[Rodney]

Not your traditional antler handle.

I've had a scrappy old weathered elk antler laying around for years. I also have a piece of corroded jade that I collected on a rockhounding trip around 15 years ago.

This is what I came up with.









Weathered jade develops a light colored rind. The pieces I used are from an offcut from the outer edge of the rock so a lot of that yellow is present. The rock has more green inside. I'd consider it pretty low quality but it's still jade and i like the fact it's from a rock that I found. I also think it fits the character of the antler pretty well. Even with the low quality the stuff takes a polish amazingly well.

The "shank" is just a scrap piece of hazel I used so I could get a feel for the finished product. I don't currently have any suitable shanks that are cured for it.

Rodney

 

[Gloops]

Nice idea Rodney, just make sure when joining that any marrow within the antler is cleared out and repacked with car body filler to give internal strength as the marrow cam crumble in use if not removed.

I the UK we tend to mount the antler in a different attitude and make it into a walking pole - the antler tine being useful for pulling down branches when Berry / fruit collecting viz:-

 

[Batakali]

Love it! I always keep a eye out for antler when I'm harvesting sticks. The jade is beautiful, I like that much more than the creamy, solid green!

 

[Rodney]

Gloops I looked at it for a long time trying to orient it your way. I wanted to use the antler as a handle. The tine is a little on the small side for a comfortable grip. I couldn't cut the tine down to join it with the shank either because it's a skinny oval cross section where I would have to cut it. I like the tine anyway and this way I can keep it.

This particular piece I think was from an immature bull. That, or it was damaged while it was still growing. It's pretty malformed and small compared to most elk antlers. It's also fairly uncommon to have a fork in the lower tines.

I will certainly take your advice on filling the cavity to strengthen it. I should have removed the marrow before I glued the rocks on. I think I can chip it out through the hole for the shank enough to get some filler in there to strengthen it.

Batakali thank you. I think the color of the rock works better than a more solid green in this case too.

Rodney

 

[MJC4]

Very nice! Take your time and find a shank that is worthy of the handle. :thumbsu: :thumbsu:

 

[CV3]

Well done . That is a good looking handle.

 

[cobalt]

nice one Rodney.well done