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Joined: Dec 2001
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Campfire Regular
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OP
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How durable are elk scales in the long run? Do they tend to crack? I'd appreciate any input in regard to elk on a working knife.
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Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 5,219
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 5,219 |
Mine have held up well. They aren't going to be tolerant of heavy abuse, extended exposure to sun and repeated trips through the dishwasher is going to kill them pretty quick - just like most natural materials. Not saying you would do this just that natural materials won't tolerate abuse. I have antlers that are nearly 50 years old without any cracking, look at old mounts and you'll see antlers hold up very well. A life time of use should be expected, if not more.
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 7,417
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 7,417 |
Not the best handle material in my opinion for full tang knives...they are so pithy. There are better options. That being said, I use em a lot with hidden tang knives with no problem. Here's a couple of my elk antlered hidden tang knives showing my preferred use of antlers:
You only live once, but...if you do it right, once is enough.
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 891
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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Posts: 891 |
nice work godogs cranky72
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,185
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Dec 2001
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Joined: Feb 2007
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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Thanks so much....much appreciated.
You only live once, but...if you do it right, once is enough.
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 14,937
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 14,937 |
As the tread is winding down, off topic a little. I use Axis antler alot on full-tang knives. The Axis is not very pithy at all and I haven't had any complaints from customers. I never tried elk because I like the Axis just fine. Starting to experiment with the potassium permanganate. Sorry if this is OT.
--- CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE --- A Magic Time To Be An Illegal In America---
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,111
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,111 |
I soak everything organic that I use for handles in a wood stabilizer. It structurally stabilizes, but does not fill voids. I sometimes lace the pithy stuff with Paleobond super glue and then fill the near surface voids with two part epoxy. I normally finish off with exterior poly eurethane. I have yet to have a problem with handles so treated (at least not that I know of). Potassium permanganate is a good way to add color to faded antlers but I seldom use it cause I like the look of aged antlers. Tim Tim
"The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them." Albert Einstein
At Khe Sanh a sign read "For those who fight for it, life has a flavor the protected never knew".
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 10,972
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 10,972 |
I used Elk on a large hidden tang chopper once. It didn't have much figure so I sanded and polished it out. It looks real good if you use white rogue and buffing wheel on the last stage. I removed every bit of pith from the inside, put the guard on first and completely filled the inside with accraglass. The rear butt plate has a brass screw soldered into a shallow hole on the inside. I had to drill a hole in the accraglass for that screw before I glassed that into place as well. I did a lot of chopping and testing on that knife and it held up fine. The handle is completely solid accraglass inside the Elk. I like Accraglass for hidden tangs because of it's nearly zero shrinkage and it has a long history of holding up.
Last edited by R_H_Clark; 04/26/14.
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Joined: May 2010
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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Yep. The last antlers were totally faded. I pot/permed two get ready for the trap rendevous this weekend and they are gone.
--- CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE --- A Magic Time To Be An Illegal In America---
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Joined: Dec 2011
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Campfire Outfitter
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Potassium permanganate colors any antler very nicely. Just mix it in water to saturation and the longer the piece stays in , the darker it gets.
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Joined: Oct 2002
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Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
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Posts: 96,121 |
I've beat the hell out of these (old picture) but have been going strong for almost 10 years.
"Dear Lord, save me from Your followers"
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