Natural horn is made of 2 parts:
The solid tip at the uppermost part of the horn is the most precious and most aesthetic part of the horn. The oldest part is, in fact, the densest.
It is also only a tiny part of the whole horn, it usually represents barely one third of the entire length of the horn!
Horn is highly prized by cutlers and frequently their material of choice. Several animal species are selected for the manufacture of unique and distinctive handles: buffalo (black horn only), zebu (black, blonde or marbled horn), impala, antelope, springbok, kudu...
Craftsmen generally use the horns of cattle from Africa and Asia. The horns of goats, rams, chamois and sheep are often chosen for the design and manufacture of regional knives.