Horn?

M

Matt B

Joined
Oct 16, 2000
Messages
118
This is mostly a question for Uncle Bill...

Lately I have noticed that there are many khuks with handles of wood, which I don't mind...saatisal is beautiful. However, wood handles used to be pretty rare with water buff horn being the norm, but nearly all the UBDOTD I've seen l8tly have wood handles

both materials are great, but
why the change?
 
I always thought it was due to the fact that the wood can form cracks more easily than the horn. $0.02 tendered, no change required.
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Disagree, would say other way around, but it's a guess and I don't have anything to back it up.

Well cured, I'd say horn's more durable, but that wood is more likely to be properly dried and cured.

Alright, let the fight begin ( blare of trumpets! ).

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"Holiness is not a very serious business, and it is a very serious business indeed. I misspeak - it is not a solemn business."
 
:
While I sorta agree the horn may be more durable I prefer the wood handles, hands down!!!!
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I have seen a lot of older khukuris with the wood handles still very much intact and too me the wood is more comfortable and much easier to hang onto. Also some of the old horn handles I have seen were shrunken a bit, but that's been on chiruwa handles and I'm sure they hadn't recieved proper care over the years which could have led to
that.
I hesitate to second guess anyone, but it may partly be due to the kami shortage that BirGhorka has had and the fact that wood is easier and faster to work?



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Yvsa.

"VEGETARIAN".............
Indin word for lousy hunter.
 
Hey, I'm a novice at this so you know more than I do. Maybe Jim with all of that "research" has some comparitive figures. Of course, those would be based on the performance of both materials in a damp cave environment, but it may help
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I agree with Yvsa's preference for wood handled Khuks. Though I have very limited experience with the horn, It would have to be fairly girthy to offer the same "grip-ability"...Is that a word
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?!! as the wood. At least for me, that is. I see your $0.02 McCLD, and I raise you 2 cents.

Craig
 
I got into a thread on Knife Forums a while ago, in answer to a new maker's question about horn handles/scales. I just repeated the suggestion found here about using Hooflex.

The next three replies were from some serious talent (Tom Mayo was one) who vented their frustrations about trying to use horn on their work - shrinkage, shape changes, etc.

Now, Mayo is in Hawaii, and the others, as I recall, were from areas of highly varying heat/humidity. Nepal fits nicely in that description. All are makers with four-star reputations, which aren't easy to get in our environment.

Made me wonder - most of the horn blems we see or hear about are cracks or potential cracks. I'm sure there are a few that are more serious, but if there were many, I think the word would have been spread. Ergo, these little old kamis just might know at least as much, but probably a great deal more about curing, treatment and working with this material than some experts in our own "advanced" society. Maybe it's just one of the billion or so "little" things we lost when we got so smart.

[This message has been edited by Walosi (edited 06-18-2001).]
 
Ok, I've only got four HI's (five counting the Kages Katne which is serving Karda duties for my BAS). Out of these, all but one have been horn handled as that's the way they came. The one wood handled on I do have is my favorite to use. Why? The grip, that's why. It helps that it's a carved handle but the wood definately has a better feel. For the horn, it's best (for me, not everyone) to take the finish down with very fine grit sandpaper to improve the grip.

But yes, if both are properly dried and cured I think the horn is more durable. With the inevitable exeptions it is a more dense, evenly-grained material.
And I know someone who knows more than I do will correct me on that if it's wrong.
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[This message has been edited by Mccld778 (edited 06-18-2001).]
 
A lot of it is due simply to what is available. Gelbu gets the horn in Calcutta. When things are jumpy in Nepal and travel is not a good idea more wood than horn is used.

On bigger models it's hard to find horn big enough to work for a proper handle so they opt for wood. I don't think the kamis have a real preference. Personally, I like horn because I'm lazy and it's easier to maintain than wood -- but probably not as pretty.

------------------
Blessings from the computer shack in Reno.

Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
Khukuri FAQ
Himalayan Imports Archives (33,000 + posts)
Himalayan Imports Shopping Site
 
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McCid wrote:
But yes, if both are properly dried and cured I think the horn is more durable. With the inevitable exeptions it is a more dense, evenly-grained material. And I know someone who knows more than I do will find something wrong with what I posted but hey, I'm here to learn too.</font>
Click to expand...

