Thread: Making buffalo horn scales

Today while out looking around antiques stores in Bangkok I came across a store that sold new antiques that used a lot of buffalo horn. It turns out that they also sell plain buffalo horn (without the fake antique attached).
Since I found a razor with real tortoise shell scales, the idea of custom scales made from wood just doesn't do it for me. Also, man made materials seem just too fake to me.
So I wanted to know how much more difficult would it be to make scales from buffalo horn? Has anyone tried this?
Any pointers would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers.

done any scales in buffalo horn but a made a series off ordinary knife handles using buffalo horn. I think its easy to shape and polishes really really well. Only downside is that it smells like burnt hair when you cut it.
I think buffalo horn scales would look awsome !!

It's not more difficult, you just gotta get used to the horrid smell...

I've found that it files and sands very easily, easier than wood. I wear a breather mask because I don't want to breathe or taste the horn. Max is right, burnt hair comes to mind. Joe Chandler once suggested to me that using water or oil with wet dry sandpaper is better. No dust, less smell, etc.

Chris L

Where do you get horn in an appropriate length? The stuff I have run across is usually for knife handles and tops out at about 5" long.

EXCEPT FOR THE SMELL, I love working with horn.

20 hours a pair.
Don't mind the smell. Its just like at the blacksmith.

Originally Posted by dnjrboy

Where do you get horn in an appropriate length? The stuff I have run across is usually for knife handles and tops out at about 5" long.

Buffalo Horn Plates, extra long | DICK

Originally Posted by dnjrboy

Where do you get horn in an appropriate length? The stuff I have run across is usually for knife handles and tops out at about 5" long.

The horn being sold at this shop I visited was whole horn, about 8 or 9 inches long. One of my concerns would be finding a piece flat enough to work with.

Originally Posted by Buddel

Buffalo Horn Plates, extra long | DICK

This looks like a fantastic site. Now I know where I can buy Giraffe bone for a set of custom scales.