Pronghorn Handle

like most things ND it's as much a matter of the how and why as to where it came from. What is sacred to one may be nothing more nor less than a hunk of rock for another.

This is one of those areas I have to take what other's tell me. It's a tough concept unless you are there. I always understood that the only true Pipestone came from these quarries and the quarries themselves were considered sacred.

The look alike that many people get is from the private quarries near Jasper.
 
Yep in many ways NDN spirituality is analogous to Zen (NOT Zen Buddhism) in that it is relative to the individual.

The Pipestone quarries are a National Shrine and sacred to Dakota/Lakota amongst others and the "mining" of the stone is controlled - but sadly like most things money talks....
 
Your a lucky man Chuck. You've seen the bear!

The Native Americans here have pretty much lost touch with most of their traditions and culture. A few try but sadly, few have any real knowledge of the real beliefs and traditions of the tribe. What they do recreate is mostly what they think the tourists want to see and hear.

I expect another generation will see it gone forever.
 
That was a neat bottle!

BTW, Ed uses horn from a domestic sheep called a Rhamboullie. Not too sure of the spelling. Pronounced "Ram-boo-lay".

Wild sheep horn is dear...and there may be some game and fish probs involved with using it.

Keep us up on the handle idea...never thought of linseed oil.

SHane
 
The Pronghorn is my favorite wild animal, I have spent many hours watching them. To me they are absolutely beautiful. I watched a doe stomp the living stuffing out of a coyote that was on her fawn. Pronghorns are one of natures best. My love of them provided the name for my line of knives. One severe winter we had over 250 head winter on the Willow Bow. There was no feed available on their winter range,due to deep show and -40 f. temperatures. They crossed the river and I started feeding them grass hay early while they could still mix it with their usual fare. We only lost two to eagles and one to town dogs that winter. the antelope learned real quick that when packs of town dogs got after them I would shoot the dogs. When the dogs got after the antelope they came near the house and circled on the run to give me easy shots, when the dogs were done the antelope returned to the south end of the pasture.

Thousnads starved to death around the county, but none on the Willow Bow.

They returned to their desert range that spring, One doe stuck with us through the summer, she was real tame. Then she headed out.

I have some pronghorn horns set aside and one day hope to make some knife handles from them. I appreciate the Dr. Lucie idea and will try it.

That Castorum bottle looks about as fine a job as I have ever seen on antelope horn. Congradulations!!

I don't use Big Horn sheep horn, I do not feel I am smart enough to stay on the legal side of the game and fish. I use only Ramboullet sheep horn. It is every bit as strong as Big Horn horns, not as thick, but big horn sheep is real thick and you can't use it without a lot of waste, I hate the thought of wasting any sheep horn. To me it is absolutely the ultimat handle material. I buy aged bucks at the sale barn and harvest the horn, the dogs get the meat.

You folks provided some real valuable insight on this thread, thanks.
Take Care
 
Can someone provide a supplier or a recipe for the Nelsonite that was mentioned earlier? How dry would a piece of wood or horn have to be before you treat it with this stuff?
 
With all due respect to all parties, it was my understanding that Ed uses well aged Rambouillet sheep horn, a domestic species, as the primary handle material for his knives. He obtains the horns from the livestock on his, and friends, ranches.

Could be wrong though...

Brome



(looks like Ed beat me to it...good enough)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top