Horn for scales

I almost hate to post this because it's where and how I find rarer horns for my scales. The better quality horns are used as Shofars. With a little effort you can cut them and straighten them. This one I think would make for a really nice set of scales. I just don't have any projects at the moment. No I don't own it, no Im not selling it, nor advertising it for anyone. But I would like to see it on a nice razor. Not polished all flat and smooth but with the outer bark still intact.

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I do have this on the way. Its earmarked a W&B resto that Im getting ready to start. There is enough of the bark left to get several sets of scales out of. All black bark is kinda hard to find.

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Would like to see your flattening process, perhaps a photo tutorial?

Great looking horn…

I have been looking at whole horns lately and considering such projects. I do have a set of big horn sheep horns in the shed and what I would really like to get my grubby little mitts on is a set of Bison horns. I have my feelers out for some. We will see what I can get. Nice piece you have coming and the one in the original post is pretty stellar too.

When I get this one in I will take pics. Basically you cut the horn long ways into two halves. There is a thick band the runs the entire length and that's the line I cut. It's way to thick and fairly obvious when you see it. Stick them in the oven to heat them up to flatten them. Put them between two boards and clamp them tight over night. The next day they won't be perfect because they arent uniform in thickness. This is when you can trim off the excess to create your blanks. Reheat and clamp to flatten again if needed. Takes two days but you get really nice flat blanks to sand down to your desired thickness. This is where it gets tricky. If you leave the bark on you have to sand your thickness to the deepest growth ridge. Or you can sand the bark off to make it more shiny like typical scales. That way allows you to make them much thinner but you lose the part that I like, the ridges...

That's about it.

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You can see the two really thick bans / lines better in this pic. I cut along both to split it. Gives me two blanks for 2 sets of scales.

I bought two horns at the rodeo last year with the express purpose of turning them into scales, and then completely forgot about them until reading this!
Now I have somthing to try out this weekend, assuming I can find where I stashed them...

Hmmm..........I've got a couple of buffalo horns left (American bison) from when I made black powder horns. Middle of the horn for scales and the tip for a custom shave brush handle.

Now I'm thinking of making scales and brush handles???? You guys gave me the idea to turn an old Schumate that gave the worst shave imaginable into a razor I can't wait to come up in rotation. You guys turned me into a stropping fool plus I'm blending off a bunch of ho-hum soaps like a mad scientist creating super soaps. I must be crazy. Pass the sedatives please.

Im trying to source some Musk Ox horn. Should have it in the fall. If you've never seen it you should look it up. its absolutely amazing looking. Im thinking washerless brass pins and brass wedge to compliment it.

Polished up on a knife handle.
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The other thing that is super cool on muskox is the giant thick plate in their skulls. I believe it is called the boss plate. The horn is pretty sweet too.

Does Merino Rams horn count?

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Originally Posted by mycarver

Does Merino Rams horn count?

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Would be interesting, have you used it mycarver?

Yes I have. Now I'm just trying to find the photos !
I thought I posted them here.

Ah , found some. I was able to book match the scales by splitting the slab. It worked out well.

The other "unusual " thing I've used is Elk antler.

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Originally Posted by mycarver

Does Merino Rams horn count?

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Yes it would. Wonder what it looks like? LOL

I love the unusual.

The first striped horn comes from a Jacobs ram. Not the four horned variety. Still thinking hard about this one too...
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The second one thats all black comes from a Corsican Ram.
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