doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DIY Gunsmithing @ doublegunshop.com re-fresh horn butt plate

Refinished the stock on a Husky hammer gun. The butt plate needed trimmed. From the stink I know it is horn. The plate has some nice checkering with a border. There is enough oxidation on the plate it looks as old as it is, at least 116 years. What is the best way to freshen it up so it only looks 50? Thanks, MKII

I just did one on a Darne that was in really bad shape. I cleaned it using a stiff nylon brush to remove most of the crud. Mine had what looked like plastic wood on it which I cleaned off the best I could. It was cracked so I filled the cracks with epoxy. I used black dye which made it a even color. Then I polished it by using wax. Came out ok.

Buffalo horn is composed of the protein keratin so it is chemically similar to fingernails and horses hooves. I read that groomers of million dollar race horses have strengthened the horses hooves and noticed that their own fingernails became thicker and stronger when they applied hoof care products like Barielle, Gena Healthy Hoof Cream and Hard As Hoof. It might be worth experimenting on a broken old horn buttplate.

I have improved the appearance of old hard rubber or gutta percha buttplates by wiping them down with D.O.T. 3 or 4 brake fluid. I read that there is a rubber preservative in brake fluid and that antique radio restorers use it on old brittle knobs. I don't think I would try brake fluid on horn though.

I have used Tea Tree Oil in the past. I am not sure if it was here or on another site I ran into a post where someone that worked in a museum said this is what they used for preserving things like powder horns, eating utensils and such to keep them from drying out and cracking, it also rejuvenated old horn.

I have used it with excellent results on trigger guards, buttplates and horn insets on forends. I got mine at one of the local Vitamin/health stores. Not cheap but it doesn't take much. Coat the item and let it sink in. Smells good too.

Hope this helps..
WBLDon