Cutting Ram Horn

[indian george]

I didn't want to hi-jack the other thread on horn.
I am looking for advice, on the cutting of the horn in the attachments.
The white rule is 6 inches in the pic's.
Thanks

 

[joe sangster]

No advise but expect a lot of waste . Beautiful horn. Can I have the scraps ?

Joe Sangster

 

[oconeedan]

Joe, what do you do with scraps?

 

[indian george]

Joe, what do you do with scraps?

He is going to boil them in water for 2 hours, then put on a plate, add my HT'g relish and enjoy. HEHEHEHEHE!!

 

[Bill Burke]

Hi, I.G.

Tell me more about what you want to do with the horn I.E. stick tang, fulltang scales etc. I think that I will be able to help you. One other thing those appear to be Big horn horns and depending on what state you are in or what state any finished product that you make with them you could get you T!T in a wringer over it. just a warning. some states like the socialist republic of california don't care wheather or not they were obtained legally in your home state. as far as they are concerned you are illegal.

 

[indian george]

Hi, I.G.

Tell me more about what you want to do with the horn I.E. stick tang, fulltang scales etc. I think that I will be able to help you. One other thing those appear to be Big horn horns and depending on what state you are in or what state any finished product that you make with them you could get you T!T in a wringer over it. just a warning. some states like the socialist republic of california don't care wheather or not they were obtained legally in your home state. as far as they are concerned you are illegal.

A friend of mine gave me the horn around 6 years ago and he got it at a yardsale. As far as the state laws, I would have to check, but I don't think (scary)that I would have a problem.
I was planning to slab it out. I was going to put a rod in it to see where it got solid or not????

 

[Mark Knapp]

Hi Indian George, I cut a little bit of the stuff, you will find that it is hollow for a little over half of the horn. The end will certainly be good for a hidden tang. The rest is going to have a wall thickness of about 1/2 inch. Here's what I do. I cut the tip off at a good hidden tang length. (if you look at the open end of the horn you will notice that the horn describes roughly a triangle shape). Then I cut the outside flat off of the whole horn following the inside surface of the hollow. Next split the two sides of the horn by standing it up with the cut surface on the band saw table. Now you have four pieces, the tip and three sides, at this point you can steam the sides in a pressure cooker and clamp them to a board to flatten them for extra flat scales or you can cut scales from the natural shape. The curly part from the outside (the first one you cut) you almost certainly have to steam to get any use from. If you had both horns from the same sheep, you would want to match your scales from the same place on the opposing horns

 

[indian george]

Thanks Mark

 

[Mark Knapp]

Thanks Mark

You are welcomed, that just one way to do it, I am also looking forward to hearing from Bill and others. Happy birthday

 

[Bill Burke]

I would do about the same as mark but wouldn't steam the horn to straighten as that adds moisture to the horn and moisture + horn = warped scales in my experience. I also cut the thick outside curl of the horn to make spacers and belt buckles.

Or just send it to me and I'll send you back a handle a pair of spacers and some scales.

 

[Bill DeShivs]

You can cut the hollow part spirally. This will give you one long piece. Heat the piece in an oven at no more than 225 degrees for about 45 minutes. You should then be able to straighten it out (wear gloves) and clamp it down to cool.
You can also cut pieces off of the spiral and straighten them by clamping and oven heating. Leave them clamped until they are at room temperature.

 

[Will Leavitt]

Man that's great looking material.... I have nothing really to add other than this.

Hold that horn over an open jar of HT relish and it should straighten out on it's own

 

[indian george]

I would do about the same as mark but wouldn't steam the horn to straighten as that adds moisture to the horn and moisture + horn = warped scales in my experience. I also cut the thick outside curl of the horn to make spacers and belt buckles.

Or just send it to me and I'll send you back a handle a pair of spacers and some scales.

OK Sure!!!!! HEHEHEHEHE!!!

 

[indian george]

Man that's great looking material.... I have nothing really to add other than this.

Hold that horn over an open jar of HT relish and it should straighten out on it's own

It would melt it. Boy!!! I have to tell you everything. HEHEHEHEHE!!!

 

[Karl B. Andersen]

Iggy, if you're gonna make some scales, do this:
Cut around the perimeter following the thickest part of the outside and get only very shallow down into the side walls:

You'll end up with something like this here:

Do NOT boil them or get them wet! It might make them soft, but you've just spent a great deal of time getting them stabilized and dry, so why get them wet all over again?
I never did understand that process.
Remove any of the high spots left over from the band saw.
Place them in an oven at about 250-275 degrees for maybe 15 minutes. If you leave them in too long, or too hot, they will begin to break down. You just want the entire scale full hot.
Then, while still hot, IMMEDIATELY get them smashed flat somehow. Don't waste any time.
Have everything prepared in advance.
I have an old photographic screw press that works great.
Let them come to completely cool before removing.
I've done a small handful of knives this way and they are still in service today.

 

[indian george]

COOOOOL!!! Thanks Bro:thumbup:

 

[Bill Burke]

Jeez Karl I almost had him convinced. IG Karl gave you the dope on this the only thing you could do different is to heat them in silica sand at about 325. leave them a little thick for sanding flat after things cool down. I like to give the flattened horn about thirty days to move after straightning before I use them then sand flat avoiding heat in the scales.

 

[Troop]

A friend of mine gave me the horn around 6 years ago and he got it at a yardsale. As far as the state laws, I would have to check, but I don't think (scary)that I would have a problem.
I was planning to slab it out. I was going to put a rod in it to see where it got solid or not????

Hey "Billy Bad-Ass Biker"...when did you start caring about state laws?
What's the matter...getting a little Wisdom in your old age?

 

[Karl B. Andersen]

I knew there was something I was forgetting, Bill.
I forgot about the sand part.
As I recall, you are the one I heard it from - so it must be true.

 

[Troop]

Hey George, Send me a pair of those scales, 6"x2", and I'll run a check with Mass SP on 'em for ya'.