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Author Topic: Antler nocks  (Read 22438 times)

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Offline Yeomanbowman

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    • warbowwales
Antler nocks
« on: May 24, 2007, 09:17:09 am »
In coversation with a vegan archer, I suggested using antler for nocks as they naturally drop off and can be harvested.  He had been told that deer antlers were unsuitable, I don't know why. 
If they are soaked for 2 weeks they are soft enough to work, and a further week drying enables them to be glued on.
These are some antler nocks I made and fitted to one of my self yew bows.  It's a lower weight warbow (80 at 28" and around 100 at 32") but I see no reason why they would not work on a higher warbow weight.  The antler is a lot tougher than horn but allows less artistic expression, however, they give the bow a utilitarian look that appeals to me.
Cheers,
Jeremy
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q280/yeomanbowman/Dscn7289.jpg
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q280/yeomanbowman/Dscn7285.jpg
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q280/yeomanbowman/Dscn7287.jpg
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q280/yeomanbowman/Dscn7284.jpg
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SimonUK

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Re: Antler nocks
« Reply #1 on: May 24, 2007, 12:13:32 pm »
They look great Jeremy. It must be nice to have a bow thats a bit unique.
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Offline mullet

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Re: Antler nocks
« Reply #2 on: May 24, 2007, 10:52:56 pm »
I think they look great.It gives it an authentic utilitarian look.
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Lakeland, Florida
 If you have to pull the trigger, is it really archery?

Offline Justin Snyder

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Re: Antler nocks
« Reply #3 on: May 24, 2007, 11:53:59 pm »
Nice bow, those tips are really cool.  Justin
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Offline Kviljo

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Re: Antler nocks
« Reply #4 on: May 25, 2007, 07:44:34 am »
The density varies quite much, from pretty spungy to rock-hard. The outer layer is usually pretty dense though. I've used antler on my latest to-be-100-120# yew bow. They haven't failed yet, but I haven't tested them too much either.

If I remember correctly, reindeer antler were imported to England from Norway in medieval times.
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duffontap

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Re: Antler nocks
« Reply #5 on: May 25, 2007, 12:19:18 pm »
Those tips look really nice.  Here's one I did on a flatbow last summer.

      J. D. Duff

[attachment deleted by admin]
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Offline ChrisD

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Re: Antler nocks
« Reply #6 on: May 25, 2007, 03:35:12 pm »
Lovely idea. I had the same idea myself and have some Sika deer antler in the cellar.

What deer did you use and why soak it?

ChrisD
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duffontap

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Re: Antler nocks
« Reply #7 on: May 25, 2007, 07:20:38 pm »
I used Elk and worked it dry.

      J. D.
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jb.68

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Re: Antler nocks
« Reply #8 on: May 28, 2007, 08:05:38 pm »
I saw these horns on saturday and they really do look very nice.
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q280/yeomanbowman/Dscn7285.jpg
Chris, Jeremy was saying that he had to soak them for two weeks because the antler is so hard and that soaking it softens it enough to work on.
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Offline ChrisD

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Re: Antler nocks
« Reply #9 on: May 29, 2007, 10:42:44 am »
Well, I had a bit of a play this weekend with sika deer antler. Its very very hard - more like bone than horn, in fact a lot like a flake of some kind of stone.

I'll put it in a bucket tonight and forget about it for a bit.

C
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Offline Pat B

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Re: Antler nocks
« Reply #10 on: May 29, 2007, 11:34:27 am »
I used deer antler tips on a hickory backed ERC bow I donated at the NC State Shoot this weekend. The bow came out nice but looked like it had more set than I expected until someone mentioned I had put the nocks on backwards >:(  ;D.  Oh well, can't win them all! ::)    Pat
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Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

duffontap

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Re: Antler nocks
« Reply #11 on: May 30, 2007, 07:17:20 pm »
Quote from: Pat B on May 29, 2007, 11:34:27 am
I used deer antler tips on a hickory backed ERC bow I donated at the NC State Shoot this weekend. The bow came out nice but looked like it had more set than I expected until someone mentioned I had put the nocks on backwards >:(  ;D.  Oh well, can't win them all! ::)    Pat

Is that even possible?

      J. D.
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Offline Pat B

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Re: Antler nocks
« Reply #12 on: May 31, 2007, 01:45:28 am »
Like this...
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Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline Pat B

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Re: Antler nocks
« Reply #13 on: May 31, 2007, 01:47:18 am »
oops!...Like this... ::)      Pat

[attachment deleted by admin]
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Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

SimonUK

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Re: Antler nocks
« Reply #14 on: May 31, 2007, 07:24:50 am »
It raises the question, why we have this convention of forward curving nocks? Is there any practical advantage? Could it be purely cosmetic, to give the illusion of a recurve?

I haven't tried making nocks yet, but I wonder whether these forward curving nocks just add to the weight of the tips unecessarily.
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