Staining horn handles.

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gravknife
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Joined: Fri Dec 11, 2015 9:34 pm

Staining horn handles.

Post by gravknife »

It's better to ask I thought before staining anything like this while still attached to the knife.
Firstly are new hubertus still real horn?
Is there a way to enhance dull horn,without removing the handles first?
I have a hubertus but I'm a little disappointed in the horn just wanted it slightly darker and wetter looking.
Any help or suggestions appreciated.
Thanks Ian
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Bill DeShivs
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Re: Staining horn handles.

Post by Bill DeShivs »

All you can do is polish the horn. It should be genuine.
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gravknife
Posts: 1498
Joined: Fri Dec 11, 2015 9:34 pm

Re: Staining horn handles.

Post by gravknife »

What's best Bill?
Wax or shoe polish, the horn is very light brown and dry looking.It's as if the brown is wearing as I've handled it to work on ,most horn I have is wet looking possibly through handling.
Sorry about picture but this is the colour and look, from old knife I made.
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Bill DeShivs
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Re: Staining horn handles.

Post by Bill DeShivs »

Oh, you mean STAG horn!
Stag can be colored with potassium permanganate. Leather dye can be used, but it generally looks bad. Stag can be polished with a buffer, or hand polished with Simichrome (or similar polish.)
A coat of paste wax helps too. Neutral paste shoe polish is just a tough wax.
Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler
http://www.billdeshivs.com
Factory authorized repairs for:
Latama, Mauro Mario, LePre, Colonial, Kabar, Flylock, Schrade Cut Co., Presto, Press Button, Hubertus, Grafrath, Kuno Ritter knives, Puma, Burrell Cutlery.
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john
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Re: Staining horn handles.

Post by john »

Neutral shoe polish and a soft cloth or wool from those socks or sweater you haven't worn in a year or two. :D
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