Balkan goat horns

Zoran Pavlovic · Post by **Zoran Pavlovic** » Sun Feb 20, 2011 5:16 pm

Hello friends,
Since i need to prove my theory about using ram's and goat horn for making the bows in medieval Serbia and area i get several pairs of horns of ancient Balkan breeds.
There's no problem about ram's horn but horn of Balkan goat makes me big problem, not because it is curling but it seems to be narrow almost half the lenght of future strip so i am not sure could i get proper width (there's possibility to avoid it since bows i need to ''replicate'' have limbs whose narrowness slightly starts at the mid limb (similar as in Yrzi bow).
Also it is a bit damaged at the place where it shouldn't be.I didn't cut it yet and i do not know do i have to cut it lenghtwise or there's other possibility? Any comment or advice?
See the pictures below
Best regards,

Dusan · Post by **Dusan** » Sun Feb 20, 2011 6:13 pm

If its help you, Zoran i tri once work vith. I dont do it again and i think this material is no corect. I was disapointed how smal thin is this horns and curling is very badly. Ram - especialy wild is answer i thing.

Zoran Pavlovic · Post by **Zoran Pavlovic** » Sun Feb 20, 2011 6:54 pm

Dusan wrote:If its help you, Zoran i tri once work vith. I dont do it again and i think this material is no corect. I was disapointed how smal thin is this horns and curling is very badly. Ram - especialy wild is answer i thing.

Thank you very much Du?an, i also noticed that it could be too thin as hornbow material. So i think i will reject it. Though it is worth to try and to learn.
I am in agreement with you that ram's horn can be answer since it is suitable for hornbows, though i am ''affraid'' that Jack's opinion about ibex horn can work too (lack of decorative elements on most of the bows refers to war bows and it is reason to do not consider ibex horn for now)
Best regards

Dediu00ro · Post by **Dediu00ro** » Sun Feb 10, 2013 4:47 am

Zoran Pavlovic I have done the same with a pair of ram horn's the material is thick enough about 15 mm in middle point of the strip. The real problem is that they are crooked. And there is no possible option to straighten them.
http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg96/sca ... es=landing
As u can see here....
http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg209/sc ... es=landing
http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg840/sc ... es=landing
After untwisting the horn's witch took allot of work they are still bent.
The only option is to cut them in 2 and then reverse bind them, but i am still thinking how i will achieve this.
Hope this helps.

jack farrell · Post by **jack farrell** » Sun Feb 10, 2013 8:14 pm

This animal almost starved to death 6 years before it died. It may work but maybe not in one sliver; maybe two or more. Does not look like a horn of choice.

Dediu00ro · Post by **Dediu00ro** » Sun Feb 10, 2013 9:34 pm

Oh no it was slaughtered and the horns and skull kept as a wall hanger.
The horns were kept on a wall more then 3 years they are still intact no damage to them. A friend of mine made a horn bow from a pair of sheep ram horns he found in a flee market very old stuff maybe more then 7 years old still did the job fine.
The strips are pretty flexible i did do some test on them did not break did not delaminate. I would say more flexible then buffalo horn but less dens.
The only problem with them is that that they are bent far to much to have value. I am thinking on cutting them in plates, and then do a semi composite.

Uli · Post by **Uli** » Tue Feb 12, 2013 9:08 am

you can use the massive "back strip" for a scythian or egyptian bow with vertical horn core

just a thought

Dediu00ro · Post by **Dediu00ro** » Tue Feb 12, 2013 2:16 pm

Uli u are right, i could cut 2 pieces and then box them with some bamboo, the strips together should make enough horn for the belly of the bow.

Zoran Pavlovic · Post by **Zoran Pavlovic** » Thu Feb 21, 2013 1:02 pm

And what about multiple strips? Also, i agree with Uli about vertical strip for some egyptian although i am not sure it would be historically accurate (sure if horn suits).
Best regards,