can you use cow horn to make horn bows?
I've seen all kinds of horn used, I would think as long as it's long enough that it would work great...probably a better texture than some horns like gemsbok...which is used...
let us know how it turns out...
Bob
Yes you can I attempted one and after I got my horns rolled out they were too short so I had to come up with another Idea. So I put it on the back burner for a while.
Shawn
the highland cows have very long horns. and the composite bows are very short.
okay i'm gonna go for it. the cow horns i saw today were at least 18" long, and about 3/32" thick. How wide are these bows usually made?
In BC where i'm from we raise highland cattle, which have long horns. From the one animal i can get achilles tendon and horn...just have to practice my joinery for the transition out of the siyah, and into the handle!
As for the wooden/bamboo bit: what do you guys suggest? floor bamboo? ash or elm? how thick should it be? 1/4"?
Anyway, this project is gonna take a long time, but i'll get there.
Scottish highland horns should work great...we have a few of them here in Arkansas as well...let us see it when you are thru. James Parker is a good one for help on these...and there was a how to article by John Sterdevant where he used gemsbok...should be in the archives somewhere...
Bob
thanks Bob
I got your pm, about to read the article now.
keep us posted if you do give it a try, ill certainly follow the build
ive always thought if one could accomplish keeping the natural ridges on the gemsbok horns it would make a bow with some great character. probably not possible due to the inconsistent thickness though