Thread: Old horn scales--care?

So, I'ma wood scale kinda guy, but I have a pretty nice set of horn scales from an ancient Marshs Pond Works razor that I look to re-use. They also have a small diamond of ivory inlay

I fixed a crack with the ubiquitous CA, and I can see that I will be able to restore a lusterous finish with fine sanding & polishing. But do I need some other type of treatment on there for protection?

CA?

Neat's foot oil?

Leave it as-is?

I have polished horn with 1500 grit wet and dry and it cleans and smooths it.

But oil, I used camellia oil as I had it to hand and it seems to enrich, feed nourish and rejuvinate the bone best of all. It gives it a new gloss. Well it worked for me.

Come to think of it, it's probably best to nourish with an oil first. It is more likely to stop any cracking.

Oil it shall be.

Neat's foot is what I have on hand, so that's what I'll go with.

Thanks!

All bone and horn and Ivory scales should be wiped down with oil a few times year.

I use plain old mineral oil. Let is soak for a day then let it dry for a few days. Wipe off anything that was absorbed.