Horn handles?

[Will52100]

I have been useing cow and buffalow horn a little for a couple of years now and have never had a problem. Includeing a horn handled traper that I carried off-shore for a time.

I have seen horn handled knives that are very old and were obiously used that had pristen handles.

I realy like horn, but after looking at anoughther maker's horn handled revolver I am starting to wonder. The sheep horn had shrunk a little and apeared to be breaking down, getting fuzzy and checking. I know for a fact that he never put any oil or wax on the handle. Is this the resone it deterated so badly?

What are your experiances with horn? I know horn will develope charater with time and use as will any natural material, but the shape this handle was in was terible. I wonder if the horn wasnt' cured or if it just caught hell?

Thanks

 

[peter nap]

On the few sheep horn handles I've made, I had problems with them over time. They just don't seem as stable as cow or buffalo. We've had several threads here concerning stabalizing sheep. Might want to do a search for them. Sheep sure is pretty though.

One thing I've found that seems to not only help keep sheep horn in good shape, but also works very well on cow horn and elephant ivory, is an occasional wipeing down with baby oil. That's all I ever use on elephant ivory and have never had one crack or shrinkrage problem.

 

[Will52100]

thanks Peter, I usely use a little wax or mineral oil on mine. Just got to wondering after seeing one that hadn't been taken care of.