Horn Handle Knives

Our horn handle knives have handles of buffalo horn, sheep horn, ram horn and black horn, with blades from 3 to 10 inches. Most are pattern-welded Damascus and the rest are plain steel. The range covers skinning knives, hunting knives, pocket knives, Bowies and cowboy knives, and each comes with a leather belt sheath or belt slip.

Knives
34
Price
Overall length
Handles

34 knives

The collection

About Horn Handle Knives

What is a horn knife handle made of?

A horn handle is made of keratin, the same material as a fingernail, cut from buffalo, sheep or ram horn. Horn is smooth and warm in the hand. It can dry out and crack if left in heat or soaked, so wipe the knife dry and give the handle an occasional light oil.

Is horn the same as stag?

No. A horn handle is keratin from a horned animal, while stag is antler. Deer grow antlers, so a deer horn knife is really a stag handle knife. See stag handle knives and bone handle knives, or compare wood handle knives.

For field use, start with skinning knives or cowboy knives.

Common questions

What is a ram horn made of?

A ram horn is made of keratin, a hard protein, over a bony core. The horn is cut, shaped and polished for a knife handle. It has a natural curve and grain, so every handle looks a little different, and it feels smooth and warm to hold.

What is a stag knife?

A stag knife has a handle cut from deer antler. Antler is bone-like and textured, while horn is keratin and smooth. If you want stag, see our stag handle collection. If you want a smooth, warm handle with natural variation, horn is the choice.

Are horn handle knives durable?

Yes, with care. Horn is tough in daily use but dries out and can crack if left in heat or soaked for long. Wipe it dry, keep it away from radiators and hot cars, and rub on a light oil now and then. Most of our horn handle fixed blades are full tang.

How do I clean a horn handle knife?

Wipe the handle with a damp cloth, dry it straight away and never soak it or put it in the dishwasher. Rub on a light oil now and then so the horn does not dry out. Dry the blade too, because Damascus and carbon steel rust if left wet. Keep it away from heat.

Which horn handle knife is best for hunting?

A skinning or hunting knife with a full tang and a belt sheath. Ours run from 3 to 10 inches of blade, including a gut hook knife with the hook on its spine. Choose Damascus for the pattern or plain steel for a simpler finish. Dry the blade after every use.
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