Polishing a horn handle

[shortwinger]

I have a kukri with a raw horn handle and I was thinking about shining it up. Have any of you done this? Can you tell how you did it?

 

[snow and steel]

I haven;tdone it, but Iw ould think you'd start with sandpaper in the 400 grit area, then go to 600, then 800, then1200 and 2000 if you want a "glass like" shine.

 

[Karda]

Actually Bill,
I've been doing a fair bit of this very thing lately. What i've found works quite well Is:
220grit, 320 grit and then i finish with one of those "sandblaster" 320 grit sponge sanding pads from wally world. It's cheap and once you get it broke it good, with a little elbow grease you can really put a nice hand rubbed buff job on horn.

 

[shortwinger]

Thanks guys, I will give it a try.

 

[Steely_Gunz]

I've also had good luck with ultra fine jeweler's compound

 

[Ezaske]

After I sand down from 220 to 1500 or 2000 grit, I use a cotton buffing wheel (with jeweler's rouge) on a cordless drill. The final buffing gives me a glass like finish.