Hi all. I'm new to traditionals and was looking at some of the GEC knives w/ buffalo horn scales for my first purchase. My question is: how durable are buffalo horn scales for EDC use? Is it prone to crack due to moisture or temperature extremes? I live in New England and as many of you know the winters are dry and frigid, and the summers can be tropical. Is there a scale material GEC uses that would be better suited for these annual temperature swings (bocote, cocobolo, bone)? Thanks.
-
The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is available! Price is $250 ea (shipped within CONUS).
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/
Buffalo Horn scales
- Thread starter Shaggy
- Start date
I'm not a GEC owner, but I own some buffalo horn items. It is really tough stuff.
I have a horn fire piston, which I use by bashing the horn directly against a block of wood. It still has a hi polish, & is totally unmarred by my rough use. Tougher than bone, IMO.
I have a horn fire piston, which I use by bashing the horn directly against a block of wood. It still has a hi polish, & is totally unmarred by my rough use. Tougher than bone, IMO.
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2011
- Messages
- 1,884
Buffalo Horn will expand and contract very slightly,almost imperceptably,with changing weather conditions. I have never known,or heard of this, being a problem. You might,at certain times, notice a small gap at the bolsters. The only negative I have ever heard about Buffalo Horn is,that after a number of years of use,one person said the layers of the natural horn started to seperate. I have never seen this or heard of it from any other than one person. In my own personal experience Buffalo Horn is a durable,beautiful handle material. Think about what a Buffalo would use a horn for! You don't hear of Water Buffalo going around all crippled up because they're Horns fell apart. 
...Think about what a Buffalo would use a horn for! You don't hear of Water Buffalo going around all crippled up because they're Horns fell apart.
Very good point!
Will
Many kukhri have horn handles so it must be tough stuff. On the Himalayan Imports forum periodically they will sell blemished kuks that have splits in the horn, probably due to the extremes between Nepal's climate, the ocean voyage, and Reno NV where H.I. is located. Many kuk enthusiasts recommend Hooflex to help maintain the horn handles.