horse hoof for tip overlays?

[JW_Halverson]

Anyone ever use it? 

I have some LARGE pieces coming from a miniature horse rescue.  This poor horse had been badly abused and it's hooves were criminally overgrown.  They are sending me the cut off sections and I wanted to make tip overlays on a bow that I will raffle off or auction off to raise money for them.  I get the feeling I may be able to do some knife scales out of the deal, too.  But then I would need to make a knife. 

[sleek]

Wow, that is overgrown if you're making knife handles and tip overlays out of them.

[Traxx]

Im not sure if it would work.It may be too brittle.The extreme outer hoof wall is the only part that i would think would be hard enough and it is pretty thin.When i have examined hoof trimmings,after the trim and after is has dried,it tends to get pretty brittle .I dont know if i would trust it,for a tip overlay.

Chances are,based on your description,the horse experienced a case of laminitis or even full blown founder and in that case,the hoof walls integrity was compromised  as well.

[JW_Halverson]

Wow, that is overgrown if you're making knife handles and tip overlays out of them.

It was criminal cruelty, but good luck trying to get a state or county prosecutor to press charges in this state. Frankly, I am surprised that the court even awarded custody/ownership to the rescue. Recently, another rescue was blocked from feeding 18 head of horses starving to death (and 4 more were already dead on the ground), they were even threatened with criminal trespass charges if they so much as attempted. 

I am sure the horse had laminitis and foundered badly to boot.  I guess I will have to see what the material looks like when it gets here.  Either way, I will do what I can to raise a little cash for this group. 

[sleek]

The state should be charged with criminal negligence and assistance in committing a crime for allowing it to continue and for stopping relief.

[sleek]

Good luck to you. Your a good man Charlie Brown.

[DC]

I've used pet store chew hooves. They looked great. As far a lasting, I've only shot a couple hundred shots. They polish up great. I posted a pic in the Handles/Tips thread.

[JW_Halverson]

Those are likely beef hooves. 

[DC]

Yeah, I figured a hoof was a hoof. I have rarely, if ever, seen tip made of hoof. But I haven't seen everything . I was told that some of the chew hooves are goat.

[bubby]

John I've used moose hoof same thing, smeels some when u work it but it buffs out excellent

[DC]

Smells some? That's the biggest understatement of the week I have to have a shower after I run the belt sander over it.

[Mark Smeltzer]

I have used cow and pig. it smells when you sand it but I like using it, looks good!

Mark

[Mark Smeltzer]

These are pig.

[bubby]

http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt320/bubncheryl/Mobile%20Uploads/20150103_193320_zps282xkaa9.jpg
this is moose hoof

[Poggins]

JW , I grew up around horses , I've seen some pretty good sized peaces cut off when the hooves were trimmed on some if them , usually from a pasture with softer soils and no rocks to wear them down , I've seen my dad bear down on the nippers pretty hard to trim them and some of the peaces would have been big enough for tip overlays .
I was given some bighorn sheep horn by a guy from Montana ( one of Mark's buddies ) , he told me to soak it in super glue when I use them , maybe treat the hoof the same way .