Well McCid I can't say I "know" anymore than anyone else, but if it's any consolation I agree with what you've said.
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And dont sell yourself short on being a new Cantina member as we were all new once and had to learn about khukuris. It's just that some of us have a background that supprts both metallurghy (sp? I know that's not right, but I'm too lazy too look it up.
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) and wood
working.
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And I think that most here would agree, it's hard to argue against facts.

And once horn has cured to the point of its being as perfect as it can be it is pretty dayumed stable.

I think that one reason we have to use hooflex and other preservatives on horn and bone is because we don't use our khukuris like any indigneous person does.
I have been "blessed" with very oily skin to the point that when I wash up or shower 30 minutes later my face feels and is oily.
Most of us ndns are so "blessed as well as many other indigneous peoples of other lands."
What does this have to do with horn or bone handles?
Well if you have very oily skin it is going to rub off on the tools you handle.
When you scratch an itch or rub your face or other oily body part the oil is automatically transfered to your hand or hands and then is automatically transfered to the handle on the tool you're using.
The more you use the tool the more oil from your skin is going to be transfered to its handle.
And our skin oil is very much a desirable treatment for horn nad or bone. It's what keeps our skin supple and soft and for the ladies who worry about them also helps to prevent wrinkles.
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I doubt that a better product can be purchased.

The proof of the above is in the well worn beautifully polished handles and other wear parts found on very old, well cared for tools.
I was once told that our hands were the equivelant of 6,000 grit Silicon Oxide sandpaper.
When something is used for a lifetime friction from such a smooth abrasive is going to put a very high polish on it.
And that's why from time to time that resanding our horn handles is necessary to maintain a better grip.
Oh and I also agree with sandng the horn.
I put off doing that to the beautifully grained horn on my 18"AK and once done,wish that I had of sanded it much sooner.
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It improved the grip 100 %!!!

------------------
Yvsa.

"VEGETARIAN".............
Indin word for lousy hunter.
 
I have 3 khuks with wood handles and 4 or 5 with horn. When I moved from Hawaii, ALL the horn ones cracked(some Badly
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), NONE of the wood ones cracked. Plus, wood is not as slippery IMO when covered in blood and tissue etc...Just kidding
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Yvsa,

If I didn't know you better I woulda thought that you were telling the ladies in a subtle way that your skin could keep them from getting wrinkles
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LMAO!! I wish I'd thought of that one
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Yvsa Thanks. And I know what you mean about the oils. That carved wood handle has really taken to them, all the raised portions have a darker deeper luster to them after nothing but me handling it every so often. Ok everyday. Between my father's father (Cherokee) and my father's mother(Seminole) I have some of those native natural oils working for me. Though, I should add, with as diluted as my blood is it probably isn't working to quite the same extent.
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[This message has been edited by Mccld778 (edited 06-18-2001).]
 
:
Dayum!!!! Another mixed blood among us. We keep on going and were gonna have a whole new tribe here!!!
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And you're welcome McCid.
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Rob I had never thought of that.
Leave it to the youngens to think of something like that.
But if I had of thought of it you can bet your sweet bippy I would have used it, out of desperation if nothing else.
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------------------
Yvsa.

"VEGETARIAN".............
Indin word for lousy hunter.
 
Bro:

Why is it, do you think, that back in the '20s and '30s, rounders and womanizers were referred to as "oily".
 
In half fun and full earnest, there's a product at most drug stores who first two ingredients are petroleum jelly and lanolin. Not advocating it except to treat horn handles when hooflex isn't available, but you might give Bag Balm a try. Udderly ridiculous as it may sound. (groan)

------------------
"Holiness is not a very serious business, and it is a very serious business indeed. I misspeak - it is not a solemn business."
 
Good Lord,
NOT ANOTHER NDN! I know I'm being punished!! After lining up all(took some time)the K's (doing a lot of Research)guess which way I'm going to vote!Horn & wood are......?? hee!Remember, I will give an honest detailed Researcher's unbiased answer,unlike some biased NDN!(NDNS)!
jim
 
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