Buffalo horn and sinew (update…new non traditional build)

[superdav95]

Ok so I’m looking for some appropriate Buffalo horn long enough to make a bamboo core composite horn bow backed with sinew.  I have seen some sources for Buffalo horn but seems like a risky venture and figured I’d ask here to see where you guys are sourcing yours.  My goal with this bow is to keep draw weight to 45-50lbs.  I know it’s little on the light side.  Just experimenting a little with composite bows and want some horn and sinew if anyone knows a good reputable source.  Thanks guys!  Dave

[ecounter]

I have had good luck with these guys:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/806866450/water-buffalo-horn-long-bow-strips-50-70?click_key=c7958bedd6244f6e3cb5a66459f98410d3455c24%3A806866450&click_sum=2d8d3579&ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=bufallo+horn&ref=sr_gallery-1-4&organic_search_click=1

[superdav95]

This is sane one I ordered as well.  Mine were eBay listing but same guys.  Seem good as far a I can tell so far.  Thanks


Cheers

[pierce_schmeichel]

Hey Dave when are you planning on making this bow? I ordered some buffalo horns a few weeks ago and am planning on making one. Just curious because there aren't all that many posts on the buffalo horn bows. I think I'm gonna use either wild plum as the core wood or choke cherry.

Also are you planing on using the strip method and just butt splicing or doing the spiral cut method?

[superdav95]

Ya actually I was just working on one recently that is a complex composite horn bow.  It’s heavily reflexed into a c shape.  I haven’t been posting updates on here.  Maybe I should.  So far it’s almost done to the point where I can start bending it.  It’s been almost a year curing and drying.  Little longer then it needed for sure but I had enough other things going on not to rush it.  It’s a tartar style bow.  It’s got a bamboo core wood that has been laminated with water Buffalo horn on belly and 3 layers of sinew on back.  I used a different approach to others on this one.  I’ll post some pics and see what guys think of it.  So far it feels heavy but time will tell. 

[superdav95]

Here are some pics of my progress on my latest horn bow.  I hope it does not explode.  It is experimental.  It is a test in many ways the strength of a 5 piece bow design using horn and sinew on bamboo core.  I’m testing out the modular design of the 5 pieces and if replacement can be made without scraping entire build.  We shall see.  This bow is constructed with only hide glue or sinew glue specifically.  I’ve used sinew wraps instead of my normal polyester thread wraps for serving the glued pieces.  In building this bow to this point I’ve already had to replace on of my levers due to a grain concern and was able to just heat it up and remove and replace.  I may still more wrapped sinew around the syahs or lever base yet.  I double wrapped the handle section.  The dimensions of this bow are closer to a tartar size but very loosely based on this type of bow.  This one is 55 1/2” long ntn and 57 1/2” ttt.  The width is 1.75” at widest part then tapers towards tips. The thickness of the limbs at the thickest points roughly are 1/4” wood core, 1/8” horn plate and 1/8” sinew layer.  These also taper in thickness out towards the tips somewhat.  Little thicker in Kasan area for added strength here.  To replicate a tartar bow would be to use more traditional methods of v splices in assembly and then shaping the wood core with the horn already glued on. I didn’t do that here.  I built this one little differently.  I had made a jig in the milder c shape I was aiming for and glued the horn slats to 1/2 of the bamboo core.  I then glued the other half that was backed with layers of sinew on the other half of bamboo core.  Anyway not built traditional.  I hesitated in posting this one until it either shoots or explosion but what the heck.  This is a platform of learning.   We shall see how it goes.  Here some pics of my progress.  You will notice the handle orientation is different too.  I did this so as to more closely follow the way I build my 5 piece bamboo bows.  Essentially that’s what this build is for. To see if it can be done this way using the 5 piece bow build method loosely but advantages of sinew and horn.  Fingers crossed 🤞. 

[superdav95]

Few more…

[pierce_schmeichel]

Wowww Dave that looks amazing!! I have always wanted to make a Turkish style horn bow. It seems so daunting and I don't have enough material to do it either. Very impressed, I hope it doesn't break either!! Keep us updated

Also I was talking about the American Bison horns. Have you done that? I am planning on doing a natice american bison horn bow.

[superdav95]

Thanks pierce.  I’m hoping it survives.  As far the bison horn bow I e not tried one yet.  Tibor makes awesome horn bows posted recently that are amazing.   It’s on my list of thing to give a try.  I’ll have to source some horn for that one. 

[tattoo dave]

Looking good so far! Keep those pics coming