Buffalo Horn / Ox Horn / Bull Horn Handles ... Post 'em Up

[BrotherJim]

Ever notice how when damp or wet, horn immediately becomes more sticky/grippy? I like that. Grip security is a good thing. This phenomenon is kind of interesting given the organic and usually highly polished nature and appearance of horn.

The warm organic properties of horn provide a fine textural transition from cold inorganic steel to a feeling and guiding hand, but it does have some disadvantages. It can be scratched and scarred more easily than some other handle materials or at least more likely to reflect those imperfections on its polished surface than some other materials subjected to the same wear and tear might show.

Additionally, being an organic material, horn might require some care to maintain its appearance and structural integrity. I've read recommendations for a very thin coat of Neats Foot Oil or mineral oil from time to time. Couldn't hurt I suppose.

I only have one knife with a Water Buffalo Horn handle. I like this material and have another on the way. Tracking indicates it should be here Thursday. But, I'm sure there are some collectors of horn handled traditional knives and I'd like to see some of those and hear your experience and insight concerning your Buffalo Horn / Ox Horn handled knives. Post 'em up please and Thank You !!!

A. Wright & Son LTD, Sheffield England, Single Clip Point Blade Barlow, Water Buffalo Horn, Carbon Steel Blade, 3 5/8" closed ...

 

[BrotherJim]

I should explain that the cutlers pictured in my OP are almost certainly not A. Wright & Son cutlers, as A. Wright & Son was established in 1947 and I believe the photograph I found in google images is somewhat older than that. I simply thought it would make a nice back ground for the the knife.

 

[Aias]

What a great little knife--love the simplicity and elegance. Here are a couple of buffalo horn I have:

GEC #23 double liner lock (SFO)

Custom Buck 110

 

[Ryouchijtx]

A smaller sized pattada/resolza my girlfriend bought for me from Italy. Beautiful leaf shaped blade next to empty espresso.

 

[pmew]

A gift from Andi


And a gift from me to me

 

[BrotherJim]

All wonderful knives fellas. I especially like that Italian knife !!! WoW

 

[Jack Black]

You got a nice Arthur Wright there Jim :thumbup:

I should explain that the cutlers pictured in my OP are almost certainly not A. Wright & Son cutlers, as A. Wright & Son was established in 1947 and I believe the photograph I found in google images is somewhat older than that. I simply thought it would make a nice back ground for the the knife.

I believe that old Arthur Wright was still working at the firm until relatively recently, in his nineties!

Here's another Arthur Wright, in Oxhorn :thumbup:

 

[BrotherJim]

O.M.G. that Ox Horn is Gorgeous, Jack. The luminescence really gives it life !!!
The knife I have on that way that should be here Thursday, is another A. Wright & Son. It too has a lambfoot blade like yours Jack, but in black horn. The handle is unlike yours in that it is straight, and double bolstered.

 

[Ryouchijtx]

Aha thank you kindly, all the knives here have an amazing assortment of bone covers.

 

[BrotherJim]

Aha thank you kindly, all the knives here have an amazing assortment of bone covers.

I wonder if the use of horn in that Italian knife is tied somehow back to the older traditional days when that knife was used by shepherds? Wherein the handle material provided a sensorial affinity with their endeavor of herding horned animals? Kind of like hunters going afield with stag handled blades might be seen by some as a nod all the way back to days of hunter gathers. ... or maybe I'm over thinking it LOL

 

[Jack Black]

O.M.G. that Ox Horn is Gorgeous, Jack. The luminescence really gives it life !!!
The knife I have on that way that should be here Thursday, is another A. Wright & Son. It too has a lambfoot blade like yours Jack, but in black horn. The handle is unlike yours in that it is straight, and double bolstered.

Thanks Jim, I was lucky with that one, they only did a very short run of Lambsfoot knives in oxhorn. I hope you get a good one my friend, as they can be a bit hit and miss, but are a very nice knife when at their best :thumbup: I got one in stag in that same pattern (what they call a 'Senator' for some reason), and it was very disappointing You'll have to let us know how it is, and how you find the Lambsfoot blade :thumbup:

 

[Jack Black]

I wonder if the use of horn in that Italian knife is tied somehow back to the older traditional days when that knife was used by shepherds? Wherein the handle material provided a sensorial affinity with their endeavor of herding horned animals? Kind of like hunters going afield with stag handled blades might be seen by some as a nod all the way back to days of hunter gathers. ... or maybe I'm over thinking it LOL

I believe it's very traditional, not only in Italy, but in Spain and France :thumbup:

 

[R.c.s]

 

[5K Qs]

O.M.G. that Ox Horn is Gorgeous, Jack. The luminescence really gives it life !!!
The knife I have on that way that should be here Thursday, is another A. Wright & Son. It too has a lambfoot blade like yours Jack, but in black horn. The handle is unlike yours in that it is straight, and double bolstered.

