Antler Handle

[PASSTHRU2]

Shot a 4-poit this year and want to use the antlers for knife handles.  I want to use them intact, not for slabs.  What's the best way/tang shape to do this.  Thanks

[Hunter 709]

Great question, I would like to try the same thing with some shed antlers but don't realy know where to start and don't want to waste my antler. I watched some vids on youtube but will be watching this thread for others suggestions.

[tippit]

You have to do a hidden tang by drilling out the antler and adding a guard like Doug's sheep horn damascus (top two pictures).  Or you can simply  slot the antler like an old time blacksmith knife...tippit

     

     

     

     

     

   

Then make it look like you just found a Lewis & Clark/Mountain Man Era blade  

     

[Ray Hammond]

The difficulty with small to medium whitetail beams is they are heavily curved

You may for poetic or nostalgic reasons want a knife made from them but I'm struggling - have two to make and for a while and cant yet figure out how to build a knife to be USED not sit on your coffee table

If the antler is large enough to make a useable knife from who would want to cut it up to do so?

[snakewood3]

Blades have been effectively hafted to antler handles for centuries. The smaller the antler the smaller the blade and hence the lighter duty it should perform. In earlier times there were few antlers hanging on the walls as trophies for the woodsman found they were far more valuable as knife and tool handles.
Tippit has shown some methods, the hidden tang being what is used mostly. Proper fitting and preparation along with the right glue will yield a strong, beautiful, and functional tool.

[Sixby]

I've always set my blades in a hole drilled and in smooth on epoxy. Never had one ever come loose. you do have to put the guard on before you glue it .

God bless and Merry Christmas, Steve

[tippit]

You can make your tang to fit a drill hole.  If the the antler is too curved, make a neck knife thus cutting out most of the curve...tippit

Even though this is bone same principle with drilling a hole.

 

 

 

Trying to figure out how to get a straighter handle on a curved antler.

 

 

[amar911]

   

   
That is one of my favorite knives ever.

Allan