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Alternative ways of putting horn bows together

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BowEd:
Most times I ignore these non self proven statements by those anxious to participate on this forum but just plain too lazy to try.
I don't pride myself on being appeasing to those with attitudes.
There's way too much bad info and assumptions spread around on this forum from 1 time attempts never solved,second or third hand plagerized info or theorists that think this can be all solved on paper.It's good to keep records of designs,length,width,degree of reflex,types of wood and composites etc.You still gotta pull shavings and bend wood to really know.The problem solving most times is kept in your head.
This is a bow making learning site.Bow building is problem solving 101.Come in with an honest,sincere,serious attitude to learn.Check your attitude out at the door.Sometimes you get advice you don't want to hear.
Once you make enough bows the language of those is not obscure.

Gimlis Ghost:
Well looks like there is some disagreement going on, which I have no part of.
I've whittled out a few bows in the past and I'm here to learn as much as possible.
That said awhile back I ran across an excerpt from a historians paper on ancient bows. He mentioned a African/Egyptian bow made from two horns spliced at the middle by a wooden grip.
Yesterday I ran across this image.



I'm figuring a sturdy grip with tapered ends might work to join these horns, which I believe are hollow for several inches at least.
I suspect these long narrow horns would take to being soaked and bent very nicely to get a proper recurved shape.

Don't know the size of this species but there are or were several very large species of antelope with extremely long horns, some very straight.
No doubt African trophy horns of any sort are getting harder to come by but antique sets show up now and then grandfathered in.

I remember a scene in a very old sand and sandal film, can't remember which one, where preparing for a war Greek craftsmen were placing soaked rams horn bows on drying racks with pins similar to belaying pins to give them a recurve shape. How historically accurate that might have been is anybody's guess.
It occurred to me then that the horns must have been spliced at the grips in some manner.

Glue should hold it well enough but the tension of the string itself can hold a modern light takedown bow together.

JW_Halverson:
Famously, gemsbock horns have been used to make a bow like you describe. There was a photo of one in one of the Bowyers Bibles.

Gimlis Ghost:

--- Quote from: JW_Halverson on July 03, 2021, 11:45:20 am ---Famously, gemsbock horns have been used to make a bow like you describe. There was a photo of one in one of the Bowyers Bibles.

--- End quote ---

Cool, I'll try to find an image of that one.
Apparently the Gemsbok has been introduced into New Mexico, in one specific area where they won't upset the natural order.
It would be really nice to recreate one of those ancient designs. They appear to predate all the other horn and sinew bows at least in Egypt.
The females have long slender horns while the males have thicker horns better suited for battle. My guess is the female horns would be best choice for bow limbs. The horns can be as much as 33 inches long.
If I had one I'd rather have it with a fairly light draw weight but snappy enough for a fairly high velocity.

I'd leave it unglued but the grip ends bedded closely and the opening of the horns hooped with a decorative metal ring to avoid splitting. Then it would make for a compact takedown.

bownarra:
Those bows certainly look cool....but unfortunately they are dogs to shoot.....The best use for those horns is to glue them to a wooden core and sinew back it :)

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