Antler prep for sgian dubh

[Macthenife]

Hello all,

I've acquired some deer antler and I am interested in making a sgian dubh handle out of it and possibly also a cane handle. Can anyone direct me to a site that explains how to clean and prepare the antler for projects such as this? Thank you in advance for your help.

Slainte!
Shawn

[Chas]

I made my walking stick, some 30 years ago. After cutting to size, I then washed the antler in hot water and washing up liquid. It was scrubbed with a nailbrush to get into all the crevasses. It was then fitted to the shaft of the stick. The shaft was treated with beeswax, but not the handle. Here it is 33 years later still in use:



Regards

Chas

[Fast Eddie]

Shawn,

I am doing some research into making my own Sgian Dubh (mostly for the sake of making myself, as opposed to saving some money), and am very interested in using antler for a handle. If I run across any information, I'll post it. Good luck with your project!

[tyger]

Can anyone direct me to a site that explains how to clean and prepare the antler for projects such as this?

Seach this Forum for Joe Gondek's posts on making a sgian. Here is one: http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/p...ghlight=gondek

That will show and tell all you really need. Have fun.

[Fast Eddie]

If you're using a hidden/tapered tang, this might be worth a try:

http://www.primitiveways.com/pt-antlerhandleknife.html

The idea of soaking the antler sounds good - but I guess I'd do a lot of the work outside because of the smell!

[Bluescelt]

The good thing about antler is that you can leave the bark-like outer surface on it for a rustic look or sand it down to a smooth surface and with alot of elbow grease you can get a shiny finish. I made a dirk about 6 years ago and polished it and it has held that finish with no need to polish again.

Scott

[Macthenife]

Hello Chas,

That is a fine looking walking stick. I'm hoping to make something similar. What type of wood did you use for the shaft?

I appreciate everyone's suggestions. I will drill into these links and see what I can find.

Slàinte!
Shawn

I made my walking stick, some 30 years ago. After cutting to size, I then washed the antler in hot water and washing up liquid. It was scrubbed with a nailbrush to get into all the crevasses. It was then fitted to the shaft of the stick. The shaft was treated with beeswax, but not the handle. Here it is 33 years later still in use:



Regards

Chas

[Chas]

Hello Chas,

That is a fine looking walking stick. I'm hoping to make something similar. What type of wood did you use for the shaft?

I appreciate everyone's suggestions. I will drill into these links and see what I can find.

Slàinte!
Shawn

Hi Shawn,

My stick came from the 'Bryant and May' estates near Lakenheath. Bryant and May were the famous match makers and they had tree plantations all over northern Europe.
The trees were a modified Beech. That is to say beech trees that grew tall were selected for their pollination programme. All side shoots and branches were removed to encourage growth, leaving only the growing top. They were called 'match trees', because they looked like matches and of course would be made into matches.
My stick was one of the side shoots. I was the Scout Leader at RAF Honington and knew the Estate Manager at Lakenheath. Once a year he would ship a vast quantity of these side shoots to me. My troop would use them for mini pioneering and rope-work projects.
I had the opportunity to go on a 'Stickmaking Workshop' run by Theo Fossel, who was the founding chairman of the British Stickmakers Guild. We had to bring our own materials with us. I choose the most interesting shaft I had. The antler came from a donated deer's head; the eyes were missing; the fur was rotten and one of the antlers was broken in half - it became the handle.

Regards

Chas

[Macthenife]

Chas, that's a great story behind that cane. After 30 years it appears to have served you well and it still looks great! Thank you for sharing. I would love to hear more about the information you got from the 'Stickmaking Workshop' run by Theo Fossel. I bet that was great to be part of.

Slàinte!
Shawn

Hi Shawn,

My stick came from the 'Bryant and May' estates near Lakenheath. Bryant and May were the famous match makers and they had tree plantations all over northern Europe.
The trees were a modified Beech. That is to say beech trees that grew tall were selected for their pollination programme. All side shoots and branches were removed to encourage growth, leaving only the growing top. They were called 'match trees', because they looked like matches and of course would be made into matches.
My stick was one of the side shoots. I was the Scout Leader at RAF Honington and knew the Estate Manager at Lakenheath. Once a year he would ship a vast quantity of these side shoots to me. My troop would use them for mini pioneering and rope-work projects.
I had the opportunity to go on a 'Stickmaking Workshop' run by Theo Fossel, who was the founding chairman of the British Stickmakers Guild. We had to bring our own materials with us. I choose the most interesting shaft I had. The antler came from a donated deer's head; the eyes were missing; the fur was rotten and one of the antlers was broken in half - it became the handle.

Regards

Chas