Matte vs. Polished Horn

T

truck

Joined
Jan 22, 2002
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I just picked up a Kobra the other day. It has a polished horn handle. Since this khuk is probably destined for user status I was thinking of roughing up the handle a bit. How much better will grip security be by doing this?
 
Noticably, I think I used 500 grit on my handle and if you move parallel to the spine it still looks pretty good. It mainly makes a difference when your palms get sweaty.
 
Quite a bit, at least in my experience. When I first got my M43, the handle would twist in my hand during hard use because the horn was so smooth. I ended up using 220 grit wet/dry paper with some hooflex-- definite improvement in terms of grip. You might also want to try some wax on your handle-- it really helps.
--Josh
 
Originally posted by truck
I just picked up a Kobra the other day. It has a polished horn handle. Since this khuk is probably destined for user status I was thinking of roughing up the handle a bit. How much better will grip security be by doing this?
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Truck I used the maroon colored Scotch-Brite pad on mine. It roughens it up just enough to keep the slipperyness down. As has been mentioned run the sandpaper or Scotch-Brite in the same direction to keep it looking good.

I also use it on the blades of my user's. It leaves a nice satin finish all over the knife. If you should happen to use it on the blade make sure you work towards the edge as the Scotch-Brite will instantly dull it something fierce!!!!
I plan on doing this to the blades of my FF's when i get them back. Art has one he's rehardening and Terry has the other to rebuild the scabbard with a nice pretty brown leather.:D
After rubbing them down with the Scotch-Brite I plan on either blueing the whole rig or maybe just the furniture and using the mayonaise or mustard patina finish on the blades.
The handles will be sanded down after some slight rework and left pretty much natural and then waxed.:)
 
Thanks all, that's just what I was looking for:D
Yvsa,
I was thinking about trying the bluing for my next Khuk. I switched to ketchup on the last one and it wiped out much of the mustard effect but left a hamon behind.
 
Originally posted by truck
Thanks all, that's just what I was looking for:D
Yvsa,
I was thinking about trying the bluing for my next Khuk. I switched to ketchup on the last one and it wiped out much of the mustard effect but left a hamon behind.
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Truck, what is a hamon behind? I've seen hundreds of pretty behinds, a couple or three really ugly ones, but never a hamon behind.;)

Just ignore me.:rolleyes: It just struck me funny is all.:D

That's interesting though. Did you have to rub off any oxidation or did it just show up?

On blueing knife blades.........
I prefer a satin finish for blueing as it doesn't show all the imperfections that a polished used knife blade has.
The ground finish that Cold Steel has/had on their blades also makes a nice surface for blueing.
It's not at all shiny and lasts really well considered. I blued my Trailmaster long ago and have only had to touch it up after restoring the convex edge it had when it was new.
One of a friend's boy used it after reassureing me he would be very careful with it and not hit any rocks. We were chopping poles for a Sweatlodge down in Arkansas and I should've known better.:rolleyes:
One of these days I need to box it up and send it to one of the fellows here to replace the nasty damned Kraton handle.
I noticed it was loose one day and removed it and found rust underneath!!!!
When it's rehandled and sealed in epoxy that will solve the rust problem.
Thing is I haven't completely made up my mind whether I want a pretty Desert Ironwood handle or one made from some very old Christmas Tree or Camo micarta I have.:rolleyes:
It will have a nickle silver guard regardless though.:D
 
Originally posted by Yvsa
Truck, what is a hamon behind?
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That's easy, many of us have them. That's the line from repeated boots to the butt. You know, that hardening affect:p Thanks for the tip about the satin finish although I wish you hadn't mentioned the Trailmaster. I have a large chunk of Jerry Springer Syndrome in my family also:grumpy:
 
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