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Author Topic: Native Bow from Red Alder  (Read 6159 times)

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bowkee

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Native Bow from Red Alder
« on: June 11, 2010, 10:46:29 pm »
I read somewhere that the Natives used Alder For Bows so I thought I would Try it. I have a couple staves that are short so guess is keep them what 2" widest and sinew back them? Phillip
« Last Edit: June 14, 2010, 07:45:42 pm by bowkee »
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Offline AncientArcher76

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Re: Native Bow from Ader
« Reply #1 on: June 11, 2010, 11:29:42 pm »
Alder I never used if Im no mistaken is that is a flowering shrub related to the birch family.  It rarely gets to extensive sizes or heights.  Im a firm believer that a lot of paleo groups used various species including shrubs and bushes.  I think that plants like that have intermingled grain making for great compression but who knows I have made bows from huckleberry bush, Mt. Laurel, and sumac.  Would u know they work.  Take care.

Russ
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Offline sailordad

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Re: Native Bow from Ader
« Reply #2 on: June 12, 2010, 12:16:15 am »
phillip i think,if my memory serves me right yet, Dana made a bow from alder
but i dont believed it lived a long life
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Offline loefflerchuck

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Re: Native Bow from Ader
« Reply #3 on: June 12, 2010, 04:20:28 am »
 Alder is not a top choice. It's about like using aspen for a bow. Youkut's used it for arrows but never heard of a bow from it
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Offline dwardo

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Re: Native Bow from Ader
« Reply #4 on: June 12, 2010, 07:38:36 am »
I recently cut what i thought was an cog wood but it turned out to be grey alder. Very light and spongy i didnt even bother turning it into a bow :(
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bowkee

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Re: Native Bow from Ader
« Reply #5 on: June 12, 2010, 07:48:17 pm »
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Offline El Destructo

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Re: Native Bow from Ader
« Reply #6 on: June 12, 2010, 08:37:34 pm »
Dana built his Bow from Tag Alder...a Swamp Alder that grows all over the U.P.....And He beat the Crap out of that Bow...and if memory serves Me... it developed some problems...sorry...that was Sumac...His Alder Bow died before it got to Live..... :P
« Last Edit: June 14, 2010, 09:28:21 pm by El Destructo »
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bowkee

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Re: Native Bow from Ader
« Reply #7 on: June 14, 2010, 07:44:44 pm »
Almost got it tillered :)  It is soft but not as soft as the Maple I used for The splice Bow back a few. This will be about 48" 2" at the wide hoping for 30-40 @ 20-22

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« Last Edit: June 14, 2010, 07:50:00 pm by bowkee »
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Offline profsaffel

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Re: Native Bow from Red Alder
« Reply #8 on: June 14, 2010, 09:24:10 pm »
As nice as your bow is looking, admittedly its the shaving horse that I keep staring at  :P
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bowkee

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Re: Native Bow from Red Alder
« Reply #9 on: June 14, 2010, 10:21:06 pm »
The Shaving  horse is great, the Alder  ::) forget the alder, got 10@40 and creekcrack haha. Glad  I got the Juniper.

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