Antler tips, more vulnerable?

[buckracks7]

How does antler compare to horn, like Kudu?

[Cari-bow]

I thought I should respond to this from a bowyer's view. Now I'm only speaking from my experence, not others. Just a little background, I've been building bows full time for 15 years.The first year I started working with antler I had a few pop of like others stated. This was before I did this full time by the way. I called a contact that was a chemical engineer and he diagnosed the problem over the phone. I got the tips over to him to look at under a microscope. He gave me his opinion and suggested what I was  doing wrong.I made adjustments to the process and (knock on wood) have not had a problem since. Now if you have seen my bows I use a lot of antler tips ,riser and more.I've been told that you can't put antler on the riser because the riser bends. Well I have antler on many longbows that are 12 plus inches long.I have also worked with water buffalo and Texas longhorn. Warranty is no fun and expensive from the bowyers stand point. If I were having problems I would have stopped. My suggestion is ask your bowyer how he or she feels about working with antler and then go with what they suggest.
Abe

[Flying Dutchman]

Pff, good to hear Abe, thank you!You informed me already, but I did not know about the chemical engineer and his microscopal investigation though.....

[V-Archer]

Hi Ad,

I have used and still use Elk antler as tips or riser overlay. So far there were no issues reported.

Arnold

[Groundpounder]

I bought a used cooks mountain bow off a fellow trad member and it has antler tips and ive had no issues

[Bowwild]

The post from SL about no problems with horn,just antler made me think.  Are these antler tips being shed around January through March?  You know where I'm heading with my silly post. Sorry, but this retired biologist couldn't resist.