Mineral and protein: what bone is made of
Bone owes its usefulness as a handle material to a clever natural composite. Roughly two-thirds of its weight is mineral, mostly a form of calcium phosphate that gives hardness, while the rest is largely collagen, a protein that adds toughness. That mix lets bone be sawn, sanded and polished almost like stone, yet take knocks without shattering, which suits a pruner that lives in a pocket.
