Horn

Post by **jim d,** » Fri Nov 07, 2003 11:11 pm

I was looking at my Italian stilettos and swing guards today and noticing the really nice horn scales on many of them. Does anyone know exactly what bovine species the horn comes from? I have heard it referred to as buffalo (European variety?) by the Italian makers. My assumption is that it is from an indigenous species of some sort. Or, does more than one species contribute to what we consider to be "horn"?

Jim

Post by **Bill DeShivs** » Sat Nov 08, 2003 1:01 am

Jim
Buffalo horn (caribou) is used frequently. It is mostly black, with some white streaking.
The other horn used is cow (bovine) horn.
Cow horn is usually more colorful, and was the horn used on most of the old knives. I suspect that the old horn was from cattle indigenous to the area of Maniago. Now much of it is imported from France.
Bill

floater · Post by **floater** » Sat Nov 08, 2003 1:27 am

Mr. DeShivs (or anyone else knowing),
By caribou, do you mean the elk/deer like animal? All this time I've labored under the evidently false impression that the "buffalo" always mentioned was Asian water buffalo.

floater

Pushbutton · Post by **Pushbutton** » Sat Nov 08, 2003 1:34 am

They do use Asian Water Buffalo and it is almost a very dark grey almost black with the slightest of white swirls running here and there. Very understated.
PB

Post by **Bill DeShivs** » Sat Nov 08, 2003 1:37 am

No, not antlered animals. The asian "caribou" is a water buffalo. Sorry for the misunderstanding.
Bill

Pushbutton · Post by **Pushbutton** » Sat Nov 08, 2003 1:40 am

You not only learn about knives but it's also like National Geographic here.I didn't know Water Buffalo were in the Caribou family. Are Reindeer in the Caribou family also?
PB

Jay · Post by **Jay** » Sat Nov 08, 2003 2:16 am

Buffalo horn and cow are both used as handle material. Most of the buffalo horn used as handle material comes from the Asian water buffalo. Buffalo horn varies in color from black to a honey color. TKMS has 4 colors listed in their catalog, black, black with white streaks, red with black streaks, and honey.

It is oftentimes difficult to distinguish buffalo horn from cow horn.

missaman · Post by **missaman** » Sat Nov 08, 2003 3:08 am

Edwin good ta meet ya

JerrBear · Post by **JerrBear** » Sat Nov 08, 2003 3:32 am

Does imitation caribou horn warp?

mrbigg · Post by **mrbigg** » Sat Nov 08, 2003 5:30 am

JerrBear wrote:Does imitation caribou horn warp?

no but i'm beginning to think the owner of some of them may be!

Vagrant · Post by **Vagrant** » Sat Nov 08, 2003 6:55 am

Imitation ANYTHING will develope an imitation warp.

Post by **jim d,** » Sat Nov 08, 2003 7:22 pm

Guys,

Thanks for the info.

Jim

Claudester · Post by **Claudester** » Mon Nov 10, 2003 1:58 pm

Pushbutton wrote: Are Reindeer in the Caribou family also?
PB

Hey PB,
Don't mess with the reindeer, They belong to SANTA.

Vagrant · Post by **Vagrant** » Mon Nov 10, 2003 6:35 pm

Two very different Caribou familes.