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types of horn that can be used

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stuckinthemud:
Evening All,

I was wondering whether domestic goat horn can be used - I fancy making a composite bow one day but budget would be a big factor so what is the cheapest way forward? Goat horn seems to be reasonably cost effective, so is it suitable?

mikekeswick:
If you want to make a hornbow save some money and buy a few pairs of water buffalo horn. These bows take a lot of time and effort - start with only the best materials and be prepared to fail a few times first. :)

Stick Bender:
I'm in the same boat as you collecting my materials for a Maple/horn /sinew I'm going to make more of a reflexed shorter long bow style bow so I picked up a Gemsbok horn  for around $45 if that fits your budget, there around for that or cheaper, don't know if you have a copy of Adams Korpowitz  book but if not it's a great book he speaks to the different horns that can be used in it , it's a great book very informative  it's a little more complex then your typical TBB chapters but simple enough that a neophyte like me can understand , if I where going make Turk style bow I would go water Buffolow horn like Mike said  but with a more strait bow it's under less stress so maybe a little more flexibility in horn like Beadmans posted bow.

stuckinthemud:
Thanks both; the failure part is what bothers me - I totally accept the premise of always using the best materials but I prefer to make all my mistakes on a practice piece, where I do not have the added pressure of ruining really expensive materials, and then build the 'for-real' item next - so a straight-ish, low stress bow out of OK material would be my first composite, followed by a Turkish bow out of water-buffalo horn when I have learned enough not to totally mess things up. 
As for the Karpowicz book, its on my Christmas list!

Stick Bender:
I know what you mean I feel what your saying I don't like to fail ether but it doesent bother me much when I do ,I don't exspect to ,but just accept it as part of the learning game , hell the guys here that I talk to didn't get it right the first couple times ether , I try not to think about the cost of materials I'm working on because it makes me scared instead of just concentrating on what I need to do , that's why I'm working on 2 more highly reflexed sinew bows before I attempte one of these horn bows ,but going to start processing this Gemsbok horn as soon as I get the sinew on these bows , Glad to see some interest over on this side of the threads doesent get a lot of traffic.

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