Vintage Horn Handle Knives

[New_Windsor_NY]

Here's.....

J.O'.,

Great.....

Lyle,

2.....

Lyle,

Here's.....

Dimitri,

[Reverand]

What is a good way tell if the handle material is horn, bone, antler , or plain plastic?

Ranger 632, mostly just by handling hundreds of knives. I know that answer sounds trite, but I am serious. Over time you can normally spot the difference from across the room, usually.

Antler and bone are the closest in the way they feel, and can be difficult to tell apart if they are worn.
In very good light, you can detect subtle layers of color and density in bone, and it will have tiny spots called Haversin canals that were once tiny blood vessels.
Horn will often have striated colors, unless it is Asian Water Buffalo horn - it looks just like smooth black plastic.

You can always briefly touch a red-hot needle to an inconspicuous spot, if the knife is not very valuable.
If it melts, it is plastic.
If it smells like burned hair, it is horn.
If nothing happens, it is bone or antler.
If it explodes, it was celluloid!

[ranger632]

Thank you for the information,

[Miller Bro's]

Thanks Skip

[Miller Bro's]

I forgot to post this one in this thread.

[doglegg]

I forgot to post this one in this thread.

Glad you remembered. Beautiful horn.

[Ridgegrass]

Can we see the last line of the tang stamp? Levine lists a Walker & Co, Sheffield. Thanks. O'.

[New_Windsor_NY]

I.....

An absolutely GORGEOUS addition, Dimitri.

[Miller Bro's]

Thanks Floyd & Skip!

[Miller Bro's]

Can we see the last line of the tang stamp? Levine lists a Walker & Co, Sheffield. Thanks. O'.

Sure, here it is.

[Ridgegrass]

Thanks, can you make out the bottom word? Appreciate it. O'.

[New_Windsor_NY]

Thanks.....

Possibly LEEDS?
I also believe that the third line should say SWINEGATE.
When Googled, there is information on SWINEGATE, LEEDS.

[Ridgegrass]

Thanks Skip. I kind of thought that. I'm asking because it has that "Co that everyone says is a German characteristic but here it's on a British knife, (unless it's imported}. Just my curiosity. J.O'.

[Ridgegrass]

By the way, it also has "LTd". More curiosity". O'.

[ObsidianEdge]

Very cool knife MB!

[Ripster]

Thanks Skip. I kind of thought that. I'm asking because it has that "Co that everyone says is a German characteristic but here it's on a British knife, (unless it's imported}. Just my curiosity. J.O'.

Hey Ridge, you have a good eye ! That elevated small o ,underlined, has been an interesting conversation on a few other threads.
This is the first have seen it on a Sheffield knife if that is its origin. Many are posted here from Germany in other threads .
Stay warm

[Ridgegrass]

Yeah, although it's certainly found on a lot of German knives, I'm not sure it's exclusively German. It's a good thing to watch just for general identification study. I posted before, my Grandfather owned a stockyard business and his company stationary, etc. was imprinted withe C.E.Odell & Co. I think sometimes it's just a bygone affectation. J.O'.

[Ridgegrass]

That darn underline didn't shut off, just meant & Co.

[wlf]

Yeah, although it's certainly found on a lot of German knives, I'm not sure it's exclusively German. It's a good thing to watch just for general identification study. I posted before, my Grandfather owned a stockyard business and his company stationary, etc. was imprinted withe C.E.Odell & Co. I think sometimes it's just a bygone affectation. J.O'.

You're right about the bygone affection. Look at the stamp on my GEC farmers jacks.
But...
Goins made mistakes and there probably are a knife or too that doesn't follow the underlined uplifted little o theory. Just like every knife with a steel pin in the bolster may not be German. They are all excellent guidelines though.

AI or something took over and underlined my post. I don't know how that occurred and can't stop it. What did you do John?

[New_Windsor_NY]

Here's the link to the "UNDERLINED Cᴏ̲" topic or thread.
https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kn ... hp?t=83679

[Ridgegrass]

I forgot to turn off the underline after the o. If that's the worst AI ever does we'll be lucky. O'.

[Ridgegrass]

Skip that link was to a fun bunch of posts. Thanks. J.o.

[wlf]

Skip that link was to a fun bunch of posts. Thanks. J.o.

Great conversations I agree.AI confuses rather than helps me, I gotta catch up.

[Miller Bro's]

Very cool knife MB!

Thanks Mike!

[Miller Bro's]

My latest horn handle old knife......