Identifying horn species on a yatagan hilt

[Battara]

I have handled albino carabao horn before and it doesn't seem to be translucent like rhino, nor is it as fiberous as rhino.

If there is an example of albino carabao horn that is translucent like this, please post so that we can compare and learn.

[ipostswords]

Some mildly magnified images

[mahratt]

Sorry for my bad english. My 5 cents. I’ll try to explain about the rhino horn. I think everyone knows that a rhino horn has a structure that is different from that of a cow horn.
The rhino horn consists of special very hard hair that has grown together. The result is a structure in which the fibers are arranged - in parallel.
This can be seen in the photographs with red arrows.
If we look at the cross section of the horn, we will see a structure that is somewhat similar to the points - these are transverse sections of hairs.

On the subject that we are discussing, we see "curls" (indicated by green arrows), which do not happen on the rhino horn. And we do not see the "points" that occur on the cross section of the rhino horn.

In addition, the rhino horn is never stratified by “scales” (indicated by a yellow arrow). But such a stratification is found on old products from cow horn ...

[Kubur]

Originally Posted by mahratt

Sorry for my bad english. My 5 cents. I’ll try to explain about the rhino horn. ...

Amazing demonstration, thank you
I also wonder about the properties of rhino horn.
Yes it was luxuous and expensive and therefore nice to have rhino horn grips.
But i think rhino is more resistant than bovine horn and less breakable.
Any idea about this?

[mahratt]

Originally Posted by Kubur

Amazing demonstration, thank you
I also wonder about the properties of rhino horn.
Yes it was luxuous and expensive and therefore nice to have rhino horn grips.
But i think rhino is more resistant than bovine horn and less breakable.
Any idea about this?

Thank you, Kubur

Yes, you're absolutely right, rhino is more resistant than bovine horn and less breakable.
Although, of course, cracks may also appear on it. Especially if the handle pads are thin. From what I saw - usually on such handles cracks appear next to the rivet.

[Rick]

Another Rhino horn property, it doesn't get slippery in a wet hand.