cutting sheep horn scales

[GLDOYLE]

I have a couple sets of sheep horn I would like to cut into scales for a couple of knives but I don`t know how to cut the curl and get some scales out of them .
Anyone cut their own or know how to do it ?
Thanks for any advice .
Larry

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

A couple of years ago, I talked to Ed Fowler about this. He gave me the name and number of an old gentleman who used to cut horn. The basic procedure was to cut out the pieces, boil it for about 20 minutes, clamp it in a vise between two thick boards, and let it cool and dry. Repeat as needed. If the horn does not want to bend straight with reasonable pressure (don't break it), boil for more minutes. If that don't do it, boil for 20 min. and immediately put in a preheated, 250F oven. Heat for about 10 min. and try to clamp. If that don't work, try 300F. He said you can fill the oven pan with sand and stick the scales in the sand and just bake to start with,too (without boiling). A friend of his just put them in the toaster oven to heat them. He said he had done all of these from time to time, but mostly just tried to cut out scales that he didn't have to straighten . He only got one or two pair from a set of horns, but he said where he was from, the horns were free.
Stacy

 

[scottickes]

Ray Archer in Medicine Bow, Wyoming told me to soak them in milk. He said that they would eventually be very pliable. He said that they do take on some of the white, but that the tinting is attractive.

He didn't mention heat of any kind to me.

Just what I was told. Not sure if it works, and if it does, I'm not sure if it works better or worse than boiling them.

Ickie

 

[GLDOYLE]

Thanks guys .
I think I will try to boil them and see what happens .

 

[Karl B. Andersen]

I suppose you've figured out to maybe cut the outside of the curl on a bandsaw, right?
That's how you get the pieces.
The thing about the boiling water has more to do with the temperature - 212 - than anything else.
I've made a bunch of these.
I sold a mortised tang sheep horn set to a fellow in Southern California - very dry! - about two years ago. I talk to him oftenm and they are still in good shape, and it's an EDC.
I use my Evenheat oven! Get it to a steady 220-230 degrees and soak the curly pieces at that temp for about 15 minutes. They get VERY pliable!
Take them out and quickly get them into some kind of press and leave them there for a looooooooooooooong time. Days! Don't take them out until you are ready for them.
Don't EVER! get them hot again! They will want to return to the curl.

 

[GLDOYLE]

Thanks kbaknife .
And those are 2 beautiful knives .