Preparing Rams Horns

[SimonLawton]

Hi All,
Just had a phone call off a Slaughterman mate and he got me six Ramshorns.
Anyone know the best way to de core them? Other than my Spaniels Tongue!

[grdeno]

I have never done a Rams horn but when I have done steer horns for my muzzleloading powder horns I boil them until it seperates and comes out.not sure that helps but is the only thing I know.
Gary

[SimonLawton]

So far I have been told to bang the cores out on a hard surface while fresh and then soat them in a Bleach/water solution.
Also told to Boil them and knock out the cores.
Lastly, leave them to dry out for a year, and then knock the cores out!
Apparently working Ramshorn is a bit of a Bugger, so I may have a play at Scrimshaw!

[cannuckcarver]

Drying's the best method if you're not in a hurry...

[Mark Dellinger]

When growing up on the farm we would just hang them up from the rafters in the barn and let them dry out. Once they dried, the insides simply fell out.

Mark

[mobjack68]

boil 'em....while they are still hot, the insides should slide out. boil them until the insides fall out
Save your marriage...DO THIS OUTSIDE!!!!! The smell is absolutely indescribable.... like above, bleach afterwards, then dry....

animals that have a horn (opposite of antlers) have a "stub" on their skull and the horn grows on that. There is a layer of cartilage like material between the skull stub and the horn itself. When they cut the horn off, most times they use a saw...cutting thru the stub. Boiling softens the cartilage material (continuing to boil will disintegrate this layer completely....it will remain in the water and when you dispose of the water???? well, just pour the water on the ground away from animals and noses...it will stink for awhile, all of this falls into the been there-done that category)
congrats on the horn grab...

[Boydman]

Hi Simon,

I have several wild Dahl sheep horns that I have collected. Drying works best if you are not in a hurry. I suppose that you could freeze-dry them if you had a taxidermist nearby with the equipment. I do scrimshaw also and have worked some on the horns....not as dense as ivory, but better than antler. Very similar to bone....powder horns. I would reccomend a relief carving for contrast.

Boydman