Thread: Horn Scales....anyone made a pair?

I've seen buffalo horns in antique shops and online, has anyone made scales or brushes from these?

I can't see how the oval horn becomes a flat scale...I must be missing something. Lol

Lots of people make scales with horn.

Check out the custom builts and restorations area here.

they use 2 sides of the horn or they buy horn that are flat that are made grooves into so they looks like the outer horn structure, got a shop in vietnam that does this. Brushes is just to find the horns right diameter that you need then cut it there, or buy round horn and make the grooves yourself. Think about a carrot looked on from above when its pointing with pointy end towards you and cut one side for one side of the scales and then the opposite side you cut to get the other side of the scales. then you sand or cut it into the shape you want. think almost every guy in here have tried or seen scales made of all kinds of horns, bones, shells, metals, acrylic, tree, stone, plastic, and lots more.

I found two matching horns in an antique shop today... Didn't pick them because:1. I wasn't sure how I could go about making scales from them. 2. I would like to try and make a brush from the other, but again wasn't sure how.

I see what you're saying about taking a piece from either side. (just so I'm clear), they are both hollow. I can see how the brush would turn out and am likely able to make that work.

The thickness however just doesn't seem to be the same as typical scales I've seen. Maybe I'm mistaken though, they looked to be a little less then 1/8th.

For $18 a piece I may just give it a whirl and see what happens. If not for anything, at least I get some experience working with the horn (after much more research).

Have a look here
eBay Australia: Buy new & used fashion, electronics & home d
He has some really nice stuff for making scales.
Here's the first one's I did
http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...r-shop-63.html

That's interesting how he got those horns flat like that.

Was it similar to working with hardwood?

Originally Posted by Havachat45

Have a look here
eBay Australia: Buy new & used fashion, electronics & home d
He has some really nice stuff for making scales.
Here's the first one's I did
http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...r-shop-63.html

More like acrylic than hardwood.

Originally Posted by ZeroCool

That's interesting how he got those horns flat like that.

Was it similar to working with hardwood?

The process as far as I know involves boiling the horn to make i soft then pressing flat.
You can get flat horn pre-cut blanks for scales from Masecraft.

Originally Posted by mainaman

The process as far as I know involves boiling the horn to make i soft then pressing flat.
You can get flat horn pre-cut blanks for scales from Masecraft.

They havent had any 6" horn or bone in a while. I called Tuesday of the last three weeks to check and nothing. I have begun to look for another supplier because of the lack of 6" products.

Originally Posted by jumbojohnny

They havent had any 6" horn or bone in a while. I called Tuesday of the last three weeks to check and nothing. I have begun to look for another supplier because of the lack of 6" products.

I will stand corrected. I went to the shop yesterday to look for material, and they have a nice assortment of 6" + lengths. I picked up some more horn, faux ivory, bone, recon stone, amber, acrylics, and G10. Now if only I can find some time to use any of it.