Material choices for handles

R

RonS

Joined
Jun 26, 2000
Messages
201
I've seen a lot of black horn handles here and a few grey ones and one that was described as zebra that looked like grey bars, are there any other colors? Brown, red-brown perhaps?

How do the Kamis feel about working with German Silver (white brass)? I'm not a big brass fan because I have very acid perspiration and my fingerprints will etch brass pretty quickly. The extra nickel in G.S. seems to help.

I'm not hooked enough to order real silver fittings.

Yet.

Is there a seven step program for this? I have never gotten as fascinated with anything this quickly in my life. Well, maybe one thing, many years ago and I've got the ring to show for that.

 
There's a knife supply company with a banner at the top of the page. They sell red buffalo horn, stag, bone.

Other places import exotic hardwoods. I don't have those links but you can find them. If I could, it should be easy for you.

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John Moses designed it, I trust it, and that settles it.


Himalayan Imports Website
 
Ron
If you ask the Kami about white brass,I think they would say,"whats that?".Steel is a choice though and a good one.I have several village models with wood and steel.You could get horn.
I also have a khukuri with a goat horn that looks greenish blue and is translucent,hold it to the light and you can see the tang,(hard to find,this kind).Sometims there is deer antler around,keep your eye on the forum or when Uncle Bill comes back send him an email.

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Ray
 
Thanks for the info, and thanks for everyone's patience while I go thru the new guy phase. I am looking forward to seeing some more new knives up on the board.
 
James: "Kumar Karda with ..."

Once my 2 12" AKs are polished and tweaked into twins I was thinking of having a small of the back butterfly shaped leather sheath with the AKs spine to spine over your spine with twin Kumar kardas in the center of the rig instead of chakma & karda.

See, you aren't ( close but not quite ) as khuky as you thought you were. And (VEY!!!) come to think of it, it *is* time for my medication. Rusty

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John Moses designed it, I trust it, and that settles it.


Himalayan Imports Website


[This message has been edited by Rusty (edited 07-03-2000).]
 
The steel butt cap, bolsters and chape sound like a nice touch. What's the advantage of horn over wood for the grip? Do people find the horn handles too slippery?
 
I don't find the horn handles too slippery because of the fluted shape. Very grippable. My problem with horn is that it's really prone to cracking in the dry Colorado and Wyoming climate where I use it, and I haven't been able to get organized enough to use the hoof softener compound Bill recommends. For that reason a brass handle is attractive to me, but there may well be disadvantages to that I haven't thought of.
I'm also thinking of trying out the racquet handle tape suggestion people have made, not so much in my case to improve grippability as just so I don't have to see those cracks!
 
I live in the midwest where it is dry in the winter and very humid in the summer, I assume that I will have to take precautions to protect any horn products from the drastic change.

Aside from hoof softener which I guess I can get from my local Farm & Fleet store are there any other suggestions?

I know that wood with all of the grain sealed is pretty stable or at least changes slowly enough to avoid cracking when the seasons change so maybe I can use horn with precautions.

 
I've heard that the climate in Nepal varies considerably - If the main objection to horn handles is frequent cracking, then are there arid areas in Nepal where the kamis make wooden handled khuks as a matter of course, or is that a "special request" item? I only own one (w/horn handle) so far, but I'm curious how the wood will hold up.
 
I believe the recent problem(s) with horn handles cracking had to do with horn that wasn't completely seasoned?
I've bought a couple of these as blems and used the epoxy to fix them to be "users". I have no complaints, but if I paid $200-400 for a "collector special" that wasn't going to be used it might be a different story.
Possibly some of the "old timers" or collectors who've seen horn handles over a fairly long period of time could "chime in" on the possibility of well seasoned horn cracking, although I'm sure nothing is "for sure"?
 
I've used my khukuris in 15 degree temps and 100 degree temps with no problems. I have some shop 1 khukuris i've had for a while and no cracks have formed.
I think the problem was the horn was not cured right. The hoof treatment I use works great. The horn seems to absorb the hoof lubricant pretty well.
Take it easy.
Terry
 
Wood, unseasoned, has been a bigger problem than horn.I`ve had no trouble with stag,wood or horn;if it got to me in one piece.This stuff should cure for a couple of years.
The kamis have been taking shortcuts due to your demand.
Congratulations.
I only buy old ones now.
 
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