Buffalo bone knife handle

[smokehouseman]

I recently got hold of some buffalo bones that had been oven baked and would like to use them for a knife handle. What is the proper treatment of the bone from this point on? Should they be soaked in anything to get rid of the grease and oil and for how long?

 

[chipper]

You'll probably want to dig out any marrow for a sandwich first and cut all the loose meat and stuff off for supper providing the buffalo agrees.

I've soaked the bones and antlers in bleach and finished with a wire brush. It really eats the goo off if you leave it in long enough.

You might want to die the bone, it will be quite pale. I've used yellow and brown rit berrys in a solution, in two different steps to age the bone.

I've also simply used brown leather dye to give the bone an aged look too.

Regards
Loyd Shindelbower
Loveland Colorado

 

[paope]

soaking a bone knife handle in hot tea does a nice job

 

household medicine cabinet usually will have an real good die in it, Iodine , you most likely will want to try it on a bone you are not planing on useing to see what shade it will turn it. Also neatsfoot oil , rubbed in really well will turn it a soft brown when applied several times and hand buffed.
I have not tried tru-oil or boiled linseed oil , but now wonder what color they would turn out when hand rubbed into the bone.