Giraffe horn????

roanoa · 11th May 2009, 01:00 AM

Ever so often I see Ethiopian swords with a hilt that is advertised as GIRAFFE HORN. I have serious doubts that such a thing exists. As far as I know, prehistoric giraffes had "horns" (antlers, really) that resembled that of a moose. Antlers, as we know, are attached to boney bases that are part of the skull. The giraffes as we now know them, have boney growths of the skull that are not horns at all and may be a left over from the time when they did have antlers. I have asked a friend (Kenyan born and raised, professional hunter and, at a time, game warden) about it and he was puzzled by my question. Those protusions look like horns, but they are bone and part of the skull. How can anyone make an "amber translucent fibrous" sword handle out of it? I have to admit that I have never seen a giraffe skull, so I do not want to come to the wrong conclusion. I simply wish to get to the bottom of this myth....
Comments, anyone?

David · 11th May 2009, 01:19 AM

Here you go.

ariel · 11th May 2009, 01:26 AM

I think what is advertised as " Giraffe Horn" may be actually giraffe's hoof.

ariel · 11th May 2009, 01:44 AM

BTW, are hooves from other animals used in swordmaking?

Lew · 11th May 2009, 02:08 AM

http://www.giraffebone.co.za/web/about_us.asp

Bone no horn

This is the hoof.

Lew

ariel · 11th May 2009, 02:24 AM

I am talking about the amber-colored stuff on some jambiyas, not slabs of bone.

Lew · 11th May 2009, 11:44 AM

Ariel

This hoof seems black in color so I can't understand how an amber color hilt would come out of it?

ALEX · 11th May 2009, 12:13 PM

There are some discussions about Giraffe bone in this thread: link
Also, Giraffe bone has been known to be used on Ottoman handles. Here is example of one.
I've seen it being sold in slabs out of Africa, and it does have an amberish tone.

Lew · 11th May 2009, 12:30 PM

I still think this amber translucent material is a form of cattle horn which would be more readily available than giraffe hoofs.

ariel · 11th May 2009, 01:10 PM

Well, seems I know neither hoof nor horn about hooves and horns.

No bones about it...

VANDOO · 11th May 2009, 05:46 PM

IM NOT A GIRAFFE EXPERT BUT DO KNOW A LITTLE THE HOOVES ARE OFTEN 17 INCHES DIAMETER OR LONG? AND SOMETIMES LARGER ON AN ADULT. IT IS SAID CROCODILES GET OUT OF THE WAY WHEN THEY COME TO DRINK AS THEY CAN BREAK A CROC'S BACK. THEY WOULD CERTIANLY BE THICK AND HEAVY ENOUGH GIVEN THE SIZE OF THE HOOF AND ANIMAL AND WOULD HAVE TO BE VERY STRONG GIVEN THE WAY A GIRAFFE RUNS. THE HOOF LIKE THE HORN HAS A BONE CORE WITH A HORN LIKE COVER AS DO OTHER HOOFED ANIMALS.
ANIMALS WITH HORNS USUALLY HAVE A HORN CORE OF BONE AND A SHETH OR COVERING OVER THAT WHICH IS THE PART WE CALL HORN. PERHAPS THE GIRAFFE HAS A HORN COVERING FOR ITS HORNS? NEXT TIME I GO TO THE ZOO I WILL FIND OUT. I HAVE SOME HANDLES OF THIS STRANGE MATERIAL AND IT IS DIFFERENT FROM ANY OTHER HORN TYPES I HAVE SEEN. I WILL DIG AROUND AND GET OUT THE OLD MICROSCOPE AND SEE IF ANYTHING CAN BY LEARNED BY TAKEING A VERY CLOSE LOOK.

11th May 2009, 01:00 AM	#1
roanoa Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 233	Giraffe horn???? Ever so often I see Ethiopian swords with a hilt that is advertised as GIRAFFE HORN. I have serious doubts that such a thing exists. As far as I know, prehistoric giraffes had "horns" (antlers, really) that resembled that of a moose. Antlers, as we know, are attached to boney bases that are part of the skull. The giraffes as we now know them, have boney growths of the skull that are not horns at all and may be a left over from the time when they did have antlers. I have asked a friend (Kenyan born and raised, professional hunter and, at a time, game warden) about it and he was puzzled by my question. Those protusions look like horns, but they are bone and part of the skull. How can anyone make an "amber translucent fibrous" sword handle out of it? I have to admit that I have never seen a giraffe skull, so I do not want to come to the wrong conclusion. I simply wish to get to the bottom of this myth.... Comments, anyone?

11th May 2009, 01:19 AM	#2
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,119	Here you go. Attached Images

11th May 2009, 01:44 AM	#4
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	BTW, are hooves from other animals used in swordmaking? Last edited by ariel; 11th May 2009 at 02:19 AM.

11th May 2009, 02:08 AM	#5
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	http://www.giraffebone.co.za/web/about_us.asp Bone no horn This is the hoof. Lew Attached Images

11th May 2009, 11:44 AM	#7
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Ariel This hoof seems black in color so I can't understand how an amber color hilt would come out of it? Attached Images

11th May 2009, 01:26 AM	#3
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	I think what is advertised as " Giraffe Horn" may be actually giraffe's hoof.

11th May 2009, 02:24 AM	#6
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	I am talking about the amber-colored stuff on some jambiyas, not slabs of bone.

11th May 2009, 12:13 PM	#8
ALEX Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 936	There are some discussions about Giraffe bone in this thread: link Also, Giraffe bone has been known to be used on Ottoman handles. Here is example of one. I've seen it being sold in slabs out of Africa, and it does have an amberish tone. Attached Images

11th May 2009, 12:30 PM	#9
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	I still think this amber translucent material is a form of cattle horn which would be more readily available than giraffe hoofs.

11th May 2009, 01:10 PM	#10
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Well, seems I know neither hoof nor horn about hooves and horns. No bones about it... Last edited by ariel; 11th May 2009 at 04:54 PM.

11th May 2009, 05:46 PM	#11
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	IM NOT A GIRAFFE EXPERT BUT DO KNOW A LITTLE THE HOOVES ARE OFTEN 17 INCHES DIAMETER OR LONG? AND SOMETIMES LARGER ON AN ADULT. IT IS SAID CROCODILES GET OUT OF THE WAY WHEN THEY COME TO DRINK AS THEY CAN BREAK A CROC'S BACK. THEY WOULD CERTIANLY BE THICK AND HEAVY ENOUGH GIVEN THE SIZE OF THE HOOF AND ANIMAL AND WOULD HAVE TO BE VERY STRONG GIVEN THE WAY A GIRAFFE RUNS. THE HOOF LIKE THE HORN HAS A BONE CORE WITH A HORN LIKE COVER AS DO OTHER HOOFED ANIMALS. ANIMALS WITH HORNS USUALLY HAVE A HORN CORE OF BONE AND A SHETH OR COVERING OVER THAT WHICH IS THE PART WE CALL HORN. PERHAPS THE GIRAFFE HAS A HORN COVERING FOR ITS HORNS? NEXT TIME I GO TO THE ZOO I WILL FIND OUT. I HAVE SOME HANDLES OF THIS STRANGE MATERIAL AND IT IS DIFFERENT FROM ANY OTHER HORN TYPES I HAVE SEEN. I WILL DIG AROUND AND GET OUT THE OLD MICROSCOPE AND SEE IF ANYTHING CAN BY LEARNED BY TAKEING A VERY CLOSE LOOK.