Ram Horn Scale Grooves on Backside

[mvh101]

I bought some merino ram horn scales a while back to go on a drop point hunting knife for my son. While the scales will lay flat on the tang, the back side has several grooves of maybe 1/16 or a bit deeper in some spots. I don't see how these grooves/depressions will not be visible at the edges as gaps once final shaping occurs. The scales are 5/16" thick so i believe they'll end up to thin if I sand the backs to get rid of the grooves/depressions. That and I'd like to keep the knife hand around 5/8" to 3/4" thick. Has anyone ever tried to fill something like this with tinted epoxy? Unfortunately i don't have the scales with me to upload a pic that better shows the issue. Hoping someone has dealt with this before and understands what I'm trying to explain. Any suggestions?

 

[eric brinkerhoff]

When I use bone,horn,etc...With irregular backs, I sand it flat and make up the thickness with micarta or g-10 liners.

 

[Horsewright]

I use a lot of sheephorn. I tend to buy the lil thicker pieces so I have more room to sand down. I use a flat disc for sanding them down. Lots of folks don't know it but a sheep horn is mostly hollow so thats where your grooves come form the hollow inside surface. After sanding down I glue the sheephorn to liners. Sometimes gives the sheephorn a cool tint as its sometimes goes a little translucent on ya when polishing:

Red spacers and green liners on this one.

 

[mvh101]

Thanks guys. Hadn't thought of the liners to make it thicker. New to this and wish I could have talked my son out of the ram horn. Oh well its a fun learning process kind of addicting.

Horsewright-
Looks like you only used pins on those knives. I thought I read it was best to dome the pins or use something like corby's or loveless for a more mechanical hold. Any pointers to share if one is to use just pins with a quality epoxy like Gflex? Ever run into any issues with the horn scales trying to lift off the tang?

 

[Horsewright]

Thanks guys. Hadn't thought of the liners to make it thicker. New to this and wish I could have talked my son out of the ram horn. Oh well its a fun learning process kind of addicting.

Horsewright-
Looks like you only used pins on those knives. I thought I read it was best to dome the pins or use something like corby's or loveless for a more mechanical hold. Any pointers to share if one is to use just pins with a quality epoxy like Gflex? Ever run into any issues with the horn scales trying to lift off the tang?

Before I started using the liners yes I had the occasional one try to separate but not very often. With the liners its very stable, another advantage. Its pretty tough stuff.

 

[mvh101]

Before I started using the liners yes I had the occasional one try to separate but not very often. With the liners its very stable, another advantage. Its pretty tough stuff.

Appreciate the info Horsewright!

 

[Horsewright]

Appreciate the info Horsewright!

Ya bet. Just for info green liners seems to influence the color of the horn more than other colors:

This has been very popular with my customers. Blue liners doesn't seem to have the effect on the sheephorn as much:

Black tends to intensify and deepen the natural color of sheephorn:

These are merino sheephorn scales. I often will use what is commonly referred to as ramshorn, reportedly form a Himalayan sheep breed. This has more of a brown cast to its color. I also use liners on this material.

Anyhoo ya get the idea. Its a wonderful handle material and very durable. Its kinda fun from my perspective because you simply do not know whats gonna happen as far as the color coming through the sheephorn. Sometimes none, sometimes a little and sometimes a lot. Lately, I would say its my second most popular handle material behind elk. But career wise I bet its probably the most popular.

 

[Ken H>]

Dave, that green liner really does make the horn pop for sure. I think I'll start looking a bit for some sheep horn.

 

[Horsewright]

Thanks. Yep its a good material. I use to dye the bottom side but sometimes ya’d still see through it to the tang. Then settled on the liner.