All About Pocket Knives

Guys,
The lady at A. G. Russell says this handle is stag. I have never seen stag like this. Anyone here familiar with this handle material?

Ray

Hi Ray. I'm not saying this is stag for sure and I don't know why you would want to do this, but if you sand down the high spots on some really nice "popcorn" stag and don't apply any more stain or dye, I think this is what it would look like.

Isn't that what Rough Rider calls "Buckshot" stag?

Madmarco wrote: ↑Fri Feb 03, 2023 1:44 am Isn't that what Rough Rider calls "Buckshot" stag?

Beats the shirt out of me, Marco. Maybe someone will come along who is better versed than I am.

Ray

This is probably what it looked like before they went and ruined it by grinding down the nubs. What a waste.

Eric

Ray,
I'm in agreement with Herb, I think it's real stag. The irregular shapes of the high spots, (popcorn), and the variation in the depth between the high spots and also the variation in the color, (lighter in some spots and darker in others) that it is real stag. I think it would be a lot of trouble to artificially produce something with that much variation, but what do I know, I've only worked for the real thing not the artificial, so I'm not that familiar with what they have to do to copy something with that much variation.

I have finished popcorn to the point where it looks like your handle, but I think it's kind of ugly at this point and I usually dye it instead of leaving it white.

At this point in the finishing process, i.e., the stag handles have been installed, and the bumps of the popcorn have been sanded down and nothing further has been done, there will be sharp edges on those popcorn bumps. At this point I would do a little more sanding and then buff the stag until the sharp edges have been smoothed out. Without buffing them, it will be pretty grippy but what you're feeling is the sharp edges cut into your skin. Every now and then there is a bump or two that are sharp enough to make a small cut in your finger, especially if that bump is concave on the sides. It leaves a nice little sharp edge of stag where are the sanding has stopped.. At this point I the handles down and dye them so that they have some color. The black and white contrast is not that good looking in my eye, especially not on this knife. It has engraved or photo etched bolsters which are busy with design and then you have the busy bumps and grooves and black and white contrast of the stag handles. To my eye that's too much going on, it feels chaotic not harmonious, but that's all my opinion and my personal taste and perception.
YMMV

Madmarco wrote: ↑Fri Feb 03, 2023 1:44 am Isn't that what Rough Rider calls "Buckshot" stag?

Looks pretty simular doesn't it.

Reminds me of Marble's Black Stag, which is actually jigged bone. Also made in China.

Jeez, guys. Thank you so much. It never occurred to me to do all those things to a nice piece of stag.
I sure appreciate everyone's help on this.

Ray

Paladin wrote: ↑Fri Feb 03, 2023 2:58 pm Jeez, guys. Thank you so much. It never occurred to me to do all those things to a nice piece of stag.
I sure appreciate everyone's help on this.

Ray

Me either Pal... until I saw that Marble's, that's kinda sweet.
and coincidentally, i just picked up the Buckshot big daddy Barlow yesterday too, looks like a nice set.

The more examples I see posted Ray the more I'm leaning toward what Herb and Dale say, that it is real stag sanded down and left unfinished. Admittedly, the Buckshot stag looks similar to what your knife looks like, but still far enough off that it makes me doubt that's what it is, IMHO, even the Marble's black stag that John posted looks closer than the Buckshot. I'm thinking that Eric got it right when he stated "What a waste", cuz with that engraving had the covers been left alone it would have been a beautiful knife. It's far from being ugly, but in it's current state it just doesn't live up to it's potential of being a beauty.

Here's a similar knife found on a Google search. Looks like it may have originally been made this way.

That's virtually the same knife Kevin, albeit there's less black on your example. I wonder if in the description where it says, "Handle Material: Jigged Antler" that offers any clues.

Madmarco wrote: ↑Fri Feb 03, 2023 8:38 pm That's virtually the same knife Kevin, albeit there's less black on your example. I wonder if in the description where it says, "Handle Material: Jigged Antler" that offers any clues.

Sounds like it's machine altered, Mark.

I don't know what you mean John, would you explain a bit please?

Paladin wrote: ↑Thu Feb 02, 2023 10:19 pm Guys,
The lady at A. G. Russell says this handle is stag. I have never seen stag like this. Anyone here familiar with this handle material?

Ray

Ray, that is an "Agent's Office Knife" with what AG Russell called "shaved stag" which is simply gnarly stag that has been shaved to make the surface more flat. I have owned and sold several of these and still have one exactly like yours.

QTCut5 wrote: ↑Sat Feb 04, 2023 6:40 am

Paladin wrote: ↑Thu Feb 02, 2023 10:19 pm Guys,
The lady at A. G. Russell says this handle is stag. I have never seen stag like this. Anyone here familiar with this handle material?

Ray

Ray, that is an "Agent's Office Knife" with what AG Russell called "shaved stag" which is simply gnarly stag that has been shaved to make the surface more flat. I have owned and sold several of these and still have one exactly like yours.

Yep, that is the one. I'm not a fan of China knives but this one is well made and come to think of it, I never saw a bad knife come from A. G. Russell. I got 3 of them in the collection I am working on now.

Ray

Not trying to highjack your post, but A. G. Russell stated in his catalog some time ago that when they came up with a new design, they always took it to American manufacturers first and tried to come up with a reasonable price point for marketing.

If that didn’t work out, they then went to their foreign makers.

I fully understand why one would endeavor to avoid sending money to China.

It’s unavoidable, however, unless one completely divorces themselves from electronics, i.e., cell phones, etc.

As was stated above, I, too, have never seen a poorly made knife from A G Russell. Fit and finish and edge sharpness are all superb.

1967redrider wrote: ↑Fri Feb 03, 2023 9:16 pm

Madmarco wrote: ↑Fri Feb 03, 2023 8:38 pm That's virtually the same knife Kevin, albeit there's less black on your example. I wonder if in the description where it says, "Handle Material: Jigged Antler" that offers any clues.

Sounds like it's machine altered, Mark.

Shaved down antler, Mark.

Thanks John!

It is India stag, has a much different look then domestic or even red stag from Europe....but just looking at pictures I am sure it is!!

Paladin didn't ask me to do this (and I hope he doesn't mind), but I'm giving this a bump with a link to Ray's eBay page where it's listed for sale. AG Russell originally sold this model for $120.00, and IMHO, it's worth every penny; it's a very well-made, solid and attractive knife that comes with a cool custom leather sheath with a clip. If I didn't already have one, I would definitely be bidding on it myself

https://www.ebay.com/itm/134457514291

Plus, I don't believe they're still available from A. G. Russell so Ray's might be the only copy you'll ever have a chance at!
I too would buy Ray's if I didn't already own one.
Beautiful multi-purpose little knife!

QTCut5 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 06, 2023 5:45 am Paladin didn't ask me to do this (and I hope he doesn't mind), but I'm giving this a bump with a link to Ray's eBay page where it's listed for sale. AG Russell originally sold this model for $120.00, and IMHO, it's worth every penny; it's a very well-made, solid and attractive knife that comes with a cool custom leather sheath with a clip. If I didn't already have one, I would definitely be bidding on it myself

https://www.ebay.com/itm/134457514291

Madmarco wrote: ↑Mon Mar 06, 2023 6:09 am Plus, I don't believe they're still available from A. G. Russell so Ray's might be the only copy you'll ever have a chance at!
I too would buy Ray's if I didn't already own one.
Beautiful multi-purpose little knife!

Thanks, guys! I appreciate the plug.

Ray