Can you Identify Horn hilts from photographs and or sellers descriptions?

katana · 12th December 2006, 08:00 PM

I was wondering whether there are tell tale signs that a knife or sword is horn hilted. Many on this forum purchase knives etc. from the web with only photos and a description as to its 'provenance'. For instance this was described as 'wood' ...I think it's possibly horn...

Robert · 12th December 2006, 08:19 PM

Hi Katana,
To me this looks more like antler than horn. I'm sure others with more knowledge than I can give you a better idea.

Robert

Jens Nordlunde · 12th December 2006, 09:45 PM

Hi Katana,
I think Robert could be right - i don't think it is wood - what an odd sugestion.

DaveS · 12th December 2006, 10:39 PM

Katana: I have to agree with the others. I definitly don't think it is wood. It could be antler, because i have many antler and horn handles and they can both look pretty much alike, but this just seems to have more of a "horn" look to me.............Dave

Emanuel · 13th December 2006, 02:44 AM

From the pictures, I'm fooled. It really looks like stained wood to me...I can see a fibrous structure, but it could be wood grain. If you didn't bring the possibility that this might be a horn-hilted dagger, I'd be sold that you're showing a wooden object

I have a piece with antler hilt, but left in its rough state...I had no idea what polished antler looked like.

Can you post more pics of the whole thing?

Emanuel

Philip · 13th December 2006, 07:35 AM

Pictures can deceive, but I see the porous cellular structure of wood grain here. I find that once you grind the exterior "bark" off of antler, you end up with a dense, material that doesn't have a noticeable fibrous grain.

12th December 2006, 08:00 PM	#1
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,653	Can you Identify Horn hilts from photographs and or sellers descriptions? I was wondering whether there are tell tale signs that a knife or sword is horn hilted. Many on this forum purchase knives etc. from the web with only photos and a description as to its 'provenance'. For instance this was described as 'wood' ...I think it's possibly horn... Attached Images

13th December 2006, 02:44 AM	#5
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	From the pictures, I'm fooled. It really looks like stained wood to me...I can see a fibrous structure, but it could be wood grain. If you didn't bring the possibility that this might be a horn-hilted dagger, I'd be sold that you're showing a wooden object I have a piece with antler hilt, but left in its rough state...I had no idea what polished antler looked like. Can you post more pics of the whole thing? Emanuel Last edited by Manolo; 13th December 2006 at 04:55 AM.

12th December 2006, 08:19 PM	#2
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Hi Katana, To me this looks more like antler than horn. I'm sure others with more knowledge than I can give you a better idea. Robert

12th December 2006, 09:45 PM	#3
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,713	Hi Katana, I think Robert could be right - i don't think it is wood - what an odd sugestion.

12th December 2006, 10:39 PM	#4
DaveS Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 327	Katana: I have to agree with the others. I definitly don't think it is wood. It could be antler, because i have many antler and horn handles and they can both look pretty much alike, but this just seems to have more of a "horn" look to me.............Dave

13th December 2006, 07:35 AM	#6
Philip Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: California Posts: 1,036	Pictures can deceive, but I see the porous cellular structure of wood grain here. I find that once you grind the exterior "bark" off of antler, you end up with a dense, material that doesn't have a noticeable fibrous grain.