bone handle v.s. wood handle for knife

[chadsims44]

HORN v.s. WOOD is what I meant .I was wondering which would be better for a long term survival situation ? which would last the longest? horn or wood handle. Im getting ready to purchase a himilayan imports knife any help would be appreciated Thank You

 

[sintro]

I would think that wood would stay cleaner because it wouldn't have all those grooves. And it really depends on the type of wood for toughness(being dropped and banged on things like rocks and trees). I'm sure a stag handled knife would last longer than a piece of pine cut from a tree and put straight on a knife. But if you had a nice hardwood, the wood handle would take my vote.

Or even better, micarta !

 

[chadsims44]

thanks for your input but i meant horn v.s. wood handle there is no grooves in the horn its buffalo

 

[neeman]

Worms eat Buffalo
A real problem
This is known in the Trad forum with buffalo scaled pen knives

Which is stronger
A stag tine or a piece of hard wood
It seems the piece of wood will take lateral strain better
I have heard of wooden handles on a hammer, but never a horn handle on a hammer

 

[Bo T]

I believe it depends on the wood. But Ed Fowler uses a specific horn on his handles that he swears by. Water buffalo horn is used in composite (Turkish) bows where it needs to take a lot of strain, I think compression.

 

[kvaughn]

If you get wood from HI it will probably be untreated and prone to dry and crack. My KLVUK with sasal wood handle had to be soaked in a beeswax/orange oil furniture polish for weeks before it stopped soaking it up. I wrapped an oil soaked rag around it and set it by the woodstove and as I put it on it kept soaking it up. When it finally got enough I sealed it with 8-10 coats of tung oil. It's now my favorite chopper. Get the 20$ aftermarket sheath if Yangdu has any left. Well worth it.--KV

 

[Woodrow F Call]

Worms eat Buffalo
A real problem
This is known in the Trad forum with buffalo scaled pen knives

Which is stronger
A stag tine or a piece of hard wood
It seems the piece of wood will take lateral strain better
I have heard of wooden handles on a hammer, but never a horn handle on a hammer

They use wood on hammers because it's the cheapest thing to get the job done. Horn on a hammer would be cost prohibitive for a tool used to beat things.