About this item laguiole steak knives Plain black colored or with white or brown streaks (each handle varies slightly) Total length : 23 cm Stainless steel blade: thickness : 2.5 mm 2 solid brass bolsters and plates Hand wash recommended Delivered with certificate of origin and guarantee 6 knives packed in an oak box Horn is a natural material which could swell or split if put in a dish-washer. Tarnished brass bolsters can be buffed up using any copper cleaning product. More about Black Horn Natural horn is often from the antlers of different types of animal such as the male deer moose etc... The material has been in use since ancient times. The antlers are simply collected from nature. No harm comes to the animals as they grow their antlers and naturally shed them every year. The colour differs according to the species but they are generally pale brown or plain blonde streaked with a darker beige (when they are referred to as ‘burnished’). The horn that we use for the manufacture of our knives usually comes from the most solid part: the tip. Prior to use and depending upon the shape of the horn it may be heat-treated.