ATARNarchive

An other scrap horn bow

7 posts2008live thread
Redhorse
I'm out of horn so I dig in the scrap barrel and made strips from sidewalls.
And for core I got bias cut Ash. I soak sinew from a broken bow and cut lose the ears also. The old string was shorter so I had to cut in a set of nocks lower on the ear.
You can see from the picture were the butt splice is, under the handle fade and just before the kasan eye. In between horn is 2mm bone.
Core is about 3.5-4mm and horn same. Less then 2mm sinew on back.
It come out a little uneven but it can be fixed with sinew.
It's 46" on the lower and 48" at the upper nocks. First brace and shot with 24" 350 grains give 170 fps. At scale it was 44lb at 23" belly side and give 75% efficiency.
If it stays together I will make a new string so I can crono it as 48" and 46" bow and try different brace heights.
Stephen Selby
In the 1950s, my aunt used to make a delicious soup called 'Cream of Left-overs'. I'm sure your bow will be excellent. :D
Redhorse
Wonder how many pieces horn a bow can be made of?
Alex S.
Hey this is really a nice bow Redhorse.

I would also be interested in amount of horn one can use in a bow, are the bone inserts necessary?

Also, what draw length is goal for this bow?
Redhorse
If the butt splice can be done tight it would not need insert. But the sinew shrinking draws apart the horn strips.
Bow similar this has been drawn 28".
Stephen Selby
I would also be interested in amount of horn one can use in a bow, are the bone inserts necessary?

The Saka ('Scythian') bows were made from a mosaic of horn. I have counted over 20 overlapping segments There wqs horn not only on the belly but also extending through the core from belly to back.

S