Question: was it common for smooth polished buffalo horn buttplates without any texturing?

Also, does anyone have any photos of tasteful texturing?

Background:
I trued up the rifle butt wood to buttplate lines tonight on a pre-war sporter. In the process I removed the buffalo horn buttplate to do some work on it.

It had original lines that ran horizontal in the middle of the buttplate - between the top and bottom screws. However, the lines were caddywumpus and not perfectly perpendicular to the sides - off quite a bit.

So I filed out the lines and then progressively sanded the buttplate up to 600 grit with oil and then used a felt pad and rottenstone on it.

I had wanted to get it redone with some new lines/checkering, but is looks incredible now - a deep polished black with the character from the horn showing as faint white highlights.

So I'm thinking not to redo it and leave as is.

However, I'm concerned about it slipping on my shoulder.

If you go back to the "Scholarship Rifle" thread, there's a series of photos of Duane checkering the horn buttplate.

quote:

Originally posted by Woodhits:
If you go back to the "Scholarship Rifle" thread, there's a series of photos of Duane checkering the horn buttplate.

Regards, Joe

Thanks - that's really nice. It still obscures the beauty of the buffalo horn, but the pattern is nice and very functional.

I will have to look a bit and see if I have a picture of the horn butt plate on my older Honold Mauser from the late 30's. It has almost a weave pattern cut into it. Works well and is attractive.

I was angry with myself, I scuffed part of the butt plate after holding the rifle for a few hours butt resting on the ground. I'll try and see if I cannot touch it up a bit using part of your method.

A little late to the game but I saved these two pics a long time ago. Jeff's Outfitters sells horn buttplate blanks for $30.


I think the horn grip cap is one of the nicer treatments I've ever seen.

Nice!