Rhinoceros horn!?!

I don't find anything funny about this subject. For the life of me I can't imagine how any of you do.
 
Ron's knife is beautiful. But I wouldn't buy it, because of the material used. No one kills a Rino and uses all the animal for food, leather, bone etc. They waste the whole animal for just its horn.

If someone asked me to make a knife out of it, I'd say no.
 
Unfortunately, there are people out there that have no idea about the background of these particular ivories. There are going to be buyers that will look at it, think it's cool looking and bring it home, not knowing the ethics (or lack thereof) behind it.

Jeff
 
I read this thread with interest and a little wonder. I have been collecting knives since that late 60's and have to admit that this is probably the first custom knife that I can remember that had a handle that was claimed to be rhino horn. I just don't think that custom knife handles are a great threat to the remaining rhinos. There are a lot of legal trophies out there that were taken at a time when it was not an issue and I would hope that this is where the material used in this knife came from. It might not have, but we get requests, like many of you makers do, to make a handle of antler that was taken as a trophy. It could easily be the same thing.

I have no interest in deliberately buying a custom knife with a handle made of rhino horn, nor would I make a handle for a knife out of rhino horn. It is just my choice. I expect that others would decide this for themselves. I find myself in a situation where I might already own a knife made of rhino horn though. I bought this one years ago in an antique store and have had it in my collection ever since. I had no idea what the handle was made of at the time of purchase and have given it little thought since. Heck I'm not sure now what it is made of. I don't know what rhino horn looks like. I've never seen any that wasn't being worn by its original owner. What do you think? Rhino horn or not?

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If it was legal and I liked it I'd buy a knife with Unicorn horn:D If I didn't like it or it was illegal I wouldn't buy it. Seems simple to me:confused:
 
Hmathews said:
I read this thread with interest and a little wonder. I have been collecting knives since that late 60's and have to admit that this is probably the first custom knife that I can remember that had a handle that was claimed to be rhino horn. I just don't think that custom knife handles are a great threat to the remaining rhinos. There are a lot of legal trophies out there that were taken at a time when it was not an issue and I would hope that this is where the material used in this knife came from. It might not have, but we get requests, like many of you makers do, to make a handle of antler that was taken as a trophy. It could easily be the same thing.

I have no interest in deliberately buying a custom knife with a handle made of rhino horn, nor would I make a handle for a knife out of rhino horn. It is just my choice. I expect that others would decide this for themselves. I find myself in a situation where I might already own a knife made of rhino horn though. I bought this one years ago in an antique store and have had it in my collection ever since. I had no idea what the handle was made of at the time of purchase and have given it little thought since. Heck I'm not sure now what it is made of. I don't know what rhino horn looks like. I've never seen any that wasn't being worn by its original owner. What do you think? Rhino horn or not?

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To me that looks like rhino horn, but I do not think that knife is a threat to remaining rhinos
 
Mark,
I hope you have better sense than to use Rhino.
You are a talented guy.
David
 
2knife said:
This sort of thing by knifemakers sends the wrong message, despite legal status which may apply.

I have No respect for anyone who would profit from marketing rhino horn.
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I did not read all the posts...BUT

EVERY rhino that has ever lived ends up dying......most by natural means

If you do not know how this material was obtained, I do not see how you can condemn anyone for using it!!!!!
 
2knife said:
Mark,
I hope you have better sense than to use Rhino.
You are a talented guy.
David
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As I said, I would not use anything illegal or of questionable origin. Anything I use or sell is gauranteed to be legal and any pre-ban stuff ever found in my possession be it customer-owned or mine will be satisfactorily documented. I have never seen pre-ban rhino horn for sale but if I ever did the first thing I would do is check it's legality and it's documentation then make a decision. If I was to stay away from any material that someone might object to I would not have much to work with. As I said earlier, I do have some woolly rhino horn, it is well documented and I plan to use it, you can see a knife or two with it on there in Atlanta if you like in June (if I get them done in time). Just so everyone is clear woolly rhino's have been extinct for 20 thousand years, man did not contribute to their extinction and woolly mammoth parts are certainly legal to buy, sell and make things out of if you are lucky enough to find some.
Thank you for the compliment, you obviously have excellent taste:D. I find you to be a fairly reasonable person to discuss these matters with and do not fault you for your opinions however different from mine. You are entitled to them.
I will close by saying I would absolutly not use any ellicit animal parts, I do not condone it and no-one should, I treasure wildlife resources as much as anyone and more than some.
 
tom mayo said:
I did not read all the posts...BUT

EVERY rhino that has ever lived ends up dying......most by natural means

If you do not know how this material was obtained, I do not see how you can condemn anyone for using it!!!!!
Click to expand...

Tom,
That arguement would work better if it weren't also an endangered species, being poached into extinction.
David
 
The Rhino is not being poached into extinction for knife handles. As Americans we do not have the ability to stop the poaching of the Rhino. The countries where this occurs in most cases is the culprit. As is Africa with the Elephant Ivory. I would not think that there are any or not many Americans that would use something that they know was poached just for a knife handle. I will use most anything legal but I would never use something illegal.
The Hunji shown does look like Rhino horn. In some of the societies in Asia the Hunji is used in cerimonies and Rhino horn is part of the ceremony. As I stated earlier I did not use Rhino horn for a customer for a cerimonial knife because the Wildlife service said it was illegal. The customer had bought a lot of my knives from me, and if legal I would have used it, but because it was not I only make the blade. It look just like the one pictured earlier. History has a way of showing us things that we do not know at the time, like ivory, billiard balls took a lot of Ivory to make, but at the time that is what they had.
Anyway you have to live with what you do. Or do nothing.
Percy
 
Ron said that he has never made a fixed blade with rhino horn and that the knife in question probably has Cape Buffalo horn on it.
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For what it's worth, Ron wasn't trying to hide anything. He was correct about making a fixed blade with Cape Buffalo. Here's the same model:

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Knife Specifications: Silver & Gold Bird & Trout
Blade Length: 3"
Overall Length: 6"
Blade Type: Drop Point
Blade Composition: Polished ATS-34
Bolster Composition: Polished Fine Silver
Handle Material: Exhibition Grade Cape Buffalo Horn
Locking Mechanism: Titanium Linerlock
Hardware: Solid 18K Gold Pins and Solid Gold Plate
Special Features: Both and innovator and originator in the handmade knife business, Ron Lake is widely known for his numerous accomplishments. Whether it is his innovative designs in the creation of the interframe folder or collaboration with production knife companies on current day pocket carry folders. Ron Lakes name is well known by just about anyone remotely interested in handmade knives. This piece is a very unique knife that is sole authored by Mr. Lake and incorporates only the best of materials including: solid silver bolsters and integral guard, exquisite "cream of the crop" cape buffalo horn scales and solid 18K gold pins. This piece also incorporates a solid gold plate between the handle scales as well. The execution of this piece as with all other Ron Lake knives is absolutely perfect. The blade has also been expertly polished and the grinds are first rate. What a lovely piece from a gentleman that is considered to be a considerable contributor to knifemaking history.
Price: $5995.00

And no, I'm not trying to sell it. Just thought it was interesting that this knife is listed at $2000 more than the rhino horn knife.
 
And another Cape Buffalo handle sold in Germany. Pretty knife...IMO, of course. :)


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