How do you polish horn scales?

[Clack]

Hi,

I have a knife where the scale on back side sticks out too much. I want to grind down the side of the scale so that it matches with the liner. After grinding and sanding, can i just polish it with the same polishing brush i use for steel or do i need another brush? Also, can i use the same paste i use for metal?

Thank you.

[New_Windsor_NY]

Hi.....

Maybe an answer here?
viewforum.php?f=37

[djknife13]

I'm anxious to see what the knife makers and repairmen recommend you to do, but in the meantime, I'm curious if the knife is an old one, one you made or a recent made one you bought new with the issue that bothers you. Some old German ones I have came that way and I wouldn't mess with them because changing them will reduce their value. I have colored new scales on an old knife with leather dye or shoe polish, and then polish them up a little with Wenol metal polish. I've used that on old stag that was dried up and starting to crack and whatever is in the polish brought the stag back to life. I'll stay tuned to see if the experts say I'm giving out information they doesn't agree with me on. Good luck with your knife.____Dave

[Bill DeShivs]

Stag or horn?
Both can be polished, but working them is different.

[Clack]

I'm anxious to see what the knife makers and repairmen recommend you to do, but in the meantime, I'm curious if the knife is an old one, one you made or a recent made one you bought new with the issue that bothers you. Some old German ones I have came that way and I wouldn't mess with them because changing them will reduce their value. I have colored new scales on an old knife with leather dye or shoe polish, and then polish them up a little with Wenol metal polish. I've used that on old stag that was dried up and starting to crack and whatever is in the polish brought the stag back to life. I'll stay tuned to see if the experts say I'm giving out information they doesn't agree with me on. Good luck with your knife.____Dave

Yeah a new one that bothers me. I'm not that afraid of grinding the sides down a bit but i never polished natural horn material so dont know exactly the outcomes of it. If it turns out bad than indeed value will drop. Dont know, I'm still in doubt.

[Clack]

Stag or horn?
Both can be polished, but working them is different.

Cow horn =)

[jw517]

I use the white compound on a buffing wheel. Some of the older horn will not polish well I’ve found. The newer horn can be mirror polished almost. You can use a clean buffing wheel with no compound too. Horn does not really get hot from the buffer, in my experience.

[Bill DeShivs]

If you mean the side(s) of the horn are not flush- they can be filed down, sanded, and polished.

Your problem will be to keep from abrading the liner and backspring.

After sanding to 400-600 grit, horn can be buffed with 0000 steel wool and then polished on a buffing wheel with white or green compound.

It can also be polished with a cloth and Simichrome (or similar) polish, but it takes a while.

[Clack]

If you mean the side(s) of the horn are not flush- they can be filed down, sanded, and polished.

Your problem will be to keep from abrading the liner and backspring.

After sanding to 400-600 grit, horn can be buffed with 0000 steel wool and then polished on a buffing wheel with white or green compound.

It can also be polished with a cloth and Simichrome (or similar) polish, but it takes a while.

Thank you. The info i needed.

Jw517 you too thanks