Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Around the Campfire => Topic started by: nclonghunter on June 07, 2011, 10:36:41 am
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Sailordad just asked about using antler for knife handles and it was mentioned that boiling the antler will soften it. I live in an area of usually not so big whitetails, because everyone shoots the first one they see (that's another story). The result is a lot of young deer taken with small racks and normally a lot or some curl in the antler. These antlers are difficult to use for knapping with the curl. I would like to make some Ishi sticks with antler tips and need or want straight antler tips of some length.
Has anyone boiled or heated antler with a heat gun or something that made the antler malleable enough to straighten it. It would be much easier to use straight than with the curl.
Lyman
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I have done the opposite... boiled to curve antler. I made an old school Sauk style grizzly claw necklace of antler "claws." I soaked the antler for a couple weeks and then boiled to soften. I bent them around a makeshift jug and clamped (actually tied) them into place.
From straight antler to...
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v189/waltei/For%20Sale/claws.jpg)