Sheep Horn Bow build (complete)

[Redhand]

I bet its gaining reflex you will be amazed at the reflex these bighorn sheep bows will take.

[sieddy]

Hi Goat this is a fascinating follow along. I'm really looking forward to seeing how your horn bow turns out! 

[Montanaoutdoors]

Looking forward to seeing this completed!

[wizardgoat]

Cheers guys, stoked to see there's some interest in this build.
I've done 1 layer of handle wrapping. I'll do one more and work in the tips a bit.
It's amazing how much reflex it's taken, I'm a little concerned but I'll cross that bridge when I get there. I'll start trying to bend it in a month or so

[DC]

Can you strap it to a 2x4 to stop it from developing too much reflex or would it tear itself apart? Or break the 2x4

[wizardgoat]

DC- apparently lots of the reflex gets worked out, so I won't worry about it yet.
   What was once an easily braced horn core, now barely moves when I bend it over my knee.
    Its only been seasoning for a bit over a month so in the corner it sits.
    This is what it looks like right now.






Still need to do another handle wrapping or 2, also some work on the tips. Soon.

[Peacebow_Coos]

Lookin great Goat

[DC]

That looks great. You would have had a tough time finding a 2x4 to strap that to.

[Parnell]

Looks real good.  Gonna make a sinew string?

[Aaron H]

Coming along nicely

[wizardgoat]

Cheers guys.
Parnell, this bow will for sure get a sinew string, I couldn't picture the bow without it!
 There's not too many sinew string build alongs out there, I'll put some photos up when I make mine. I'll tiller it with fast flight though

[Ryan3880]

If you put another layer of sinew you may want to string the tips together. Put a stout stick in the cords of your string that's long enough to touch the handle then using he stick twist the string tighter and tighter till the tips are almost touching. Then place the stick on the side of the handle and leave it that way for a
Month and it will reflex even better than just the sinew alone. Did my stick trick make any sense?

Name of the game with those horn bows is reflex the sinew is so incredible in tension and horn in compression you can do things with them (in regard to the energy storage) that you just can't with a horn bow that includes a wooden belly. Also for your final tiller don't scrape any more horn off just use heat and it will flex this way or that for you

[wizardgoat]

Thanks Ryan, I'm all done with the sinew, I think this is enough starting reflex for me.
I reverse braced my wood sinew bows but I really wanted to see how this one would curl up without it.
Have you made many horn bows? If so please post some! There isn't very many of these bows posted

[Urufu_Shinjiro]

Have you made many horn bows? If so please post some! There isn't very many of these bows posted

I concur, please post some if you have them!

[loefflerchuck]

As far as I know that string reflex method Ryan is talking about was only used on composites with a wood core in Asia. One of the main reasons for the wood core was stability to reduce twist of the horn. If you have tips touching on horn sinew bows you may have to work out a lot of twist. The bow will also be very unstable in the beginning. Also the horn belly on horn sinew bows is thicker than true composites. You have a normal amount of reflex for a seasoning sheephorn bow. I would not try for more unless your bow is very light(less than 40#)