+ 5K! :thumbup::thumbup: Every time I see that oxhorn knife of Jack's, I'm dumbstruck! Just like Jim, I've used words like "inner glow" or "it's alive" to try to describe why it moves me so!

Thanks Jim, I was lucky with that one, they only did a very short run of Lambsfoot knives in oxhorn. I hope you get a good one my friend, as they can be a bit hit and miss, but are a very nice knife when at their best :thumbup: I got one in stag in that same pattern (what they call a 'Senator' for some reason), and it was very disappointing You'll have to let us know how it is, and how you find the Lambsfoot blade :thumbup:

Jack, how big is that knife? Have you ever posted pics of the other side? You're no doubt lucky to have it, but I feel lucky just to be able to see a photo of it now and then! Thanks!

Great thread, Jim; wonderful knives!! :thumbup::thumbup:
I don't know much bovine biology, despite having been raised on a dairy farm, so I'm going to use that as an excuse for posting this horn-handled Joker; it's bull horn, but not buffalo or ox.

- GT

 

[BrotherJim]

Beautiful horn on that Joker !!! I think Bull Horn is absolutely appropriate for a Spanish knife. Nice

 

[5K Qs]

Beautiful horn on that Joker !!! I think Bull Horn is absolutely appropriate for a Spanish knife. Nice

Thanks, Jim! :thumbup:

- GT

 

[puukkoman]

I really enjoy horn as a handle material, and have a few knives hafted in various types of horn.

Here are some.

 

[BrotherJim]

GORGEOUS knives puukkoman !!!

My second A. Wright & Son pocket knife showed up a day earlier than expected. Single Lambfoot, 1095 steel, Chocolate/Black Buffalo Horn.

These pics were just taken right out of the box. I need to clean the knife up, especially along the engraving on the back spring. There is a lot of polishing compound in the grooves. The blade well is not polished and there is a bunch of gunk in there too. Does this knife have perfect fit and finish? ... nope ... but I'm not going to nitpick.

I measured the closed length at 3 5/8". That's a ballpark perfect size EDC for me. I really like the lambfoot on this pocket knife. As can be seen in the last picture, when closed, the blade does not stick high above the bolsters as a sheepfoot blade might. In fact, looking at a profile of the knife closed and if I didn't have an idea of the type blade, I might think it could be a spear. The straight edge of the lambfoot will be much easier to sharpen than a curved blade though. I like that too.

I'm very pleased with this knife. The horn is not spectactular but the Chocolate/Black Water Buffalo Horn does impart understated elegance. I look forward to carrying and using this knife. I'm sure it will be a pleasure

 

[Jack Black]

Nice knives Puukoman, it's good to see some of your stilettos, you should do a stiletto thread sometime :thumbup:

+ 5K! :thumbup::thumbup: Every time I see that oxhorn knife of Jack's, I'm dumbstruck! Just like Jim, I've used words like "inner glow" or "it's alive" to try to describe why it moves me so!

Jack, how big is that knife? Have you ever posted pics of the other side? You're no doubt lucky to have it, but I feel lucky just to be able to see a photo of it now and then! Thanks!

Great thread, Jim; wonderful knives!! :thumbup::thumbup:
I don't know much bovine biology, despite having been raised on a dairy farm, so I'm going to use that as an excuse for posting this horn-handled Joker; it's bull horn, but not buffalo or ox.

Thanks again my friend, I'll have to see if I can talk them into doing another run! :thumbup: It's 3 1/8". I have posted some pics of the pile side, though the horn doesn't have the same glow, I'll try to find the thread (not doing very well so far ).

Lovely Joker. Here's a Maserin Sodbuster I have

That looks pretty good Jim, glad you're pleased with it. The Lambsfoot is an excellent blade shape IMO :thumbup: I live just down the road from Harrogate, and was there today. I drink Taylor's coffee

 

[BrotherJim]

Nice SB Jack !!! Very Nice

This knife cleaned up just fine. Here is detail of the worked back spring.
Of note: The pull on these A. Wright knives is fairly strong. The strongest of any knives I own with the exception of maybe my Indian River Jack. These blades are definitely not going to easily close accidentally.