Horn vs Wood handles

R

Rich_S

Joined
Dec 3, 2005
Messages
1,391
What is the more durable material for a "user" khukuri? Does anyone know what kind of horn HI uses? Thanks.
 
Almost all of my original horn handles cracked. I totally gave up on horn. However I think the consensus now is that it was due to HI using an improperly cured batch of horn. I've got a few recent (1 yr or less old) horn handled ones. Haven't done a thing to them and they have shrunk less than wood and have been fine.

Don't know if this is any indication, but from the DOTD's blems seems that the main ones I have noticed being sold due to cracks are the Chandan wood handles.
 
HI had a burp in it's history with green horn. I bet Yangdu lost a lot of money over it. My horn handled khuks are doing fine; even the one Hollow sent me hasn't cracked again, and it was one of the green batch. Horn holds up well in most environments once it's stable. I treat the horn with hooflex or pure lanolin.

I've had wood crack on me too. Handles are not forever.

I like both wood and horn. Horn is exotic. I figure it won't be around some day.



munk
 
yeah, chandan seems particularly sensitive to humidity changes so it seems to crack quite often.

Personally I like wood. It just has a nicer feel to it, and it's prettier to look at IMO. Unfortunately to really protect it from the elements you need to coat it in enough muck that you can't 'feel' the wood anymore. :(

But the ultimate in handle materials for a user is aluminum or white metal! :thumbup: Sure it's hard to repair, but how do you propose to break it? :p
 
What is Chandan? How do I tell what kind of wood my khukuri handle is made out of?
 
Can you post a picture of your handle???

If not, just go back through the previous deals of the day and try to compare.
 
Personally I won't go close to anything but wood....if I ever want a "presintation" khuk then a horn all polished up? yea that would be neat.:D
 
polished horn is very nice and valuable as a traditional khukuri handle.

H.I. has been pushing the envelope by using all sorts of different woods and lately, exotic woods (both ours and theirs).

The kamis are always looking for new woods...mostly (IIRC) because they go through so much of it. If a supply is ambushed/siezed/lost/ruined/etc. they're screwed.

I used to have a good resource for oily hardwoods at knock-out prices, but it has (pun-intended)...dried up.

But by the time the wood gets over there, the price per handle has quadrupled...so, it's hard to justify it.

Personally, I'd like to see more chandan, sandalwood and saatisaal. But only the nicer, more figured stuff that's also been properly conditioned and protected.
 
I think the Chandan is some of the most beautiful. I'd love to see a like a Tin Churra or something with Chandan and then that awesome scrolled butt cap:thumbup:
 
Rich_S said:
What is Chandan? How do I tell what kind of wood my khukuri handle is made out of?
Click to expand...


Rich, look at my FF thread. The handle is chandan, and I've taken tons of pics. You can't really say chandan is a problem wood. The HI woods have not been stabalized, so they are all in danger of cracking. Most of the time these cracks are repairable. Dave has posted a very in depth handle treatment and says he has never had a crack, or very few I think. I like horn too. Its just pretty, and hard as hell too. I like to sand off the polish so it sticks to my hand better. In the winter its cold to the touch though. Wood is definitely warmer.
 
ALBPM said:
Can you post a picture of your handle???

If not, just go back through the previous deals of the day and try to compare.
Click to expand...

kuk3.jpg


kuk5.jpg
 
Unpolished (village) horn, neem and hill walnut have been durable for me as users.

Chandan has split on me in the mail...

Can't say about long term, but I have unblemmed, safed HI wood and HI horn over a year old and unblemmed, safed HI wood over 10 years old...

Safed being a catch-all for unused khukuris...
 
I have about 75% horn and 25% wood personally and I like the Horn Handles better.

But then none of mine are cracked either.
 
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