What is the better Horn?

[Whitehorn]

Other than personal preferences which horn material is more durable for a knife handle and would stand up better to normal hunting use? Sambar stag or water buffalo horn?

 

[JD Mandrell]

I have one of each, in the Buck 110 and the Asian Buffalo horn seems like it's vary dense and hard, compared to the stag.

 

[Esav Benyamin]

Since horn stays on the animal all its life, and stag drops off every year, horn should logically be denser and tougher.

 

[rev_jch]

It really should not make much difference. They both can be brittle. Much of it depends on the condition of the materials to begin with.

 

[tom mayo]

Water buffalo horn is not much different than deer horn. They are both a hairlike growth of the animal..........and neither is very dense.

Sambar is, however, less prone to warping than buffalo.

 

[Keith Montgomery]

If I am not mistaken, antlers are a calcium growth like bone and are not a fibrous hairlike growth like horn. I don't know about buffalo, but sheep horn seems to be quite a bit tougher than stag.

 

[rev_jch]

Tom, has a good point. This is true.

Horn that has been pressed, or formed has a high potential of becoming warped. Horn tip though, is a much better material, and not nearly as prone to warping like pressed, or formed horn. as far as horn tip, or pressed/formed, it would depend on the handle size if you can get a large enough piece of horn tip to suit your needs (horn tip is much preferable than pressed/formed).

Either would be fine for normal hunting use. (unless your going to be chopping and throwing your knife around, either is fine)

 

[Whitehorn]

Thanks for the feedback..

I don't throw knives and generally don't chop much or at all... I have a small hatched or Wyoming Saw..

 

[misque]

I do believe Keith M. has nailed it in regard to what each is comprised of.