Spotted Deer Handles: a question

mamav

mamav

Joined
Apr 23, 2003
Messages
1,413
Just arrived, my Dhankuta!! It is absolutely stunning! The blade is perfectly usable although it won't get used except as a display model. The scabbard is the softest leather i have seen on any of my khuks and the silver work is incredible. The detail in the animals is wonderful, the yaks long hair, the leopards spots and the peacocks eyes are all intricately done. The roof lines on the pagoda are perfectly spaced and straight as an arrow in their appropriate angles. The scroll work all around is perfect. The attention these guys make to detail is incredible.

My question is, how do you take care of the handle? It is beautiful Spotted Deer bone or antler, I'm not sure which.I've looked at all the threads I could think of and didn't see mention on upkeep of these handles. Can someone clue us in. This is our first one with this kind of handle.

Thanks so much!:)
 
I seem to recall a day or two ago aomeone said to use the
same treatment as for horn.

Ah......here is it:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=263072&highlight=bone+horn
"A friend of mine has a beautiful village AK with a cured bone handle that has been in several places around the world and has held up very well, but it has had the proper care that bone should have. Bone will last as long as stag or buffy horn if cared for as you would them. ----Yvsa"
 
My first impulse is to say mineral oil. That is the answer of choice for bone/antler handles when we discuss such over in Shop talk. I'm guessing hooflex/lanolin wouldn't be a bad option either. SOmeone may know better than me though
 
Originally posted by mamav
Thanks! I'll take heed!
Click to expand...

Gin, a good friend of mine recommends Drugstore Glycerin as the ultimate best to preserve ivory, bone and stag. The spotted deer horn handles should be considered stag and treated accordingly.
Once a month for general maintainance and every two weeks when things are dry such as in the winter.

And if you make homemade liquors a teaspoon of glycerin in a fifth will smooth out your liquors just like the store bought kind.:D
 
Baby oil works good on antler and bone. I'll have to ask Bruise, maybe he'll know, is baby oil made from babies?:rolleyes:

Sarge
 
Originally posted by Yvsa ......a good friend of mine recommends Drugstore Glycerin as the ultimate best to preserve ivory, bone and stag.
Click to expand...
Glycerin attracts moisture (hydroscopic) (I think).

I wonder if that is why it works?
or if the glycerin itself has a direct benefit to the material?
 
The gelatin in Jell-O is what lets you transform it into all sorts of different shapes. What exactly is gelatin? Gelatin is just a processed version of a structural protein called collagen that is found in many animals, including humans. Collagen actually makes up almost a third of all the protein in the human body. It is a big, fibrous molecule that makes skin, bones, and tendons both strong and somewhat elastic. As you get older, your body makes less collagen, and individual collagen fibers become crosslinked with each other. You might experience this as stiff joints (from less flexible tendons) or wrinkles (from loss of skin elasticity).

The gelatin you eat in Jell-O comes from the collagen in cow or pig bones, hooves, and connective tissues. To make gelatin, manufacturers grind up these various parts and pre-treat them with either a strong acid or a strong base to break down cellular structures and release proteins like collagen. After pre-treatment, the resulting mixture is boiled. During this process, the large collagen protein ends up being partially broken down, and the resulting product is called gelatin. The gelatin is easily extracted because it forms a layer on the surface of the boiling mixture.

Gelatin is a common ingredient in foods because it is so versatile. It can be used as a gelling agent (as in Jell-O), as a thickener, an emulsifier, and a stabilizer. You'll find it in a variety of foods, from yogurt to chewing gum. Here is a list of some other foods that commonly contain gelatin:


gummy bears
sour cream
cream cheese
cake icing and frosting
marshmallows
soups, sauces and gravies
canned ham and chicken
corned beef
sausage
Gelatin is even used to make the coating for pills that makes them easier to swallow. It's also in cosmetics, lozenges, and ointments.
 
Originally posted by Kismet .....The gelatin you eat in Jell-O comes from the collagen in cow or pig bones, hooves, and connective tissues.
Click to expand...
Ummmmm?

You want to put Jell-o on the khuks?

I can see it now.
Aunt Edna brings Jell-o salad to family reunion.
Comes time to serve
and khuk blades are sprouting
from handles planted in the salad.

:eek:
 
Thanks for the help!! I got some glycerin. If it doesn't work on the handles at least I can make some good liquers:eek: But I'm sure it will handle the job just fine. I wasn't sure on trying the jello.:D
 
apparently, jello is made from exactly the stuff we are trying to moisturize. Wouldn't it be a hoot to use it on horn/antler handles?

(There's probably all sorts of good, chemical reasons why it shouldn't be done...but it IS a form of collegen, and it can be made into a dense liquid, and it is very inexpensive.)

I find odd things entertaining.
 
Originally posted by Kismet ........I find odd things entertaining.
Click to expand...
I've often been called odd.

:D

I grok.

Worth a try.
Although it does attract moisture.
Not sure if that is good or bad.
If anyone does try it,
[Probably follow directions for making 'jello'
.........without refrigerating it]
one must add a bit of alum
(aluminum sulphate & / or aluminum potassium sulphate)
[used in pickling cooking and many other activities I don't know about]
to prevent mold from growing on the gelatine.

This is one recipe for paper/wood sizing:
-------------
Alum 1/8 oz. or a bit more for more absorbant materials
Gelatine 1/4 oz.
Water 35 ozs.
(Hosho paper should be sized only on one side, with half the quantity of water.)
Heat the water but ----do not let it boil.---- !
Add the gelatine and when that is completely dissolved add the alum.
 
I still say that one-half to one ounce oil of clove ( found in pharmacies for toothaches ) mixed into eight ounces of Kama Sutra Pleasure Garden Massage Oil, not only keeps horn nourished and leather softened, but smells gloriously.

Don't your khukuri's deserve that kind of treatment?

And if you get an extra bottle and use it ( without the clove oil ) to massage your Significant Other's back ( and wherever else she suggests ) now and then ...

Are you listening Hogshead?
 
Originally posted by Sylvrfalcn
Baby oil works good on antler and bone. I'll have to ask Bruise, maybe he'll know, is baby oil made from babies?:rolleyes:
/B]
Click to expand...


I don't think my brother will let me put his son into the juicer. :barf:
 
Kismet, I always thought that you used heavy cream with sugar, well whipped, by itself. I suppose you could put it on top of the layer of jello.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top