{"product_id":"lock-back-folding-knife-damascus-stag-antler","title":"Lock Back Folding Knife, Damascus with Stag Antler Handle","description":"\u003cp\u003eA lock back folder turns on a pivot pin at the front of the handle, and a steel bar in the spine drops into a notch in the blade to hold it open. This one is a 3.75 inch clip point blade in hand forged Damascus, 5 inches closed and 8.75 inches open, with brass bolsters, stag antler scales and a hand tooled leather slip pouch. It suits buyers who want a traditional pocket knife.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eSpecification\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBlade length\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3.75 inches\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eClosed length\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5 inches\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOpen length\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8.75 inches\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBlade steel\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDamascus, 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, mirror bright bevel\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLock\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLock back\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOpening\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNail nick, two hands\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHandle\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eStag antler, brass bolsters\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePouch\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHand tooled leather slip pouch\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEngraving\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e20 dollars per piece\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 steel is Damascus, pattern welded over a high carbon core and etched so the ladder layers run dark and light. The bevel is mirror bright against the etched flat. The shape is a clip point, so the spine drops away toward the front and leaves a fine tip for picking at a knot. Carbon sits under the pattern, so the blade darkens with use and it rusts if it is put away wet.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow it opens and closes\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eYou open it with two hands. Catch the nail nick, the small crescent cut in the flat of the blade, with a thumbnail and swing the blade out. As it comes round, the steel bar in the spine drops into a notch in the back of the blade. To close it, press the cut out partway along the spine to lift the bar clear, then fold the blade back in. There is no stud and no clip.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eThe handle\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe scales are natural stag antler in pale cream and tan, with the rough knobbly bark left on rather than sanded flat. That texture is much of why people choose stag, and it gives the hand grip. Polished brass bolsters cap both ends and hold the pins. Antler is natural, so color and ridge shift from piece to piece.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhat it is for\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is an everyday cutting knife. It opens boxes and mail, cuts twine and tape, trims a loose thread, slices an apple at lunch and takes light work around a yard or a workshop. It is not a pry bar, so leave prying to the tools made for it.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eThe leather pouch\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe pouch is a flat sleeve the closed knife drops into, cut from vegetable tanned leather with a snap strap over the mouth and cream hand stitching down both sides. The face is hand tooled with an oak leaf and acorn pattern inside a stamped border, cut and shaded by hand. Most sellers in this category send a plain pouch.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWho it suits\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003ePeople buy this one for the antler as much as for the blade. It is a traditional pattern with a lock, it sits in a coat pocket at 5 inches closed, and it makes a good gift.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBuyers who want a traditional folder\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCollectors of Damascus patterns\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAnyone who prefers a natural handle\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhat comes in the box\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe folding knife\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe leather slip pouch\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA care card\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEngraving quote\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eEvery piece is different\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eEach blade is forged, ground, heat treated and sharpened by hand, so runs stay small. The ladder pattern never repeats and no two pieces of antler match, so yours will differ from the photographs.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eLooking after it\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eWipe the blade dry after use and never put it away wet. Damascus darkens with use, and that gray patina is normal and protects the steel. A drop of light oil in the pivot keeps the action smooth. Never a dishwasher, and sharpen on a stone following the existing bevel. More is on our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/knife-care-sharpening\"\u003eknife care 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 piece and you add it on this page. Around 30 characters fits on the blade or a bolster. Clean line art engraves cleanly, photographs do not. We send a proof image before the laser runs and it adds 3 to 5 business days. See the \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/engraving\"\u003eengraving page\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eQuestions buyers ask\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat is a lock back?\u003c\/strong\u003e A steel bar down the spine drops into a notch in the blade when it opens. Press the cut out in the spine to close it.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat is a nail nick?\u003c\/strong\u003e It is the small crescent cut in the blade that you catch with a thumbnail to open it.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan it be opened with one hand?\u003c\/strong\u003e No. It has a nail nick and no thumb stud, so it takes two hands.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it legal to carry?\u003c\/strong\u003e Knife carry laws differ by state, city and country, so check the rules where you live before you carry it. We cannot advise on that.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill Damascus rust?\u003c\/strong\u003e It can, since carbon steel sits under the pattern. Dry it after use and oil it lightly.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it spring assisted or automatic?\u003c\/strong\u003e No. It opens by hand.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor the same lock back in wood see the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/damascus-folding-pocket-knife-rosewood\"\u003eDamascus folding pocket knife in rosewood\u003c\/a\u003e, and for another natural handle the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/damascus-folding-knife-buffalo-horn\"\u003eDamascus folding knife in buffalo horn\u003c\/a\u003e. More is in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/folding-knives\"\u003efolding knives\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/damascus-steel\"\u003eDamascus steel\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/stag-horn-knives\"\u003estag horn knives\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Viper Edge USA","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44140794609782,"sku":"VEF-FLD-DAM-STG-804","price":149.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0710\/2427\/9670\/files\/lock-back-folding-knife-damascus-stag-antler_965d6d07-f2d6-4ae8-8b46-394dd1d51b63.jpg?v=1788799275","url":"https:\/\/viperedgeforge.com\/products\/lock-back-folding-knife-damascus-stag-antler","provider":"Viper Edge USA","version":"1.0","type":"link"}