I have gotten good water buffalo horn from Boone Trading Company in the past. I have 4 stocks that have their horn on them - so far no cracks, warpage, or shrinkage. It spent about 6 weeks in the dry box prior to fitting. You can get 2 good forend tips out of one horn, 3 if you are lucky.

http://www.boonetrading.com/RawMaterials/RUWBH.html

The ebony from woodcraft is OK. It's not jet black. I think brown streakes could be stained to get the light spots black? I've never tried before, but I'll give it a shot.