Decades ago I used to dress Horn tipped Shepherds Crooks and Walking Sticks. Rams horn could be easily bent after boiling for an hour or two (depending in size). Buffalo Horn was far more difficult to work and I found that the boiling and hot air gun methods did not get the required temperature. What I and other Northumbrian Stick Dressers used was a small hand held butane blow torch (Used by plumbers for soldered joints). Great care has to be taken with this method as it is easy to burn the horn, the torch flame has to be continually on the move. The outer surface is easily warmed up, but the heat must be allowed to penetrate to the very centre of the horn or bending will not be successful and the horn will crack under the strain.
Bending Black Buffalo Horn is an art and not learned in an hour or two. Finishing the outer surface is quite simple, simply file to shape, sand with wet and dry paper until very smooth and then use metal polish in either liquid or wadding form, a finish like glass can be easily obtained. Sheep and Goat horn is easily bent after boiling for an hour or so it's just Black Buffalo horn that is difficult to do.
Harry
