Hoof-and-Horn Disease in Knife Handles

[FrankII]

How do you combat hoof-and-horn disease in stag handles? I have a folding knife that has a 1-inch area of what looks like that disease. The area looks like dry rot. The knife is not old - it's about 12 years old and German-made.

I've seen a few other stag-handled knives over the years with similar trouble [sometimes the area is pitted with pinhead-sized blemishes, but other times a whole area looks rotted, like dry, dying tree wood].

I'm guessing that you could put rubbing alcohol on the area to kill the bacteria inside the stag handle. After that, I assume that you could put mineral oil on it to restore some moisture to the area. Is that correct? [Someone also mentioned powdered calcium to me].

Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[Bill DeShivs]

Need pictures, but what you are describing sounds like the pith (center core) of the antler is exposed. It is part of the antler-not a disease or bacteria. There are bugs that will eat horn (not antler) handles.
Alcohol will have no effect, and mineral oil is not good for either stag or horn.
Please post pictures and I can advise you.

 

[FrankII]

Need pictures, but wat you are describing sounds like the pith (center core) of the antler is exposed. It is part of the antler-not a disease or bacteria. There are bugs that will eat horn (not antler) handles.
Alcohol will have no effect, and mineral oil is not good for either stag or horn.
Please post pictures and I can advise you.

Thanks for the help. I cannot currently post any pictures, I'm sad to report.

The area is black and dried-out-looking. The damage does not look deep - maybe 1mm deep or less. Maybe bugs ate it?

The handle material looks like rough sambar stag. I cannot use mineral oil on it? What else could I use?

 

[knarfeng]

Thanks for the help. I cannot currently post any pictures, I'm sad to report.

The area is black and dried-out-looking. The damage does not look deep - maybe 1mm deep or less. Maybe bugs ate it?

The handle material looks like rough sambar stag. I cannot use mineral oil on it? What else could I use?

If you can digitize a photo, or if you have any kind of digital photo, you can post pics.

Upload the pic to photobucket or similar hosting service (FREE), then link to it here.