Horns for handles

[golok]

There are a number of knifemakers who like to make knife handles from horns. Some from sheep horns, others prefer stag and so on.

What makes the horn so different from the modern synthetic-material handles?

Some collectors favour sheep horn because it is pleasing to the eye. Besides that, the feel of such a handle gives the owner confidence and a sense of pride.

But not necessarily, any type of horn is good to be used as knife handles but how do we know which animal provides the best horns to be made into knife handles?

Are stag, ivory, horn better than the strong, synthetic materials used for knife handles?

 

[C. Marlowe]

I dont think that the natural materials are better for a handle than the synthetics available, because they ( natural ) are affected by teperature and humidty. However, the natural handles, do make a more personal knife. For a using knife you can't beat green canvas micarta, but there is just that something about stag that makes it worth the extra care. -- Charles

 

[Keith Montgomery]

Natural materials are not better than synthetic ones when it comes to durability. Most natural materials also require care to make sure they don't crack, split or move (shrink due to dryness or expand because of moisture). Even with that care there is no guaranty that these thing will not eventually happen.

One solution to this dilemma is to stabilize the material by forcing monomer acrylic resins into the handle before putting it together. The acrylics are then catalyzed into polymers, created long chain molecules. This is typically done using a mixture of heat and pressure. The result is a harder, heavier, more water-resistant material. This will however change the appearance of the material and to many people the change is negative.

The reason that I prefer natural materials to synthetics on most knives is that I like the way they look and feel. Handles made of wood, horn, shell, rock or other natural material will seldom look exactly like another made from the same material. This makes the knives more individual. These materials also impart more character.

If I am looking for more durabilty and resistance to impact damage, I will pick a synthetic. If my goal is to have a nicer looking, more individual knife with more character, I will choose a natural material. That material will usually be stag (if it is available, this stuff is getting to be very hard to find), but I also love the look of mammoth, mastadon and ancient walrus ivory. There are also some woods that I love the look of. Snakewood, ironwood (or as one of the makers on this forum likes to call it, "arn'wood") and many of the burls are a joy to behold.

The only synthetic that I like is Micarta, in any of it's variants. My preference is for Canvas, but Linen and Paper make for some beautiful handles as well. Paper Micarta is not a whole lot, if any tougher than many of the above mentioned natural materials.

As individuals, we will be prone to having different preferences. The ones stated above are mine. I am sure each of you has you own, and this is exactly how it should be.

Merry Christmas everyone.

 

[DC KNIVES]

Synthetics have no soul, enough said.Dave

 

[rev_jch]

synthetic materials are much stronger, durable than natural materials. Stag, bone is pretty, but can break, dry out, and also shrink, expand (a little) with humidity, temp. change. Mother of pearl is pretty, fairly stable, but can also crack. Horn is pretty, but can crack around the holes you drill in it (when drilling for pins, screws, ect.), not too mention most the time you have to put a background behind the horn (or paint the back) if its not black to avoid seeing through it (when its attached to your liner, avoid seeing completely through to the liner).

synthetics are much more durable, carbon fiber, G-10, micarta, fibron (linen, canvas, ect). Then there are the stabilized woods, maple burls, desert Ironwood, walnut, ect.

It all comes down to what purpose the knife fits. I have utility folders I made purely for looks, One in black jigged bone, one in stag, one in yellow jigged bone, and one in honey jigged bone, they'rte all made on the same pattern, they're very functional, but they are fragile also so they are displayed in a case (I could use them, but they're too pretty to use).