The most commonly used method of cutting horn is cold sawing. Fine-toothed blades are used to avoid flaking. Blades used for cutting metal are the most suitable, preferably those intended for soft metals as they are cheaper and less brittle.

All the saws illustrated here were designed for a specific purpose. However, saws may be suitable for several cutting operations. All these cases will be examined in detail in the following paragraphs. A well-equipped and rationally organised workshop should possess at least one of each type of saw, but every artisan will select the type of saw that best corresponds to his or her needs and financial means. In the following diagrams, the inside of the horn is represented by a dotted line. The outline of the shapes to be cut, carved or engraved should be marked in soft-lead pencil on light coloured horns and in white chalk on black horns.