Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: GlisGlis on June 22, 2016, 02:00:00 pm
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last night i watched last game of thrones episode (it a fantasy HBO series just in case you dont know) and to my amazement they showed what looks like a penobscot bow to me.
I like this series and there is a good variety of bows in it. From elb to Dbows, recurves, mollegabets and now penobscot ;)
Quite a good selection of backings too (tough many looks like cosmetics only)
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That's cool.. Half Eye has built a few of these. He sent one down to me and its a lot of fun to shoot.
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I have wondered what the benefit is of building a bow this way? Is a solution for when a stronger single stave is not available?
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Good question Jeff.
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Wasn't the 'Indian' who came up with this bow design actually a whiteman who had lived with them for a while? He used to do travelling shows and these bows being unique were part of his 'show'. No idea myself but i'm sure I read about it years ago. To me they smack of a fantasy bow as there is no reason/advantage to making them like this over a normal bow.
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WINTER IS COMING.
NORTH REMEMBERS.
Having said that, when I watched this episode this summer, I was really surprised they put this kind of bow into it. I have seen various types of weapons in the show and they always surprise me. Armorers for the show probably do research and look for the ways to make weapons interesting and more characteristic for specific region or character for the show. That is because G.R.R.Martin didn't really put lot of thinking into design, probably because he doesn't know much about weapons (same as Stephen King).
Funny thing is that same type of bow is used by Elves in Witcher video game series:
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/eb/6f/60/eb6f60fc9f972b3a155104d119000e10.jpg
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I built one some 12 years ago that was a copy of a museum bow, wrote an article for PA on it. I tested it extensively and found no performance advantages. This is the bow I made
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and found no performance advantages
with that much expertise put into examination of the concept, perhaps the advantages lie elsewhere?
perhaps two thinner limbs doing the job of one, works out better in an environment where white wood and rawhide strings couldn't always be kept as dry as we are used to in this day and age
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I built one some 12 years ago that was a copy of a museum bow, wrote an article for PA on it. I tested it extensively and found no performance advantages. This is the bow I made
Marc, the bow looks cool. Can you share the link to the article that you wrote on PA?
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There is no link but I made that bow around 2004
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very cool, but best left to those of you with the skills... :OK
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I have wondered what the benefit is of v tight gel (https://www.stlcurioshoppe.com/v-tight-gel-review/) building a bow this way? Is a solution for when a stronger single stave is not available?
Good question Jef :)
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Do you have to tiller the second part too?
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http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,55406.0.html
Don
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http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,55963.0.html
Don
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Conversation piece at most. They stack,and are bulky, and no gain in speed. I have made them from Bamboo floor boards, Horn beam, White Oak, Hickory, and Ash. I made the back bow one third ,one half,and three quarters the length of the front bow trying to find a combination that would be superior to a well made self bow. That never happened. Rudders sold them at one time, and Blacky Schartz did a positive write up on one. That sparked my interest to build them. Every one I built was a disappointment. I have two left. The rest I gave away. A 52 inch long all Hickory, and a 60 inch long Ash, and Oak combo.These were made 9 years ago. Here are some pics.
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Sorry, Pete Ward did the testing on them not Blacky.What Mikekeswick said also.
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The top bow was made with a sliding nock,and longer string that buttoned off on the base of the smaller bow. Was called a Mic Mac war bow ,but their was no such thing. Shooting Vikings from 200 yards out. Myth. These natives were of the Algonquin tribe. They made simple D shaped bows.The double bow came into being around 1900 by a white man. That being said they do attract a lot of attention because of being so unique.
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could this be a way to add weight to a bow that came underweight?
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Yes ,by twisting, or untwisting the back strings you can adjust the draw weight 10 to 15 lbs.
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Then i would say thats why people made it.
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There biggest benefit in my mind. If you only have small pieces of good strong bow wood and long pieces of low quality wood. You can get the best of both by using the cruddier wood to get out to the draw length you need, even if it’s nowhere near the weight you want. Then you fasten on the short heavy bow and get it’s draw weight with the draw length of the longer bow. Think of pine main bow with an osage backer bow. I could see it working out well enough. Though it makes for a heavy, bulky bow. They do shoot well though, just not any better than a well built one to start with.
Kyle
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The biggest benefits I see is building a young lad one that will adjust from his now draw ,and adjust to his future draw weight , and to show off his unique bow to his friends. For a practical hunting bow it is not ,and would not be my choice. Nothing wrong with building one though, and killing a white tail with it. I am sure some have already, because it would be capable of the task at hand.
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could this be a way to add weight to a bow that came underweight?
I have one I'm finishing up right now for that exact reason. Its the only reason I'll make one. I built another one a couple years ago. It shoots well, but for me they are a bit too much of a pain to get strung up correctly for my taste. Its just too easy to have the string tension wrong and throw the tiller off. That being said, everyone but me loves that thing.
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It would be quicker and easier to make a new 'normal' bow instead of messing around making another 2nd bow to no advantage.
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best looking penobscot ever is Marc st loius's... and even he says there is no benefit to the design...I agree