Horn crossbow?

[BowEd]

Good idea.I can't help but compare it to 2 halves of a gemsbok horn connected to a wood handled filler.Not near the mass though in the limbs to slow it down.It's a balancing act with a shorter draw on yours.
Good point about grooving that boo and horn too by Chuck.Although I've seen FG recurved tips stepped on to be flat by an FG bow maker to prove the strength of smooth-on and no delamination occured.
Well if it is'nt enough poundage weight a guy could still put a 1/4" thick sinew over it yet,but that will pull that sucker into more reflex yet!Assuming it holds together,which I think it might.
I think string angle would be better farther apart feel wise on a regular bow but this is a locked in cross bow.Closer together would put more strain on the limbs.Making best use of horn.It's your call.When the limbs are that short I'm not sure it'll make any difference in speed.

[Selfbowman]

Limbs close to bamboo stage. Optimistic 😁 Started a bolt. Weighs 450gr

[Selfbowman]

Yes Ed on the gemsbok horn put together in the handle. I hear they are real doggy.😁

[BowEd]

It would be neat to get a white tail with it I think.I watched them make a steel cross bows on Forged in Fire program.You could tell they were not bow makers.Arrow flight and accuracy was very poor.Very slow bows too.
Nice bolt...I just hope the limbs will be long enough to store enough energy for a hunting weight arrow.
Hard to keep track of the hours spent making something like this with all the tweaks and adjustments made.
Those gemsbok horn bows looked neat and probably would last 2 lifetimes but were poor performers.

[Selfbowman]

Got this one pretty close to the caul. Is there some other reason the heat gun won’t work?

[Selfbowman]

Pic

[Selfbowman]

Wrong pic

[PatM]

Interesting.  A few years back all the horn bow guys  on here were very outspoken that a bow with horn and no sinew backing was a preposterous idea.

[Hamish]

Selfbowman, Was there any particular reason that you used osage to fill the voids in the horns, and not more horn?

[Pappy]

 He like Osage Hamish  :)Nice project Arvin , I can move this if you like to horn bows but I think it is alright here.  Nice bows you been building by the way.
 Pappy

[Selfbowman]

Limbs ready for boo.

[Selfbowman]

Wrong pic.😳

[Selfbowman]

 Hamish did have enough from just two horns. This is all I have left for overlays .

[Hamish]

Fair enough, looks pretty cool too.

[Selfbowman]

1st bamboo glue up.