Sheep horn shrinking

bbarnettAUS

bbarnettAUS

Joined
Oct 27, 2007
Messages
405
Gday fella's,

Is it unusual for merino sheep horn to shrink within in a couple of months of being used as scales on a full tang.
I have made quite a few knives with it previously and it hasnt been a problem, however ive had 2 that were made recently come back with a substantial amount of shrinkage, enough that i need to replace it:mad:
I know its a natural material but does sheep horn need to settle for a year or so before using it???

Cheers Bruce
 
bbarnettAUS said:
Gday fella's,

Is it unusual for merino sheep horn to shrink within in a couple of months of being used as scales on a full tang.
I have made quite a few knives with it previously and it hasnt been a problem, however ive had 2 that were made recently come back with a substantial amount of shrinkage, enough that i need to replace it:mad:
I know its a natural material but does sheep horn need to settle for a year or so before using it???

Cheers Bruce
Click to expand...

Most of the older knives I see with horn or bone have obvious shrinkage.

If its once been on a live critter; you can figure its going to shrink.

Fred
 
Bone doesn't shrink, if it's properly dried. Horn will shrink, especially if it has been flattened before installation. Sheep horn is particularly bad about shrinking.
 
Bill DeShivs said:
Bone doesn't shrink, if it's properly dried. Horn will shrink, especially if it has been flattened before installation. Sheep horn is particularly bad about shrinking.
Click to expand...

What type of bone might that be, that doesn't shrink?

Stag is very stable, white tail is not. Sea cow shrinks after it is worked.

Over the years I have found that having it stabilized helps a great deal.

Fred
 
Cow shin bone. The kind used on pocket knives for over 100 years.
 
G'day Bruce,

Give Wally Bidgood a ring. Wally has preped marino for years in hot veg oil instead of water before flattening. I've used his stuff a few times as scales and not had it move. Could be worth a try.


Peter


Secretary, what. Who said that?
 
Last edited:
sheep mhorn needs to dry at least three years before being used IMHO, If it is boiled in water for straightening thenI will need to dry a further year at least.
 
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