? on Cow Horn

[mtsage]

This question is probably good for any HORN actually. But my question is about this cow horn. A friend gave me a set of cow horns. My first attempt at making a powder horn. Really don't have a question about the process of making one. But really how does a cow horn grow. I know that the horn consists of the sheath, and the core. Can someone explain how the keratin/hair grows? Does it grow from the outside of the sheath and the sheath just get thicker? Or does it grow from the inside? Or does it just grow/get longer as a whole? From the pics I have attached you can see the outside has both black and white sections. But the inside is mostly black. Is the white section on the outside white because the black is worn off by the critter? And finally because I only have these 2 horns to work with, can the black be scrapped off the inside and outside to make the horn translucent? I have googled the heck out these questions but am not getting to the site with the answers I guess. So the best place really would be here with Craftsman. Pics now.

 

[PathfinderNC]

Ever try to Google it?

 

[TDM]

Can't answer that for you, but I will give you the Daily Award for who asked the toughest question.

 

[mtsage]

Ever try to Google it?

Yup. Per my original post,
"I have googled the heck out these questions but am not getting to the site with the answers I guess. So the best place really would be here with Craftsman. Pics now."

 

[Ames]

No, you won't make it translucent unless you thin that one to about 1/32".

 

[deerstalkert]

https://en.wikivet.net/Horn_-_Anato...ext=a central, conical bony,giving the horn a
drink a lot of coffee before reading.

 

[Kansas Jake]

Having raised cattle in the past I suspect the outer sheath as you call it grows from the base around the hard inner porous bone structure. Cattle horns grow all during their life and if broken off or cut off don’t regrow ie dehorning calves.

 

[Alby]

I believe Kansas jake is correct in his post. I don’t think you will be able to make that type of horn translucent as it appears to be from a Holstein mix animal. The deeper it is scraped the more black will show. Usually the tan or cream colored horns may be scraped to be translucent. It is a nice looking horn as it is and a good first project.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Even though I raised cattle for over 25 years I never observed the growing process with that question in mind, nor did I ever observe it. A veterinarian could probably answer your question. But, I wonder, why do you need to know this?

 

[mtsage]

So just about finished with this horn. It is small. Hunting horn I suppose it will be. Holds 1700 grains of 3F. But, yes a good first project. Not totally finished yet.

 

[user 48679]

Registration is req'd, but you can most likely get answers at the Horner's Bench (google)