deterioration of horn buttplate

[Rob]

Does anyone understand the how and why of the deterioration of horn buttplates?

I have one that is seriously deteriorated, yet the rifle itself is in relatively good condition, not at all like the buttplate.

Could it be some sort of chemical reaction with gun oils or bore cleaning fluids? Is this a possibility?

Here it is, compared with a similar but well-preserved example.

 

[m1008]

Can always do a test with your fingernail clippings. See if whatever chemicals your using eats it.

 

[gaff]

It most likely is not horn, but cellulose or some other early form of plastic. Water or chemicals will destroy them. Considering it's probably 100 years old, maybe time to start looking for a replacement.
It might take some time to find an original but there out there.

 

[Rob]

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[m1008]

You can remove it and burn the back side with a pin to test it if you want. Horn is keratin, has a distinct smell if you burn it

 

[Rob]

It is horn.

 

[tiriaq]

Being a natural organic material, I wonder if horn could be attacked by mold or fungus?

 

[kamlooky]

Any signs of a slip on pad that was used on this rifle?
Interaction between the two?

 

[gaff]

looked online and found gungrip .com they want $20 for their replacement ones. I'm also inclined to think Tiriaq is on the right path.

 

[guntech]

I have one old horn plate and screws I would sell... pm me if any interest.

5.25 inches by 1.7 inches

 

[Rob]

I thought it might have stood in some gasoline, like in the bottom of a boat...or maybe just water.

 

[jamesharrison]

Or at the time it was made it was already an old piece of horn. I've had the same thing happen with grip caps [that looked like your butt-plate] and a fore-end tip, which split into a bunch of pieces along the "grain" lines.

Unfortunately, because horn is a natural product, I do not think it is much different than the splits in wood when improperly dried out.

Presumably, you've seen powder horns with splits along the "grain"? Same, same.

 

[hunter5425]

Can horn be stabilized by "cactus Juice" like wood scales for knives? It's porous so it would take it up and hopefully not react.

 

[Baribal]

If it's not soft, you still may try to clean it. If it's soft, then it's done.

 

[dilly]

The lower example in your first post with the Mauser name is not horn. It’s a type of hard rubber material similar to what a pipe stem is made of.

 

[Rob]

I cleaned it and it looks a bit better, but not by a lot.

 

[Rob]

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[sean69]

Does anyone understand the how and why of the deterioration of horn buttplates?

I have one that is seriously deteriorated, yet the rifle itself is in relatively good condition, not at all like the buttplate.

Could it be some sort of chemical reaction with gun oils or bore cleaning fluids? Is this a possibility?

Here it is, compared with a similar but well-preserved example.

If I were to guess, it would be that someone tried to treat it with something at some point, or long term water damage though... I would expect the stock to be water damaged in that case.

If I were not to guess - I would go looking for a horners group ("he who works with horn") and see what could be up - powder horns last hundreds of years and never look that bad....

 

[gunsaholic]

I have had a couple of vintage shotguns with horn butt pads that were the same way . They were roughly 100 years old.

 

[Ashcroft]

No surprise, it’s battered and beaten, hard used and seldom cared for. The marks on the stock show similar use although the stock may have been refinished eons ago. Horn buttplates can be quite fragile and doesn’t stand up well to abrasion. Some, if little used and cared for seem to hold up quite well but most end up either badly scaled, separated or sloughing like this one. Then they were replaced and thrown away, that’s why we don’t see more of them. This one is beyond salvage, it’s as good as it’s ever going to be.