How traditional is sheep horn.

CUTS LIKE A KRIS

CUTS LIKE A KRIS

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Sep 28, 2005
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I'm just wondering how traditional sheep horn is on slipjoints. I don't recall seeing any in old pictures, while Ebony, Cocobolo, ivory, buffalo and bone lead the pack but I only recall modern knives with the horn. Please educate me.
Thank you.
 
I don't ever remember seeing sheephorn on any knives when I was growing up. Sheath knives were stacked leather washers, wood, or on German imports you saw some nice one piece stag. Pocket knives were bone, plastic, wood, different colors of celluloid, and once in a while again on imports some stag or buffalo horn.

Carl.
 
It may not be 'genuine' traditional, but it's certainly an interesting and rewarding scale material. I wonder if it is more durable than other horn? Some Buffalo and the like have a tendency to shrink,this may be due to poor treatment,I've even heard tell of worms afflicting horn...

Can have a very good texture, Ram's Horn.
 
William, I'm not sure about "worms" but as I recall dermastid beetles can be an issue.

I once had to freeze the handle on a Saudi Jambiya due to such. (Many years ago.)

I think ram's horn and buffalo horn can be excellent materials on a traditional knife. My first knife from Reese Bose had buffalo horn and I've had a few folders and fixed blades with ram's horn.
 
Aha Elliott! I've got this cow horn beaker that I keep pens&stuff in and it has these odd wood-worm like bore holes in it. Relative told me the worms had been at it...don't know if the poor cow was still alive when they started chewing though:eek: Beetles sound like the real culprit then.

Ram's horn is a very fine handle choice, I hope it gains in popularity. Not sure what breed of sheep it comes from, perhaps Ibex or Himalayan? (wait a minute, that's a goat:D)
 
willgoy said:
Aha Elliott! I've got this cow horn beaker that I keep pens&stuff in and it has these odd wood-worm like bore holes in it. Relative told me the worms had been at it...don't know if the poor cow was still alive when they started chewing though:eek: Beetles sound like the real culprit then.

Ram's horn is a very fine handle choice, I hope it gains in popularity. Not sure what breed of sheep it comes from, perhaps Ibex or Himalayan? (wait a minute, that's a goat:D)
Click to expand...

Article On Dermestidae...

...and one from Bernard Levine
 
Thanks for the info:thumbup:

Kind of gives me the willies though, maybe I should invite 'em in to clean my house:D
 
Here's some worm holes in horn.

P1010190-2.jpg


P1010189-2.jpg
 
buffalo horn can definitely be hit by bugs. i bought some mint bruckman horns & the sneaky bugs got into my knife roll.one plus of rams horn is it's great strength due to layers of horn grown together, appalossa horses & rams horn are made of striated layers. if you drop this type horn it hardly breaks it usually bruises . dennis.
 
If I remember correctly, I had a custom skinner in rams horn, it's supposed to get grippy when wet. really stays in your hand.
 
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