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Quadro151

Joined
Oct 8, 2001
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My first khuk just arrived, a beautiful 18 inch AK. I already took her out in the woods for a quick thirty minute workout just to get a feel for it, and i found that the ridge on the horn handle was quite uncomfortable. Any suggestions on this? In addition, I am not sure if this is the way the knife was when it arrived or not, but there is already a good sized crack in the handle (superficial). I went out and bought some hoof moisturizer to help prevent this in the future, but how often should i apply it?
thanks,
Quad
 
Quadro-- wet/dry sandpaper (grits above 1000 will tend to scratch less) can be used to smooth any rough spots on the handle. If you use a little hoof conditioner when you sand, it will help avoid scratching as well. You can fill small cracks with superglue, and large cracks with epoxy. My BAS was a blem with a few small cracks in the horn handle. A little superglue fixed them right up, and they haven't spread at all, even with hard use.

I applied hooflex liberally to both my horn-handled khuks when I first got them. I let it sit for about twenty four hours, then wiped off the excess. Now I apply a thin coat every month or so. You might want to apply it more often if you live in a dry climate.
--Josh
 
You may want to use the knife a little more before doing too much sanding of the ridge or ring on the handle. It's there for a reason--snugged against the pinky or ring finger, it helps position the hand and keep if from sliding forward. Sometimes, they can be a little rough in spots, or have a sharp edge that can use a little sanding. You may eventually want to reduce the ridge a little where it contacts your palm, but I'd really think carefully about taking it all off.

I often find that the upper point on the pommel needs to be rounded down slightly for me to get a proper, comfrotable grip which takes advantage of the ridge. This seems to be needed on the smaller knives more often.

Go slow, and consider carefully, it's hard to put stuff back on the handle.:)
 
Doing outdoor work I usually use leather gloves and the ridge will give me a more secure grip. My Suri feels great bare handed. I need to find some hoof cream for my AK though.
 
Josh,

I hadn't thought about the hoof dressing. What else is suitable? Baby oil, leather care products, ...?

On wood I will heat up the wood with a heat gun or hair dryer and let let the oil start bubling w/o burning the wood. Then apply BLO or thinned epoxy (30 minute vice 5 minute and mixed approx. 60/40) to let it be sucked further into the wood. Not as good as professionally stabalized "plastic" injected under pressure but works well.

S/F, Mike
 
I've tried V-05, but it hasn't kept several of my horn handles from cracking this winter.

Most of my horn handles have cracked over the last month or so. I think part of the issue may be that the house we moved into has gas heat. It seems to dry out things in a way that the radiators in the old apartment did not.

S.
 
I have only got two knives from Uncle Bill that I found any cracks in. Just a touch of Super Glue and I use what my cosmetologist wife told me is very good for nail as well as skin. If it keeps nails from cracking it's good enough for me. Oh yea, she says some of the girls use it all over their bodies. It smells a lot better than Hooflex too. Every thing in the house runs on Electricty. Electric heat will dry out most any thing. I have not had any horn handles crack in the hottest part of the summer in Texas. The stuff is called "Hoofmaker Maine and Tail". I use just a bit every couple of weeks and have really had good luck with it. Before that I used Kiwi Saddle soap, It has lanolin in it. My wife got me two new tubes of the hoof maker at Wal-Greens on a two for one sale. It goes a long ways.

Major Mike your guys shouldn't have any trouble getting Saddle soap.:)
 
is it a case that: If the crack is big enough to get glue into it- do that. If not hooflex or similar will close it up enough?
 
Originally posted by Pappy
It smells a lot better than Hooflex too.
Click to expand...

Hooflex smells good. At least I've convinced myself that it does.
:)

I think Sarge used Blistex on his handles when he was overseas last time.
 
Last time and this time Bruise, but not Blistex, the favorite I settled on is Carmex. Carmex contains petrolatum, lanolin, cocoa butter, mineral oil, and beeswax. It's a horn handle's dream come true. The horn handles on my 15" Siru and 12" AK have been subjected to some very hot, dry, conditions over here (it's late May in Kuwait,'nuff said), and they're in great shape. I clean and "oil" them with the Carmex every night before I turn in as a matter of habit. :D

Sarge
 
Well, UB, in reference to your helping the women...It's really good to see you feeling better.

Ben
 
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