Wood or horn handle?

M

Mr.Tuesday

Joined
Jan 27, 2012
Messages
52
Recently I've been looking for an authentic handmade kukri and will probably order a chiruwa ang khola from HI. However I'm not sure which handle material I should get. I've never owned any horn handle knives so I don't know the pros and cons. Any info would be greatly appreciated.
 
Both natural material, so they both need to be cared for. Mineral oil soak is good for both periodically. Have heard that Hooflex is good for the horn. I personally think that horn needs more care, I have no facts, that is just my personal opinion.

I usually do this treatment once when I get the khukuri, and then once a year.

3 day mineral oil bath, apply Boiled Linseed Oil (BLO), sand lightly with 4-0 steel wool, apply BLO, and sand again (do as many times as necessary) to get a good smooth surface and sheen, then stop and your done.

If you have a buffer, buffing horn with red rouge, will really make it pop! after the mineral oil treatment of course.

I believe pugs and some others have mentioned the above techniques, I've used them, and they work extraordinarily well.
 
I have mixed emotions on the two myself. Horn is beautiful and in most cases just as tough or tougher than wood.
That being said I tend to lean towards wood myself but still oil frequently.
I think either works well with just minimal care mentioned above.

I've not used Hoof Flex even though I have some on hand, I plan too, I have wiped them down frequently with mineral oil or usually Ballistol which is primarily mineral oil too.

Some feel the horn can be slippery in hand, this is easily cured with a little light sanding. Takes a bit away from the shiny natural beauty but improves grip. I've not had to do so on any of mine so far though.
 
I don't trust hoof like I trust wood, but I think hoof is the superior material in terms of aestetics and durability . I just don't trust it.
 
I think that's what I was trying to say too, you said it much gooder.
 
I've seen wood shrink and expand and I've seen cracks in horn.
What seems to be tough as nails is bone. Never seen it crack or shrink but maybe it shatters more easily than wood or horn when dropped?
 
They will seldom expand. The best solution is to keep them well hydrated to avoid shrinkage.

Sometimes soaking in mineral oil will bring them back to a certain extent, sometimes you have to file the metal to match it up again.

I've never seen one swell up bigger than the metal. Be nice if they all did, then you could just keep sanding the wood down to make a perfect fit.
 
Horn is more waterproof....main reason my duty Ang Khola and one for a friend...i prefer wood and am no longer spending weeks out in whatever & wherever i was told to go, so went wood for mine most recent......
 
Thanks for the great info. Initially I was pretty confident I'd be going with a wood handle but now I'm not so sure. Worst case scenario I'll have to buy two.
 
That would be best case scenario....as said here and elsewhere, both are natural materials and are part and parcel of a genuine Khukuri....something such as micarta would be as a black plastic stock on a pre-64 Winchester Model 70....it might make "sense" but the soul of the rifle would be cut out.....natural materials will crack.....cracks can be repaired with epoxy, clamps, dowels, pins, bands, whatever....don't worry, be happy....nothing is going to just fall off and leave you high and dry....
 
Wood would be a better grip, I think. The horn would probably be less susceptible to water-related issues.
 
Pretty much the only difference between the two on a handle, right there....if off handle and bending crossgrain or something a different story....but on a handle where main stress can split the stuff, too many other variables such as strengths and weakness of individual pieces and how well fit and etc. to go past "both will crack eventually and need repair".....meanwhile, better grip or more waterproof....pick one...
 
Mr.Tuesday said:
Worst case scenario I'll have to buy two.
Click to expand...

You mean that is the best case scenario! Worst case, is having a really bad HIKV episode. I believe Moparsbob had a severe case for awhile, or was it GB?

I think most of us still has HIKV, not really a bad thing, but definately puts a dent in the wallet. Right kamidog? lol.
 
Both wood and horn are tough and work equally well on a kukri. Both may also crack shrink or fail but this is a rare occurance.

This is mostly a personal choice because both are used in military and civilian situations with neither a standout option. The current military issue (for several decades) is a horn handle so I would just get what you like better and keep whichever regularly maintained.
 
I find that a thin layer of super-glue on the outside of a handle keeps the moisture in quite well, and helps to prevent shrinking.
 
cul4u01 said:
You mean that is the best case scenario! Worst case, is having a really bad HIKV episode. I believe Moparsbob had a severe case for awhile, or was it GB?

I think most of us still has HIKV, not really a bad thing, but definately puts a dent in the wallet. Right kamidog? lol.
Click to expand...

Well you know that story very well brother!

Wood...Horn? I say pick what looks good on ya!
Its like buying a shrunken head. You buy it shrunk you got it shrunk. You can comb its hair smooth out some wrinkles and make it look pretty an all but its not gonna puff up, walk away and let ya down neither. All that matters is that you take care of it.
I have never had any shrinkage, cracking or splitting on anything in my collection with minimum treatment. Hooflex, mineral oil, BLO, BC True oil, all good. I can say that good treatment can swell up hairline cracks and make them disappear sometimes but not always.
 
cul4u01 said:
You mean that is the best case scenario! Worst case, is having a really bad HIKV episode. I believe Moparsbob had a severe case for awhile, or was it GB?

I think most of us still has HIKV, not really a bad thing, but definately puts a dent in the wallet. Right kamidog? lol.
Click to expand...

Already thinking about getting an M43 too. I think my wallet is going to very sad in the upcoming months lol.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top