Durability of ram's horn/water buffalo?

O

ohen cepel

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How do these tend to hold up on a handle?

I prefer stag, elk, and horn over wood. The stag and elk I have are holding up well. Just curious how the ram's horn and buffalo holds up.

Thanks!
 
I have very limited experience with water buffalo horn (I made a set of buffalo scales for my Alpha Dorado and have been carrying it pretty often for a month or so). The horn is pretty tough, fiberous material and probably a little more resistant to chipping or cracking than antler or bone. My only concern would be getting the horn wet for extended periods... I think it would become soft. Of course those conditions wouldn't be good for steel either.
 
Yes, it is true.....in the rainy season the water buffalo horns begin to droop.

If the rainy season goes even a few days longer than normal......they have to take viagra.

:D
 
Horn can be boiled and molded to shape...when dry, it hardens into the molded shape...old time SA Colt grips were often made of molded horn...

...Although I doubt that many cowboys made their grips out of water buffalo horn... :rolleyes:

Still, I would expect that water buffalo would exhibit the same characteristics as American steer... :)

I'm pretty sure I have an article in one of my pistolsmithing books on horn...I'll look...
 
IMHO...I think the ram horn is so dense as to never cause any problems. However, ivory and buffalo horm really take to an application of ....... baby oil... once in a while. No kidding, baby oil, just the straight stuff from the local store will keep natural porous tooth and horn moisturized and gleeming! I know a grip maker of some fame to keep his personal elephant ivory grips in a glass of baby oil overnight at 'once a month' intervals. He tells me that the baby oil keeps the grips from checking and cracking and eventually splitting. The grips will still develop the natural yellowing and graining of really nice ivory but gone are some of the worries associated with the true and natural 'stuff'.

Dave
 
gd526 said:
IMHO...I think the ram horn is so dense as to never cause any problems. However, ivory and buffalo horm really take to an application of ....... baby oil... once in a while. No kidding, baby oil, just the straight stuff from the local store will keep natural porous tooth and horn moisturized and gleeming! I know a grip maker of some fame to keep his personal elephant ivory grips in a glass of baby oil overnight at 'once a month' intervals. He tells me that the baby oil keeps the grips from checking and cracking and eventually splitting. The grips will still develop the natural yellowing and graining of really nice ivory but gone are some of the worries associated with the true and natural 'stuff'.

Dave
Click to expand...

That is fascinating, Dave, but darn, how do you handle a knife that smells of 'baby oil' all the time. :p
 
A good linseed mixture like linspeed should do about the same thing.....as would any good oil intended to nurture wood and other similar substances.
 
I'm curious on this subject too. I have a Mooremaker coming soon and was wondering how the horn holds up to change among other things in your pocket.Does it scratch easy?
 
A.P.F. said:
That is fascinating, Dave, but darn, how do you handle a knife that smells of 'baby oil' all the time. :p
Click to expand...

Well, take up smoking and you won't smell it. Naw, just rub the thing down with a Q-tip, or the like, once in a while to nourish it. Remember that it is not a wood product so use of wood oils isn't the best idea. Try it sparingly at first and see what you think. If that doesn't result in what you were hoping for then you can always cease ya' know. Natural materials always have the potential for surprises and surprises aren't always good. Baby oil kinda sways things in your favour.
 
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