Artificer,
The rings on this horn are patterned after others I have seen, although I custom make the one I use in either brass or sterling silver. The rear ring has a wood screw base that is firmly set through the horn and into the base plug. The forward ring has a machine threaded base that goes through a hole in the horn and is sealed with glue. The threaded shaft also has a wide nut (actually a curved, threaded, brass plate) installed on the inside of the horn with a long tool I built just to install these. The nut is also glued in place to prevent it from coming loose. I have never had one of these rings cause a horn to split yet and I don't see them as being much different than a staple….actually better with the interior plate.
Dave C