. That way I keep things square, and it doesn't matter how weird the stag is. I do not sand the stag down flat, and only relieve the stag as much as is needed to fit the shield.

Rock on herbva, love your work, love antler, keep up the great work and you'll only get better. Excellent job.

glennbad wrote: ↑Fri Feb 11, 2022 9:52 pm

herbva wrote: ↑Fri Feb 11, 2022 9:09 pm

glennbad wrote: ↑Fri Feb 11, 2022 7:50 pm I'm just the opposite, I LOVE working with stag!

I'm not a fan of PHAT stag, but I understand there are those that are.

I think GEC stopped cutting shields in stag because it is time consuming. Each knife is a custom shield inlay, due to the randomness of the stag. I do think it's worth it, as it does add a lot to the knife.

Regardless, your knives look good!

Glenn, I was hoping you would chime in. I have seen your terrific work with stag. So, before I ruin any stag pieces, is there any advice you can give me on the shield inlays? I'm thinking I will need to get the area for the shield sanded down flat, correct? I find that cutting out a shield inlay is challenging enough as is, and I can't imagine the added challenge of trying to work on a very uneven surface. Thanks for any pointers!

How do you cut your shields in? Do you do by hand or do you chuck a cutter of some kind in a drill press? I clamp my mark side piece on a flat metal plate in a drill press vice and lower my cutter down into the piece. That way I keep things square, and it doesn't matter how weird the stag is. I do not sand the stag down flat, and only relieve the stag as much as is needed to fit the shield.

Thanks Glenn. I've been clamping the shield down onto the scale, tracing the outline with a sharp awl, and then I have several different burrs I put in my rotary tool and do it by hand. Sometimes the the burr grabs and I don't quite stay within the lines. I'm going to try your method, But, I will need to get a different drill press vice and probably a better cutter. What kind of cutter do you use? Thanks!

herbva wrote: ↑Fri Feb 11, 2022 10:14 pm

glennbad wrote: ↑Fri Feb 11, 2022 9:52 pm

herbva wrote: ↑Fri Feb 11, 2022 9:09 pm

Glenn, I was hoping you would chime in. I have seen your terrific work with stag. So, before I ruin any stag pieces, is there any advice you can give me on the shield inlays? I'm thinking I will need to get the area for the shield sanded down flat, correct? I find that cutting out a shield inlay is challenging enough as is, and I can't imagine the added challenge of trying to work on a very uneven surface. Thanks for any pointers!

How do you cut your shields in? Do you do by hand or do you chuck a cutter of some kind in a drill press? I clamp my mark side piece on a flat metal plate in a drill press vice and lower my cutter down into the piece. That way I keep things square, and it doesn't matter how weird the stag is. I do not sand the stag down flat, and only relieve the stag as much as is needed to fit the shield.

Thanks Glenn. I've been clamping the shield down onto the scale, tracing the outline with a sharp awl, and then I have several different burrs I put in my rotary tool and do it by hand. Sometimes the the burr grabs and I don't quite stay within the lines. I'm going to try your method, But, I will need to get a different drill press vice and probably a better cutter. What kind of cutter do you use? Thanks!

Dremel offers a tiny cutter for their rotary tools. I just chuck that in my drill press and go to town

Herb I think you have done an excellent job. Good luck with the shield.

Bob

Those do look great!
I usually prefer bone handles, but these are more than good enough to catch my eye. Catch it and hold it!
Shields would look good on them, but is not an absolute necessity. Sometimes there is a lot of wisdom in knowing when to stop.

They both look good Herb. I like the look without shields. And like fat stag.

Absolutely beautiful work Herb! I personally like the fat stag on your knives! I didn't know you had skills such as this, have you been holding out on me? LOL!

I have found dental burrs to be excellent for inlay work . The drill press is best for control and depth of cut , but harder to manipulate tight curves , so sometimes I use a dremel also .

Beautiful!! I really like the look. Great job Herb
Nev

Now that I think more about it I would not put a shield on it. The rugged
surface is more than good enough to showcase the knife.

Bob

That looks good Herb!
Each type of handle material has its own special set of challenges. Many types of wood have hard grain running through it which can cause a burr to bounce off of the harder grain dig into the softwood when you're laying a shield. The same is true with bone to a lesser degree, and also with stag.
However, each one of them seems to respond just a little bit differently it's really something I have had the practice to get it right. And then there's always the material that's a little bit different, or that I misjudge, and it doesn't look right to me.
It is all part of the agony and ecstasy of repairing old knives.

Keep working with stag and you may come to enjoy it. My favorite materials to work with our bone and stag because they always go through an ugly stage when I think, "I may have made a mistake." But then when I am finished with them, the process brings out the hidden beauty within the material itself. That to me is the ecstasy, of repairing an old knife.