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
Wengehunter Hand Forged Damascus Gut Hook Hunting Knife with Stag Horn and Wenge Wood Handle | Deer Field Dressing Gift | RK-610
Original price was: $99.00.$84.15Current price is: $84.15.
Ramcrown Hand Forged Damascus Hunting Knife with Ram Horn Handle | Hunting Camping and Collector Gift | RK-604
Original price was: $109.00.$92.65Current price is: $92.65.
Pakkacamp Hand Forged Damascus Camp Knife with Pakka Wood Handle | Bushcraft Camping and Outdoor Gift | RK-601
Original price was: $129.00.$109.65Current price is: $109.65.
Pinecrest Hand Forged High Carbon Steel Skinner Knife with Stag Horn and Pine Cone Handle and Steel Guard and Bolster | Hunting Skinning Gift | RK-597
Original price was: $109.00.$92.65Current price is: $92.65.
Hornhook Hand Forged Damascus Gut Hook Hunting Knife with Buffalo Horn Handle | Hunting Field Dressing and Collector Gift | RK-10493
Original price was: $129.00.$109.65Current price is: $109.65.
Tantoguard Hand Forged D2 Steel Tanto Knife with Engraved Stag Horn and Bull Horn Handle and Steel Guard and Bolster | Tactical Gift | RK-583
Original price was: $129.00.$109.65Current price is: $109.65.
Blackguard Hand Forged D2 Steel Bowie Knife with Stag Horn and Black Micarta Handle and Steel Guard and Bolster | Hunting Bowie Gift | RK-574
Price range: $126.65 through $169.15
Campmaster Hand Forged Damascus Camp Knife with Stag Horn and Stacked Leather Handle and Damascus Guard and Butt Cap | Bushcraft Camping Gift | RK-562
Price range: $101.15 through $152.15
Gurkhastag Hand Forged Damascus Kukri Knife with Stag Horn and Wood Handle and Damascus Guard and Butt Cap & Leather Sheath | Machete Camping Gift | RK-561
Original price was: $159.00.$135.15Current price is: $135.15.
Trailhorn Hand Forged Damascus Tracker Knife with Buffalo Horn Handle & Leather Sheath | Bushcraft Survival and Camping Gift | RK-541
Original price was: $149.00.$126.65Current price is: $126.65.
Trailwood Hand Forged Damascus Tracker Knife with Hardwood Handle & Leather Sheath | Bushcraft Survival and Camping Gift | RK-539
Original price was: $129.00.$109.65Current price is: $109.65.
Tantostag Hand Forged Damascus Tanto Knife with Stag Horn and Buffalo Horn Handle & Leather Sheath | Tactical Collector Gift | RK-532
Original price was: $129.00.$109.65Current price is: $109.65.
Fireleaf Hand Forged Damascus Chef Knife with Wood Handle and Steel Bolster and Fiber Spacers & Leather Sheath | Chef Kitchen and Wedding Gift | RK-500
Original price was: $139.00.$118.15Current price is: $118.15.
Timberedge Hand Forged Damascus Bowie Knife with Wood Handle & Leather Sheath | Hunting Camping and Fathers Day Gift | RK-492
Price range: $109.65 through $143.65
Sandbone Hand Forged Damascus Bowie Knife with Dyed Camel Bone Handle & Leather Sheath | Hunting and Camping Bowie Gift | RK-488
Price range: $135.15 through $152.15
Bluetide Hand Forged Damascus Fish Fillet Knife with Blue Resin Handle & Leather Sheath | Fishing and Anglers Collector Gift | RK-481
Price range: $101.15 through $118.15
Streamwood Hand Forged Damascus Fish Fillet Knife with Wood Handle & Leather Sheath | Fishing Camping and Anglers Gift | RK-480
Original price was: $119.00.$101.15Current price is: $101.15.
Longrose Hand Forged Damascus Bowie Knife with Rosewood Handle and Steel Bolster and Black Fiber Spacer & Leather Sheath | Hunting Bowie Collector Gift | RK-473
Price range: $152.15 through $177.65
Stagcarry Hand Forged Damascus Folding Pocket Knife with Stag Horn Handle & Cowhide Leather Sheath | Gentlemans Everyday Carry Gift | RK-428
Price range: $84.15 through $160.65
Bullhorn Hand Forged Damascus Folding Pocket Knife with Camel Bone and Bull Horn Handle & Cowhide Leather Sheath | Everyday Carry Collector Gift | RK-426
Price range: $92.65 through $109.65
Camelbone Hand Forged Damascus Skinner Knife with Camel Bone and Hardwood Handle & Leather Sheath | Deer Skinning and Hunting Gift | RK-407
Original price was: $99.00.$84.15Current price is: $84.15.
Emberhawk Hand Forged Damascus Tomahawk Axe | 20 Inch | Rosewood Handle with Leather Blade Cover and Gift Box | Hunting Camping Collector Gift | RK-404
Original price was: $159.00.$135.15Current price is: $135.15.
