bone and horn, how different are they?

[sogflash]

How does bone and horn compare in durability? What other natural materials besides wood are used in knives, and how do those other materials compare to the two mentioned?

 

[akadave2]

I would say that horn would be more durable even than bone. My problem is that all the horn handled knives Ive had when I was a kid were ol cheapo spanish junk so I kind of have an aversion to it.

 

[burnside]

I would say that horn would be more durable even than bone. My problem is that all the horn handled knives Ive had when I was a kid were ol cheapo spanish junk so I kind of have an aversion to it.

Same with me. All my experience with buffalo horn was with cheap stuff as a kid.

I would think buffalo horn would be more brittle just from the looks of it, but by nature, I think it is probably more durable in reality. It looks very smooth to the touch, so I don't know if it would be grippy or slippery.

The new release of the SFO Buffalo Horn Easy Open #85 is the first knife that I've seen where the Buffalo Horn has actually piqued my interests.

 

[quattromori]

I've mostly seen horn handled knives in my life since I was a child...and I like it very much.
In my small personal experience, ram's horn is tougher than cow horn and buffalo horn, and it ages even better. I know it's not too common in US traditionals though.
Durability is quite a personal concept in my book, but if I had to choose between the two, I would put my dollar on ram's horn.

Fausto

 

[Humppa]

Well...

Horn is more soft than bone, which makes sense in any case. Horn is on cows etc etc and it grows with the animal. Stag is going to fall of the animal during time like on deer - they change their stag and let a new one grow.

Bone is harder because it needs keep the animals weight as well as it does on human bodies.

So I think they are essentially different in any case.

In my experience, horn is more harmful to scratches etc - while bone is pretty tough against this kind of "damage"...

 

[Hammer67]

Sheep horn in particular is extremely tough, in my experience. Have you ever seen two rams go at it?

I also have couple impala horn knives that have been very durable.

 

[sogflash]

Isn't there a chance of bone handles breaking if they are dropped on a hard surface?

 

[knifeswapper]

I think they are similar in wear, with bone being harder and more brittle. Buffalo Horn (and probably many others) is actually like compacted hair. If you look close you can see the grain. It is keratin, same stuff that makes up hair and fingernails, which the skin transforms to horn as it hardens. At least that is my understanding.

 

[knifeswapper]

Isn't there a chance of bone handles breaking if they are dropped on a hard surface?

Most definitely. Very few slab materials have "no chance" of breaking if dropped on a hard surface. But natural handles are much tougher than many give credit.

 

[rma100]

Isn't there a chance of bone handles breaking if they are dropped on a hard surface?

I've carried bone handled knives, among others, for many years and never experienced that problem. And I by no means baby a knife. I allow it is a possibility, but nowhere near as common as one would think. I have seen, on some import knives, horn scales that were warped or shrunk.

 

[Thalestin]

I haven't had too much personal experience with horn as I have only had one knife with it. However, I have seen quite a few posts about shrinkage with horn (particular to buffalo). I've used bone handles quite a bit and have had no breaks yet and have dropped my knife on concrete a few times. Luckily no chips or breaks. However, if you look at older bone knives they often have a crack or a small piece missing. Whether this is from a single fall early in the knifes life or whether this occurred from handles weakening over their long life, I do not know.

 

[Blade_Crazy]

I've never owned a horn knife, but I have both bone and stag knives that are many times my age and in great condition...

 

[Ernie1980]

I've never owned a horn knife, but I have both bone and stag knives that are many times my age and in great condition...

You said it well, I was about to write something similar except to add that I have owned and used all three and for my use they were all equally durable. There is not a "magic" handle material, but these sure work well!

 

[bonky]

How does bone and horn compare in durability? What other natural materials besides wood are used in knives, and how do those other materials compare to the two mentioned?

For a safe-queen, I really like the appearance of buffalo horn. For a user, I'd pick almost anything else first. Horn scuffs and scratches easily, and when wet and dried a few times will possibly warp, crack or shrink. After experiencing this firsthand with a knife purchased for my daughter, and the tedious cleaning/sanding/buffing required to repair it, she'll be getting stag, bone or composite-handled knives from me in the future.

 

[Berkley]

Buffalo Horn (and probably many others) is actually like compacted hair. If you look close you can see the grain. It is keratin, same stuff that makes up hair and fingernails, which the skin transforms to horn as it hardens.

