Horn Nocks

[bow101]

Are horn nock tips really worth it..? I surely like the looks of them, gives a longbow character.
Where is the best place to get horns..? And what are the best animals to get them from..?

cheers,

[Weylin]

I've never done them so I can't speak to  to how worth it they are but I can point you towards a source.

Carson has some nice bison horn tips for a good price on his site. http://echoarchery.com/bow-making

[Bryce]

I use cow hooves I get at petco.

[Pat B]

They do look good on ELBs but for me they were a pain in the arse to make and especially fit on a bow. I'll do them again where appropriate but they won't be a go to thing on bows in general.

[Del the cat]

The 'traditional' horn nocks on an ELB are a pain, but once you've done a couple it's not so bad. I used to try and shape 'em by hand before gluing onto the bow.
It's much easier to drill 'em glue 'em on and then shape 'em.
There are some tips on my blog.
http://bowyersdiary.blogspot.co.uk/2010/05/fitting-horn-nocks.html
These days I try and make 'em smaller and smaller, so my drill is ground down from a 16.. wood bit rather than the big old 1" bit I used originally.
Gotta admit, it's a part of making an ELB I used to hate, now I quite like it as it allows some artistry.
See my latest on my Bamboo backed Yew here...
http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,36533.0.html
I use Waterbuffalo horn as it's easy to get in the UK and works nicely.
Del

[BowEd]

Sometimes on softer woods they are almost a necessity to tiller the bow.You do enough of them and they are'nt that bad to do really.

[bow101]

Ya I kind of figured to shape them after glued on. At any rate, for the hassle I'll probably just stick to hard wood for the time been.

[toomanyknots]

The 'traditional' horn nocks on an ELB are a pain, but once you've done a couple it's not so bad. I used to try and shape 'em by hand before gluing onto the bow.
It's much easier to drill 'em glue 'em on and then shape 'em.
There are some tips on my blog.
http://bowyersdiary.blogspot.co.uk/2010/05/fitting-horn-nocks.html
These days I try and make 'em smaller and smaller, so my drill is ground down from a 16.. wood bit rather than the big old 1" bit I used originally.
Gotta admit, it's a part of making an ELB I used to hate, now I quite like it as it allows some artistry.
See my latest on my Bamboo backed Yew here...
http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,36533.0.html
I use Waterbuffalo horn as it's easy to get in the UK and works nicely.
Del

Hey Del, would a 1/2" bit be better than a 1"? What I read somewhere recently (I think it was John Strunk in TBB) said to grind down a 1/2" bit. Is there I good depth and width to the bit you would recommend as I plan to grind one down something after the first?

EDIT: Your pencil sharpening tool is ingenious. I see that your bit is curved a "bit".  I have only ever installed pre-made nocks I have purchased from ruddersbows before, and their nocks appear to be drilled out with a straight bit. Would you recommend a straight bit, or curved bit, or does it really matter you think?

[Del the cat]

Yeah, a smaller bit is prob better. I just used a 1" as I had it lying around.
I do it curved, just my preference, I feel straight seems too 'machined' and unnatural, just don't look right to me.
Del

[toomanyknots]

Honestly what matters to me the most is just getting it to fit. The way I do that with the straight drilled ones is to get a straight block of wood with sand paper on it, or a straight rasp, and work it flat against the sides of the tip to get a straight taper. It still takes me a bit of effort to get a good tight fit still, as simple as it sounds to do.