Longhorns

[Bubbabowyer]

Just curious, has anyone ever used longhorn cattle horns as a belly? Boo backed? With a core? If so, how does it perform, behave, and work to tiller? Thanks

[DC]

Don't go by me but I've heard that it splits. I've wondered about it because my wife's cousin used to raise longhorns. Beautiful beasts

[dylanholderman]

I’ve heard the same about cow horn, but I’ve never talked to anyone who actually tested it lol.
There was a bow posted here awhile back that used cow horn and it looked like the belly of a Osage bow, don’t know how it held up though.

[Pat B]

I was going to try longhorn for a horn bow but was told by someone who knows that it delaminates. It has growth rings like trees do. I gave the horn to Pappy and he made a hunter's horn out of it.

[bownarra]

Don't bother.
Sinew makes a better back too

[sleek]

Now hold on. With a bamboo back, I doubt you will be stressing the horn to the point ( matter of fact, its obvious that you wont ) that sinew will. I'd wager a long horn bow could be built well with bamboo, should a good horn be chosen. I'd do it if I had horn. Dangit, now I want some longhorn.

[bownarra]

Why do you think that if you pulled it further the structural limitation wouldn't matter? The horn delaminates when at all stressed....
Pulling a hornbow less than it should be equals poor performance. Backing it with boo limits how far you can pull it - also leading to poor performance.
All the effort that goes into a properly made hornbow would be wasted by using sub par materials. That is a path that isn't for me.
I notice you add provisos to your statement eg. if a good horn were chosen…..that's what is being said there aren't any horns that are good enough...…
If you really want to make a hornbow then at least start with materials that will make one Water buffalo horn/maple/sinew. Proven combo.

[PatM]

The Westvang Brothers used to make a Watusi bellied Osage combo.  While Texas longhorn doesn't seem to work other varieties of longhorn have been used successfully.   Usually you'll hear that cold climate longhorn is better.  Hungarian cattle etc.  Likely Highland  Cattle horn as well.

 Jaap Koppedrayer makes or used to make a horn bellied bamboo combo without sinew.  It's a historically accurate design for some areas.