And as such, horn is vulnerable to dermestid (carpet beetle) larvae:

Collectors of old straight razors know them best: the
nasty little buggies that feed on horn handles. Actually,
it's not the bugs themselves that collectors know and hate.
It's the ugly and discouraging damage that the insidious
insects do to precious antiques. It's the priceless old
pressed horn handle that now looks like Swiss cheese. It's
the tortoise-shell handle that now looks like a tomato slice
with the seeds removed.
And it's not just razor collectors who know and fear these
depredations. Indeed, it was a phone call from a distraught
collector of mint antique pocketknives that prompted the
present essay. He had just discovered that every bright and
shiny horn handled and tortoise-shell handled knife in his
collection was as shot full of holes as the first duck to
fly over the blind on opening day of waterfowl season.

-Bernard Levine

 

[Hammer67]

For a safe-queen, I really like the appearance of buffalo horn. For a user, I'd pick almost anything else first. Horn scuffs and scratches easily, and when wet and dried a few times will possibly warp, crack or shrink. After experiencing this firsthand with a knife purchased for my daughter, and the tedious cleaning/sanding/buffing required to repair it, she'll be getting stag, bone or composite-handled knives from me in the future.

I have definitely heard that to be true with buffalo horn, as it tends to be one of the more brittle horn options. But I wouldn't say that's necessarily the case with all horn.

 

[knifeswapper]

And as such, horn is vulnerable to dermestid (carpet beetle) larvae:
-Bernard Levine

And yet, out of probably 10's of thousands of horn knives I have seen in the years they have went thru my hands - I can count on one hand those that had anything resembling bug damage. Moreover, I have held 100+ year old horn knives that fit and appeared as well as any other material; and very rarely see an old knife with horn that has shrunk / warped. It appears to me that shrinking and warping has more to do with how green the product is cut and affixed. Horn will shrink and bow as it cures, as does most wood. But if allowed to cure properly I have not yet seen any of these symptoms. I have many 6 year old GEC knives with horn I supplied, that have moved whatsoever.

I have seen many more knives with stag & bone that was cut too close to the marrow that ended up deteriorating to the surface and leaving a "swiss cheese" appearance than any horn examples. Having said that, I would prefer a great stag or bone to a horn; although a great ram's horn is awfully hard to walk away from.

If there weren't people that preferred each respectively, they would not be putting them on knives. And there is no substitute for taking care of any natural material.

 

[Bunzo]

Horn with vary from animal to animal as will bone. Same as with humans, some people have harder denser bones then others. This is the same for all animals.

 

[bonky]

I have definitely heard that to be true with buffalo horn, as it tends to be one of the more brittle horn options. But I wouldn't say that's necessarily the case with all horn.

I've pretty limited experience with even buffalo horn, as I've only owned a few knives with it as handle material. I have no experience with any other type, although I've come close to getting a few knives with ram's horn.

It should be noted that my daughter was carrying the knife in question for over a year in her back pocket while on day-hikes of 5~6 miles, sweating through her clothes and fording streams and such. It was borderline abuse. She and I were lucky it was one of the few GE #23s that was made in 440c. When I was aksed to look at it, the scales were so badly checked and warped that it looked to be made of weathered grey driftwood, I kid you not

It took a fair amount of sanding and buffing to clean it up, but I eventually got it all sorted for her, and she wouldn't trade the knife for anything. Her dc for the last two years has been a #53 stockman in bone, and to be honest, I'm relieved that the good-looking buffalo #23 is in the display case. With those beartrap springs and the edge I put on it, I winced every time I saw her open that #23 trapper.

 

[Hammer67]

It should be noted that my daughter was carrying the knife in question for over a year in her back pocket while on day-hikes of 5~6 miles, sweating through her clothes and fording streams and such. It was borderline abuse. She and I were lucky it was one of the few GE #23s that was made in 440c. When I was aksed to look at it, the scales were so badly checked and warped that it looked to be made of weathered grey driftwood, I kid you not

She sounds like a perfect candidate for a micarta knife next time around!

While I don't have a definitive answer, I would question if there is any real difference (other than aesthetics) between stag and other bone options, since antler is essentially bone.

But at the end of the day, as Ernie said, they are all pretty darn durable options, within reasonable use.