The beauty(and practicality)of stag handles...........

Ray S · **on:** April 30, 2019, 03:52:34 AM

Thought I would do a post on stag handles as I have been re-photographing more knives(updating my files actually) and many that I re-shot were stag handled.
Stag has always been my favorite handle material for a number of reasons. The variations are almost endless(no two alike);the color seems to get better with age;the grip is phenomenal wet or dry;they are almost as durable as wood;etc.
I prefer the older type of stag as it is usually much more figural than the newer knives. The newer models are usually ground away at either end to fit whereas older stag was cut to fit the handle which didn't necessitate grinding the ends.The coloring is usually more intense than newer stock which is bright white and artificially colored with a torch.
These pictures will be of both sides of the knife as in early stag knives the mark side was usually pretty fancy and the pile side a bit plainer.Really early knives had very closely matched handles. Hope you enjoy the pictures and I will try to describe the knives they came from.

First up is a pair of handles from an 1870's era Joseph Rodgers spear point bowie. Note how well the handles match side to side.
Second is a huge single blade jack of unknown origin basically because someone had replaced the blade at some point in time. Again the handles are very well matched so the same era of the bowie is likely.

Ray S · **Reply #1 on:** April 30, 2019, 03:56:08 AM

Page two:
First up is a Geo. Wostenholm lockback knife from the mid to late 1800's.Again nicely matched handles.
Second is another Wostenholm knife;this one a folding dirk from a slightly earlier period. Again nicely matched handles.

Ray S · **Reply #2 on:** April 30, 2019, 04:01:28 AM

Page three:
First up is a tiny pruning knife that is unmarked and the handles are not quite matched. I believe it is English made due to the square kick on the blade.
Next is a tiny quill knife by Charles Congreave from about 1830.The stag is beautiful and it has birds-eye rivets holding it together. The liners and threaded bolsters are one piece and there is a tiny match striker nail mark and inside a tiny piece of bone or ivory that acts as a blade stop when the blade is closing.

Ray S · **Reply #3 on:** April 30, 2019, 04:05:17 AM

Last ones for tonight:
First is a large folder by Edward K.Tryon of Philadelphia PA with fancy bolsters.
Second is an I*XL whittler with popcorn stag handles. Some say this is pressed stag created by heating and pressing with a molded pattern. I believe it occurs naturally.

nate j · **Reply #4 on:** April 30, 2019, 04:36:00 AM

Nice knives, Ray!

I too love the look and feel of stag handles, and own a few stag-handled knives, but can't bring myself to carry them due to concerns about durability.

Ray S · **Reply #5 on:** April 30, 2019, 05:33:56 AM

Quote from: nate j on April 30, 2019, 04:36:00 AM

Nice knives, Ray!

I too love the look and feel of stag handles, and own a few stag-handled knives, but can't bring myself to carry them due to concerns about durability.

Depends on what you are using them for. My knives rarely get a serious workout but when they do I feel much better with a stag handled knife than anything else.I have an old stag handled carving set that gets used on every holiday. It loves to carve ham and does pretty good with turkey as well.My steak knives are re-handled with crown stag and the one I use has a spur on one side that makes a great thumb rest. I must confess that my every day table knife is a ceramic bladed model which is easy to clean. Here is a pic of my carving set(Landers,Frary,&Clark Aetna Works) and steak knives.

Gerhard Gerber · **Reply #6 on:** April 30, 2019, 09:14:03 AM

My only stag handled knife is a Puma, not very well done.

I do love the look of your examples Ray.

Aloha · **Reply #7 on:** April 30, 2019, 02:15:20 PM

The looks of stag to me is gorgeous. In everyday use I don't think theres a problem? Unless they are dry or already damaged. If one wants to take their stag handled knife and do some impact or stabbing or something that'll cause shock then maybe damage can occur? I really think the condition of the stag is the key but I am not sure.

Ray S · **Reply #8 on:** April 30, 2019, 08:20:23 PM

Some more old stag before I post some new stuff:
A couple of English horseman's knives; A George Wostenholm I*XL in pristine condition with pretty nicely matched handles circa 1900 and an E(crown)M Dickinson with a mark side handle that looks very worn and a pile side that looks virtually unused. Don't think it was replaced.

Ray S · **Reply #9 on:** April 30, 2019, 08:27:10 PM

A couple more:
A M.Klaas England horseman's knife that a friend re-handled in elk antler. and an A. Burch England horseman's knife. No info on the Burch.

Ray S · **Reply #10 on:** April 30, 2019, 08:31:31 PM

Last couple old stags: A Joseph Rodgers New England Whaler's Knife and an old pruner by Saynor(my first stag handled knife from about 50 years ago).The Saynor is stamped W.Drummond & Sons which I assume is a wholesaler or distributor.It is very old;having one piece liners and bolsters and the stag is worn very smooth.