{"product_id":"damascus-fillet-knife-stag-antler","title":"Damascus Fillet Knife, 9 Inch Blade with Stag Antler Handle","description":"\u003cp\u003eA whole salmon is a long cut. It runs from the collar to the tail, and a short blade turns that into sawing. This one carries a 9 inch blade, enough to travel a big fish in one pass. The steel is Damascus over a carbon core. The handle is stag antler, which is why this one tends to sit out on a shelf between trips.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eSpecification\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBlade length\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e9 inches\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOverall length\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e14 inches\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHandle length\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5 inches\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBlade steel\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDamascus, pattern welded over a high carbon core\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBlade finish\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEtched ladder pattern running the whole blade, fine bright edge\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBlade shape\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLong narrow fillet blade with a fine upswept tip\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTang\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFull tang\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHandle material\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eStag antler, brass pins\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSheath\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHand stitched leather, hand carved oak leaf face, snap strap\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEngraving\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLaser engraving, 20 dollars per blade\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMade in\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eForged and finished by hand in High Point, North Carolina.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWarranty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifetime warranty against defects, free sharpening for life.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch3\u003eThe blade\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe blade is Damascus, pattern welded over a high carbon core, etched so the ladder pattern shows in bands down the blade. The edge is taken to a fine bright line. Ground thin and narrow, with an upswept tip for starting under the skin. There is give in it. Enough to follow the ribs and ride along the backbone, enough backbone of its own that the tip goes where you send it. Under the pattern it is carbon steel. It darkens with use, and it will spot if you leave it wet.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eThe handle\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eStag antler is not smooth. The outside keeps its ridges and hollows, and that texture is what you want with wet hands and fish oil on everything. Two brass pins hold the scales on a full tang that runs the whole way to the butt, keeping the weight back near your fingers. Five inches of handle gives you room to move. Choke up behind the heel for the collar, then slide your hand back for the long run down to the tail.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eThe leather sheath\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe sheath is vegetable tanned leather, stitched by hand. The face is hand carved with an oak leaf pattern, cut and shaded into the leather rather than printed on it. A welt sits inside the edge so the stitching stays clear of the steel, and a snap strap closes over the handle. It covers the blade only, so think of it as storage and carrying rather than a belt rig.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWho it suits\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is the longest fillet blade in the range, and it goes out to people working on big fish.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAnyone filleting salmon and other long bodied fish\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBuyers who want to take a side off in one pass\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePeople who prefer a natural handle to a synthetic one\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAnyone who wants the knife on show between trips\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhat comes in the box\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe 9 inch Damascus fillet knife\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe hand carved leather sheath\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA care card\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA free laser engraving quote on request\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eEvery piece is different\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eEvery blade is forged and finished by hand, and no two come out the same. The ladder pattern never lands the same way twice. Antler is a grown thing, so color and thickness change from handle to handle, and the carving on the sheath is cut by a person. Yours will not match the photographs.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eLooking after it\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eHand wash it, and do it as soon as you are done. Dry it straight away, right into the joint where the scales meet the steel. Then a light coat of food safe mineral oil before it goes back in the sheath. Cut on wood or plastic, not glass or stone, and keep it out of the dishwasher. Gray patina on the blade is normal. More in our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/knife-care-sharpening\"\u003ecare and sharpening page\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003ePut a name on it\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eLaser engraving is 20 dollars per blade, added here on the page. Around 30 characters fits, which covers a name and a date. We send a proof image before the laser runs, so nothing goes on the steel until you have seen it. Add 3 to 5 business days to the order. Free on orders of 10 or more. See the \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/engraving\"\u003eengraving page\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eQuestions buyers ask\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs 9 inches too much knife?\u003c\/strong\u003e Not for salmon or anything with length. For panfish it is more blade than the job needs.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat is the ladder pattern?\u003c\/strong\u003e It is how the Damascus was forged and etched, bands running across the steel.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill the antler stand up to wet work?\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes, if you dry it and do not leave it in a sink.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill it rust?\u003c\/strong\u003e The core is carbon steel, so it can. It darkens with use, which is normal, and it spots if put away wet.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan I keep it out on a shelf?\u003c\/strong\u003e Plenty of buyers do. Wipe a little oil on the blade first.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhen will it get here?\u003c\/strong\u003e Most US orders arrive in 5 to 7 business days. Engraving adds a few days.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor the same pattern on a different handle there is the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/damascus-fillet-knife-camel-bone\"\u003eDamascus fillet knife on camel bone\u003c\/a\u003e, and for something brighter in a tackle bag there is the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/damascus-fillet-knife-blue-resin\"\u003eDamascus fillet knife with a blue resin handle\u003c\/a\u003e. The rest sits in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/fillet-boning-knives\"\u003efillet and boning knives\u003c\/a\u003e, the other antler pieces in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/stag-horn-knives\"\u003estag horn handle knives\u003c\/a\u003e, and it sits in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/gifts-for-him\"\u003egifts for him\u003c\/a\u003e as well.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Viper Edge USA","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44142570111094,"sku":"VEF-FIL-DAM-FLT-1005","price":219.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0710\/2427\/9670\/files\/fillet-05-damascus-stag-antler_fa4fe8a0-c061-4412-afaa-959a7e9b690b.jpg?v=1788825370","url":"https:\/\/viperedgeforge.com\/products\/damascus-fillet-knife-stag-antler","provider":"Viper Edge USA","version":"1.0","type":"link"}