Bone stag vs. 6.5 stag
- wt3l
- Posts: 181
- Joined: Sun Dec 11, 2005 3:27 am
- Location: West Virginia
Bone stag vs. 6.5 stag
ok, I was under the impression that 6.5 stag handles were the most pure form of stag to be found. I keep hearing on TV some mention about bone stag or even 6.5 bone stag. Also why does or did most stag handles come into this country from India...aren't american deer good enough??? I know that bone stag is made from cattle shin bones, and they just dye the bone whatever color they want. any help?? wt3l
- Bryan
- Gold Tier

- Posts: 2458
- Joined: Sun Aug 29, 2004 5:20 pm
- Location: Illinois
Hi wt3l,
6.5 stag is actually bone that is jigged and died to look like genuine stag (real deer antler). India Sambar is most popular because the antler material is more dense and strong than American deer species I believe (someone please correct me if I'm wrong about that / i'm pretty sure I read that somewhere once.) Case came out with the 6.5 stuff shortly after an embargo on the India stag antlers.
Incidently, if I'm not mistaken, some of the first bone handled knives were designed to mimic antlers, so the idea goes way back. I think that is when and how the term "bone stag" came into existance.
Bryan
6.5 stag is actually bone that is jigged and died to look like genuine stag (real deer antler). India Sambar is most popular because the antler material is more dense and strong than American deer species I believe (someone please correct me if I'm wrong about that / i'm pretty sure I read that somewhere once.) Case came out with the 6.5 stuff shortly after an embargo on the India stag antlers.
Incidently, if I'm not mistaken, some of the first bone handled knives were designed to mimic antlers, so the idea goes way back. I think that is when and how the term "bone stag" came into existance.
Bryan
- PA Knives
- Posts: 1928
- Joined: Thu Jun 02, 2005 1:53 pm
- Location: The "Magic Circle" in NW Pennsylvania
Bryan,
You nailed that one. I beleive that all of your facts are accurate in the research that I have done. I just happened to be looking in depth in to this same subject just a few weeks ago. I found that there were many who did not understand the situation. Thanks for beating be to the subject. You did a fine job.

You nailed that one. I beleive that all of your facts are accurate in the research that I have done. I just happened to be looking in depth in to this same subject just a few weeks ago. I found that there were many who did not understand the situation. Thanks for beating be to the subject. You did a fine job.
Contributions to Knife Magazine ,
Author of "Great Eastern Cutlery: An American Tradition, The History of the Northfield & Tidioute Brands" & "Tidioute: A Town With an Edge" “The Chronicles of Cooper Cutlery”
Author of "Great Eastern Cutlery: An American Tradition, The History of the Northfield & Tidioute Brands" & "Tidioute: A Town With an Edge" “The Chronicles of Cooper Cutlery”
- wt3l
- Posts: 181
- Joined: Sun Dec 11, 2005 3:27 am
- Location: West Virginia
6.5 bone stag
Thanks Bryan for the info. That had me puzzled for a while. Merry Christmas to all and God Bless us everyone!!! No matter what the ACLU thinks. Idea...Let's send the ACLU to France. hehehe ,later , wt3l