Something else...

While I, like many others, like the appearance of nice stag, those really bumpy pieces can get pretty rough on the hand if you are doing any heavy duty or prolonged cutting. They add texture to the grip, but they can lead to blisters.

Another consideration involves the clean-up of bumpy stag after a field dressing or butchering is finished. The more bumpy the stag, the more work is involved in cleaning the handle thoroughly, and generally requiring something like a toothbrush and warm or hot soapy water to clean out all the nooks and crannies. And...this cleaning process can remove the surface coloration on some pieces that were so dark and contrasting that made the stag so attractive in the beginning.

So...for what it is worth...for a working knife I do like stag, but prefer the smooth and naturally colored pieces as handles.

Holding any RMK that has smooth stag or any other handle material, handle shape and size helps to register the grip on the knife for whatever chore, so the added texture of a really bumpy piece of stag doesn't really add much to the ergonomics--IMHO.

Stag nuts are (often unknowingly) grateful for the sambar stag that is used on RMKs. We would be at a loss if we had to depend on North American deer and elk for antler materials.

Larry