See any handles in this pic

[D.Ellis]

 


I sorted thru a pile of at least 150 elk antlers and chose the best ones I could find. Had to drive 5 hours(one way) to get them, broke down on the way back(not quite half way), had to hitch a ride home, then called a tow truck to bring my Sidekick to the nearest shop. Ended up bringing these home on my motorcycle........ about a 7 hour ride round trip, but they`re here now....... some awesome pieces in that pile!
Sidekick`s still in the shop 3 1/2 hours away        

Darcy    

[LYONEL]

Nice, I have some Red Deer antler I plan on trying to use on my blank when I sort it out. It's amazing how similar Elk & Red Deer are to the point that they can interbreed.

[D.Ellis]

Probably my favorite handle material for looks and durability......something interesting about elk antler. The stuff grown further north is more solid with less pith..........more like sambar stag. I see the same thing with deer antler. The deer antler from around here is almost totally solid......very dense and heavy.
I believe culpepper's is going to be getting a bunch of this for amber treatment pretty soon. Getting me some amber stag!
Darcy  

[LYONEL]

What's amber treatment?

[D.Ellis]

It's a deep dying process......look up some of Lin Rhea's stag handles......many of them are amber stag. If the pieces I cut have good texture and shape, but not so great of color, I will send them to be dyed. Some people don't like amber stag, and I used to be one of them, but it's one of those things that has really grown on me I like it a lot now......... such deep rich color.
Darcy  

[D.Ellis]

here's a pic of the ends of some of the cut tines to show how dense they are.......the brow tines are the most solid.
 

Darcy  

[mt1761]

The smallest antler, furthest to the bottom of the pic?  I love the subtle fork it makes.  I've long sought a Bowie with a forked antler handle.

[Soonerlongbow]

Looks darn nice!