A buffalo horn handle knife uses pressed water buffalo horn for the grip. People search for it because horn goes very dark, almost black, with faint amber streaking where the light catches it, and because it feels dense and cool in the hand in a way that wood does not. It is the material to pick when you want a knife that looks severe rather than rustic.
The knives carrying it
Horn turns up across the range here. Folding pocket knives with blades near 2.75 to 3.5 inches, skinners and hunters at 4 to 5, gut hook knives, cleavers, chef knives and bowies at 7 to 8. Overall lengths sit from about 6.5 inches to 13. Steel is mainly Damascus of 1095 and 15N20, forge welded and acid etched at 58 to 60 HRC, with plain 1095 high carbon at 54 to 58 HRC on part of the range. Horn is often paired with pakka wood, ram horn or turquoise inlay and a brass bolster, since a solid black grip with no break in it can read as flat. Fixed blades ship in a stitched cowhide sheath.
Matching horn to the blade
Dark horn suits a polished Damascus blade because the pattern reads clearly against a plain grip. On a plain 1095 blade the same handle can look heavy, which is why most of the horn pieces here break the grip with a brass bolster, a pale spacer or a section of pakka wood. If you want the pattern to be the loudest thing on the knife, pick horn. If you want the handle to lead, pick antler or a figured wood instead.
How horn behaves
Horn is keratin. It is tougher than most people assume and it takes a polish that wood cannot, but it does not enjoy heat. Left on a dashboard in July it can warp or check, and left soaking it will eventually lift at the pins. Neither happens in ordinary use. A wipe with a soft cloth and an occasional touch of oil keeps the surface deep rather than chalky. If you are still deciding between horn, antler and stabilized wood, the materials guide sets out what each one does when it gets wet and cold. For blades where a dark handle suits the shape, look at the bowie knives and the hunting knives, and if it is going to live in a pocket instead, the folding pocket knives include horn scaled folders with brass and stag bolsters.
Free US shipping
On most pieces. Heavier and oversized ones carry a flat charge.
Hand Forged
Heated, hammered and ground by hand.
Engraving available
Names, dates or Norse runes on most pieces.
buffalo horn handle knife
Inkbraid Hand Forged Full Tang Kukri with Buffalo Horn Handle & Etched Knotwork Spine | About 16 Inches Overall | Brass Fittings and Leather Sheath | Norse Camp Gift | RK-2203
Original price was: $209.00.$177.65Current price is: $177.65.
Pitchpoint Hand Forged Blackened Tanto Knife with Buffalo Horn Scales & Brass Bolster | About 11 Inches Overall | Etched Knotwork and Leather Belt Sheath | Outdoor Gift | RK-2201
Original price was: $169.00.$143.65Current price is: $143.65.
Wolfmark Hand Forged Damascus Seax Knife | 13 Inch Blade with Etched Wolf Head | Buffalo Horn Handle and Leather Belt Sheath | Norse Hunting Gift | RK-1597
Original price was: $319.00.$271.15Current price is: $271.15.
Curvefang Hand Forged Damascus Kukri Knife with Buffalo Horn Handle & Karda Chakmak Companion Set | Camp Chopping Gift | RK-1582
Original price was: $259.00.$220.15Current price is: $220.15.
Stagrose Hand Forged Damascus Skinner Knife with Rosewood and Stag Handle & Hand Stitched Leather Sheath | Hunting Skinning Gift | RK-1102
Price range: $109.65 through $143.65
Pakkaclaw Hand Forged Damascus Karambit Knife with Coloured Pakka Wood Handle and Steel Bolster & Leather Sheath | Tactical Collector Gift | RK-1098
Original price was: $149.00.$126.65Current price is: $126.65.
Forgeskin Hand Forged High Carbon Steel Skinner Knife with Wood Handle & Leather Sheath | Hunting Skinning Gift | RK-1074
Original price was: $209.00.$177.65Current price is: $177.65.
Bonebrass Hand Forged Damascus Folding Pocket Knife with Olive Wood Rosewood and Bone Handle and Brass and Red Fiber Spacers | Everyday Carry Gift | RK-1070-1
Original price was: $99.00.$84.15Current price is: $84.15.
Inlayspire Hand Forged High Carbon Steel Dagger Knife with Rosewood Handle & Leather Sheath | Collector and Display Gift | RK-1069
Original price was: $229.00.$194.65Current price is: $194.65.
Roseclaw Hand Forged Damascus Karambit Knife with Rosewood Handle & Handmade Leather Sheath | Tactical Everyday Carry and Collector Gift | RK-1068
Original price was: $189.00.$160.65Current price is: $160.65.
Copperskin Hand Forged Copper Damascus Skinner Knife with Resin Handle & Premium Leather Sheath and Built In Sharpener | Hunting Skinning Gift | RK-1066
Original price was: $229.00.$194.65Current price is: $194.65.
Hornedge Hand Forged Damascus Folding Pocket Knife with Buffalo Horn Handle and Brass Bolster & Handmade Leather Sheath | Everyday Carry Collector Gift | RK-1065
Original price was: $129.00.$109.65Current price is: $109.65.
Walnutfold Hand Forged Damascus Folding Pocket Knife with Walnut Wood Handle and Brass Bolster & Handmade Leather Sheath | Everyday Carry Gift for Him | RK-1061
Original price was: $129.00.$109.65Current price is: $109.65.
Rosecamp Hand Forged Damascus Camp Knife with Rosewood Handle and Damascus Guard and Black Spacer & Leather Sheath | Camping Outdoor Gift | RK-1053
Price range: $84.15 through $135.15
Mosaicfold Hand Forged Stainless Steel Folding Pocket Knife with Resin Handle and Black Mosaic Pins & Leather Sheath | Everyday Carry Gift | RK-1047
Original price was: $109.00.$92.65Current price is: $92.65.
Turquoiseclaw Hand Forged Damascus Karambit Knife with Turquoise Bull Horn and Resin Handle and Damascus Finger Ring | Tactical Collector Gift | RK-1046
Original price was: $129.00.$109.65Current price is: $109.65.
Stagsteel Hand Forged Stainless Steel Folding Pocket Knife with Stag Horn Handle & Leather Sheath and Engraving Available | Everyday Carry Gift | RK-1032
Original price was: $109.00.$92.65Current price is: $92.65.
Mosaicsax Hand Forged Damascus Viking Seax Knife with Mosaic Bone Handle and Brass Bolster & Leather Sheath | Norse Collector Gift | RK-1029
Price range: $126.65 through $169.15
Ramfold Hand Forged Damascus Folding Pocket Knife with Ram Horn Handle & Leather Sheath | Everyday Carry Gift | RK-1017
Price range: $84.15 through $92.65
Copperfin Hand Forged Damascus Fish Fillet Knife with Polished Copper Handle & Cowhide Leather Sheath | Fishing Camping and Collector Gift | RK-1011
Original price was: $119.00.$101.15Current price is: $101.15.
Brasscamp Hand Forged Damascus Camp Knife with Walnut Wood Handle and Engraved Brass Bolster & Leather Sheath | Camping Outdoor Gift | RK-704
Price range: $143.65 through $152.15
Steelfold Hand Forged Damascus Folding Pocket Knife with Pakka Wood Handle and Steel Bolster | Everyday Carry and Collector Gift | RK-697
Original price was: $99.00.$84.15Current price is: $84.15.
