Forend Tip

01 February 2009, 02:42

Sevens

Forend Tip

It seems that many of the big bores are accented with forend tips on the stock. Does the forend tip serve any purpose beyond aesthetic? Also, I notice that the majority are ebony, some have cherry wood, and a few have horn. What else do people use for forend tips? Hippo tusks, rhino toenail, stone?

Thanks,

____________________________

If you died tomorrow, what would you have done today ...

2018 Zimbabwe - Tuskless w/ Nengasha Safaris
2011 Mozambique - Buffalo w/ Mashambanzou Safaris

01 February 2009, 02:54

Michael Robinson

Purely aesthetic. I like ebony. Folks used to use horn, but it tends to crack and shrink.

Mike

Wilderness is my cathedral, and hunting is my prayer.

01 February 2009, 02:59

JBrown

quote:
Does the forend tip serve any purpose beyond aesthetic?

I respected Finn Aagaard above all others and he said that the FE tip served no purpose other than aesthetics. This is one of the few things on which I would differ with him.

I think a FE tip made from a wood, such as ebony, that is harder than the stock itself serves to protect the end grain on the forend from moisture and shows less wear from normal bumps.

I am no expert, but I can't imagine using horn on a hunting rifle. Some do seem to like it so it must not be as bad as I think.

Jason

"You're not hard-core, unless you live hard-core."
_______________________

Hunting in Africa is an adventure. The number of variables involved preclude the possibility of a perfect hunt. Some problems will arise. How you decide to handle them will determine how much you enjoy your hunt.

Just tell yourself, "it's all part of the adventure." Remember, if Robert Ruark had gotten upset every time problems with Harry
Selby's flat bed truck delayed the safari, Horn of the Hunter would have read like an indictment of Selby. But Ruark rolled with the punches, poured some gin, and enjoyed the adventure.

-Jason Brown

01 February 2009, 04:05

ozhunter

I have found Ebony a little brittle and susceptible to cracking.
I do have rifles with Rosewood, Buff horn and Ebony fore end's though.

02 February 2009, 04:04

Duane Wiebe

quote:
Originally posted by ozhunter:
I have found Ebony a little brittle and susceptible to cracking.
I do have rifles with Rosewood, Buff horn and Ebony fore end's though.

Buff horn is very tradiional, can you come up with it in Australia? Haven't had this for many years..might be an export import problem?

02 February 2009, 05:49

Sevens

quote:
Originally posted by Duane Wiebe:
Buff horn is very tradiional, can you come up with it in Australia?

You could use water buffalo horn. Plenty of those in Australia.

____________________________

If you died tomorrow, what would you have done today ...

2018 Zimbabwe - Tuskless w/ Nengasha Safaris
2011 Mozambique - Buffalo w/ Mashambanzou Safaris

02 February 2009, 20:28

Scrollcutter

I bought an entire buff horn from a knife makers supply a few years back.

Is there a problem getting horn now?

Roger Kehr
Kehr Engraving Company
(360)456-0831

02 February 2009, 21:02

tiggertate

Not that I'm aware of unless it is very recent. Almost all of the imported horn is water buffalo from SE Asia. Most of it comes from the Phillipines but they may collect it from many sources. I have read in a few sources that most of the pre-war guns were water buffalo too.

Texas Knife Supply usually has a 55 gallon barrel or two of whole horns at their shop.

"Experience" is the only class you take where the exam comes before the lesson.

02 February 2009, 21:26

cmfic1

How 'bout African Blackwood? Pros/ Cons?

Would any one have a pic or two of what this stuff looks like?

Rod

--------------------------------
"A hunter should not choose the cal, cartridge, and bullet that will kill an animal when everything is right; rather, he should choose ones that will kill the most efficiently when everything goes wrong"
Bob Hagel

Roger Kehr
Kehr Engraving Company
(360)456-0831

03 February 2009, 05:10

tiggertate

Blackwood looks a lot like ebony except you can see brown fibers in the grain. depending on the piece, it can be very subtle. It is very attractive and somewhat cheaper than solid black ebony.

Roger, I think you referred me to Texas Knife Supply long ago when we first started talking about my single shot (still in the works, BTW).

"Experience" is the only class you take where the exam comes before the lesson.

03 February 2009, 12:52

ozhunter

quote:
Originally posted by Duane Wiebe:
quote:
Originally posted by ozhunter:
I have found Ebony a little brittle and susceptible to cracking.
I do have rifles with Rosewood, Buff horn and Ebony fore end's though.

Buff horn is very tradiional, can you come up with it in Australia? Haven't had this for many years..might be an export import problem?

My Smith has some old Aus Buff horn floating around.
There must be tons of the stuff floating around up in the Northern Territory.
Would be worth talking to some of the Aus hunting outfitters at the show.

03 February 2009, 13:24

husky

I used Buffalo horn on my .505 Gibbs, very much because we found a lion killed Dugga boy while out hunting buffalo, and brought a piece of the horn with me back home.

So, every time I use the .505, the fore end tip reminds me about that buffalo hunt!

We will see how long it lasts..

____________________________

If you died tomorrow, what would you have done today ...

2018 Zimbabwe - Tuskless w/ Nengasha Safaris
2011 Mozambique - Buffalo w/ Mashambanzou Safaris

05 February 2009, 05:24

Duane Wiebe

A question: Ive come across horn buttplates that were worm eaten? I've heard that a short stint in the microwave prevents the problem....any experience?

05 February 2009, 15:39

ozhunter

quote:
Originally posted by Duane Wiebe:
A question: Ive come across horn buttplates that were worm eaten? I've heard that a short stint in the microwave prevents the problem....any experience?

Nuke em, sounds like a good plan.

05 February 2009, 16:24

jro45

With my 338 RUM I had my light fall down and on its way it chiped a peace of that Forend tip off. So I had my gunsmith make the other side of that tip look like the side that got chipped and he smothed the side that got chiped also. It looks a little different but not much.

08 February 2009, 04:37

zimbabwe

I have used Vermillion and Amaranth on quite a few rifles. I like the contrast but it's not everyones cup of tea. I think tips are a very personal like or dislike both in whether to have one and if so what wood. Definitely DON'T like horn. No real reason, just don't like it.

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Regards,

Chuck

"There's a saying in prize fighting, everyone's got a plan until they get hit"

Michael Douglas "The Ghost And The Darkness"