Wood or horn handle

Dubop

Dubop

Joined
May 9, 2016
Messages
68
Hi, I'm Dubop and new to blade forum! I'm interested in the opinion of you more experienced folks as to the appearance and durability between wood or horn handles. I am a knife collecter with 10 so far, but this is my first Kukhri. I bought the 15" Ang Khola with a wood handle, which I hope to receive on 05/12/16. Thanks!!
 
It's personal preference. I like them both. Wood has more warmth and beauty in and of it's self. Horn has it's rich, black shimmering allure. IMHO, horn is a little more prone to cracking, requires a bit more maintenance and tends to be more slippery. None of the differences are insurmountable. It's just a difference in aesthetically pleasing an individual.
 
Congrats on your first purchase! I bet the 15" AK is amazing. Let me know when it arrives and maybe share some pictures!

We will see whose first arrives first!
 
stwm said:
Congrats on your first purchase! I bet the 15" AK is amazing. Let me know when it arrives and maybe share some pictures!

We will see whose first arrives first!
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Got my 15" AK today and it's more than I hoped for! Still trying to figure out how to post pictures on this site.
 
Dubop said:
Got my 15" AK today and it's more than I hoped for! Still trying to figure out how to post pictures on this site.
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If you upgrade to a Gold membership (I think it's $10 per year) you can upload pictures directly from your computer.

Some people use Photobucket and upload from there, which might not require a Gold membership.
 
If you're just a collector, than I would suggest you buy it based on the wood grain, bone texture, and horn colors. Just collect what you consider pleasing to your eyes. :)

As for me? I'll use both but I tend to prefer wood as I like sturdy grip while I work out in the field.
 
I've found the horn to be quite slippery when used with the bare hand.
I wrapped tennis racket grip on it and wear gloves... Problem solved.

I'd prefer G10 or Micarta...
Followed by wood...
 
Often times just a quick pass with some fine sandpaper will remove the shine/slickness. Steel wool would probably work too.

I think it's mostly from the kami's polishing the horn to make it pretty for us. It works and they look really good.

Same with the wood. Remove the polishing rouge and get down to the wood, then oil it up and they look super but still have a decent grip.

By getting rid of the polishing compound on the horn they become much more manageable and easier to hang onto.
 
Bawanna said:
Often times just a quick pass with some fine sandpaper will remove the shine/slickness. Steel wool would probably work too.

I think it's mostly from the kami's polishing the horn to make it pretty for us. It works and they look really good.

Same with the wood. Remove the polishing rouge and get down to the wood, then oil it up and they look super but still have a decent grip.

By getting rid of the polishing compound on the horn they become much more manageable and easier to hang onto.
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I thought the polishing compound was more for preserving the horn to stop it from cracking/breaking? I'm more familiar with wood than horn materials so I can only go by what I was told.
 
The polishing compound might help in the fight against cracks but hoof flex or mineral oil or anything to keep it hydrated is best. Same as wood in many respects.

The Kami's are just polishing. I think they hit the blade and keep on going on the handle etc.

A lot of discoloration on handles, usually shows up the most on wood, especially the lighter woods is just polishing compound.

It's not a bad thing and it actually might help a bit in getting to us with fewer cracks. But once removed the handle takes on a whole new look and the handle can be treated with something better.

I'm not suggesting they change a thing. I actually enjoy working over the handles as we bond and get to know each other.
I'm not a metal smith so I prefer playing with wood.
 
What are you gonna condition it with? Hooflex or BLO? ;) That is really cool. I have a little Bura AK with bone and horn made the same way and it is done seamless as well.

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Grats on a fine knife. I didnt even notice it in the original posting. Hope they do more like that.
 
I have a little convention special similar to Ndogs there. The seam is perfect, like the wood and horn grew together.
 
I now have 3 kukhri's, 2 wood and 1 horn and in my opinion I think wood has more eye appeal. Being a woodworker for decades I'm prejudiced tho!
 
Dubop said:
I now have 3 kukhri's, 2 wood and 1 horn and in my opinion I think wood has more eye appeal. Being a woodworker for decades I'm prejudiced tho!
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Based on past experience and years working with wood (dad's a construction worker/supervisor for 30+ years) I have came to appreciate and depend on wood handles to the point where I can gradually observe the handle gaining character and personality over the years in colors and in dings/scratches and many other little tiny changes.

Despite having horned handles before, I'm wood all the way!
 
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