Vintage Horn Handle Knives

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Re: Vintage Horn Handle Knives

Post by knife7knut »

thegreedygulo wrote:And another H. Boker. The handles on this knife are supposed to be ram's horn according to the seller I bought it from years ago. I've never seen another one with handles quite like it, though it does remind me of some snakeskin bone I have seen on the OLD H. Bokers. ::shrug:: Opinions?
I would concur that it looks more like stag than ram's horn.Ram's horn usually has a much coarser grain to it and none that I have seen exhibits the,"popcorn" effect shown. Some people theorize that it is "pressed stag" created by heating the stag and applying a die with an appropriate pattern to it such as is done with horn. I personally think the pattern is natural.
I am posting pictures of a Wostenholm knife I have with a similar handle and an automatic with ram's horn handles to show the difference.
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thegreedygulo
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Re: Vintage Horn Handle Knives

Post by thegreedygulo »

Thanks for all the input & pictures guys. The handles of the knife I posted are considerably different than my other H. Boker stag handled knives. With that said, along with being told it was ram's horn when I bought it, I had just always wondered about it. I agree with the consensus that it is stag, particularly after seeing Knife7knut's pictures (Thank you) of a knife with known ram's horn handles. Thanks all. ::tu::
A pocket knife is still an intimate personal possession of the individual who carries it and consequently deserves the best of materials, finish and workmanship in its production. (Quoted from Boker's 1928 cutlery catalog).
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Re: Vintage Horn Handle Knives

Post by BWT »

Here is three I have. The folding Dirk is 7.7" closed but unfortunately the maker is worn off. The other two are a George Woodhead and a Harrison Brothers and Howson. Thanks for looking and any comments or info.
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George Woodhead
George Woodhead
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Re: Vintage Horn Handle Knives

Post by Miller Bro's »

Can't keep up with all the nice knives posted recently, nice knives everyone! ::tu::

BWT wrote:Here is three I have. The folding Dirk is 7.7" closed but unfortunately the maker is worn off. The other two are a George Woodhead and a Harrison Brothers and Howson. Thanks for looking and any comments or info.
Wow, 7.7"!

Outstanding old knife Bill! :shock: 8) ::tu::
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Re: Vintage Horn Handle Knives

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Thanks Dimitri, that's wrong, it's 7.5". I didn't notice when I posted. Thanks for the comments!!
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Re: Vintage Horn Handle Knives

Post by Miller Bro's »

Your welcome, could I see a close up of the bolster? Very unusual design.
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Re: Vintage Horn Handle Knives

Post by LongBlade »

This thread is exploding with nice horn - great knives all!!

Bill - That dirk has one nice long piece of horn and is very cool 8) ! However that Woodhead really is appealing to me ::nod:: - what’s the closed length of the Woodhead? Woodhead was a well known Bowie maker and made pocket knives as well in mid to later 1800s...
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Re: Vintage Horn Handle Knives

Post by BWT »

Sorry about the inside photos Dimitri, going to be gone the next couple days, I just wish it had a maker on the tang. Could be German? Lee the Woodhead is 3 1/8. Thanks for looking.
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Re: Vintage Horn Handle Knives

Post by FRJ »

Beautiful knives, Bill. ::tu:: ::tu::
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Re: Vintage Horn Handle Knives

Post by knife7knut »

A Humason & Beckley tuxedo pattern.
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Re: Vintage Horn Handle Knives

Post by FRJ »

Nice one, Ray. ::tu::
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Re: Vintage Horn Handle Knives

Post by wlf »

thegreedygulo wrote:And another H. Boker. The handles on this knife are supposed to be ram's horn according to the seller I bought it from years ago. I've never seen another one with handles quite like it, though it does remind me of some snakeskin bone I have seen on the OLD H. Bokers. ::shrug:: Opinions?
Do you have a picture of the pile side Roger?
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Re: Vintage Horn Handle Knives

Post by thegreedygulo »

Hey Lyle,
Unfortunately no. I looked around in my computer and evidently I only photographed the shield side. To the best of my memory though, it is very similar on the pile side.
A pocket knife is still an intimate personal possession of the individual who carries it and consequently deserves the best of materials, finish and workmanship in its production. (Quoted from Boker's 1928 cutlery catalog).
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Re: Vintage Horn Handle Knives

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FRJ wrote:Beautiful knives, Bill. ::tu:: ::tu::
Thanks Joe!!!
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Re: Vintage Horn Handle Knives

Post by thegreedygulo »

tongueriver wrote:
thegreedygulo wrote:Nice knives guys! Here's some H. Bokers to add to the mix.
I am loving everything I see in this thread, but I just wanted to say that Roger's Bokers are the best Boker collection in the world; this little snapshot is no more than that. I am in awe. :shock: ::tu:: ::tu:: :shock: ::tu:: ::tu:: ::tu::
Thanks Cal!
A pocket knife is still an intimate personal possession of the individual who carries it and consequently deserves the best of materials, finish and workmanship in its production. (Quoted from Boker's 1928 cutlery catalog).
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Re: Vintage Horn Handle Knives

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BWT wrote:Sorry about the inside photos Dimitri, going to be gone the next couple days, I just wish it had a maker on the tang. Could be German? Lee the Woodhead is 3 1/8. Thanks for looking.
Thanks Bill, I have seen that bolster design before but I can't remember where at the moment.
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Re: Vintage Horn Handle Knives

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Here's a few more knives with horn handles.......
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Re: Vintage Horn Handle Knives

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Three very nice looking unusual knives Dimitri, my kinda knives, thanks for sharing ::tu:: ::tu::
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Re: Vintage Horn Handle Knives

Post by LongBlade »

Nice knives and cool horn variety Dimitri ::tu:: ::tu:: ....
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Re: Vintage Horn Handle Knives

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Thanks Lee! :D

Bill, I just remembered where I seen that bolster design. This set is from England circa late 1700's very large and ornate, made for the very wealthy. Photo courtesy of the Sheffield museum.
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Re: Vintage Horn Handle Knives

Post by BWT »

Thanks Dimitri, definitely the same design on the bolsters. This is one of the knives, will never know who made it,where it was made or when it was made, but that's okay I was just excited to find it. ::handshake::
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Re: Vintage Horn Handle Knives

Post by JAMESC41001 »

Here is the only horn handle knife I own. Looks like horn to me at least. I am not sure about this one. I have not seen another horn handle Honk or Napanoch. Napanoch did make this pattern. The blades, shield, and tang are correct. It is unusual if it is indeed horn. Posting it here to see what the consensus is. Hope the pic is good enough.
horn.jpg
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Re: Vintage Horn Handle Knives

Post by LongBlade »

Nice knife Jay ::tu:: and nice informational ad for patent stag - if the illustration is patent stag it no doubt looks different than other handles in question... IMO - Just based on photo and limited enlargement- I’m not sure your knife handles are horn as I’m not seeing the hair-like striations - looks more to be a dark celluloid or smooth black composition ::hmm:: ..
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Re: Vintage Horn Handle Knives

Post by JAMESC41001 »

You may be right Lee
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Re: Vintage Horn Handle Knives

Post by wlf »

United Cutlery Co Austria 3 3/4" Inlaid with ?s.
There you go Lee
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