Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Jax666 on January 16, 2015, 08:56:44 am
-
I am working on my first bow and wondering if there are any good must read books?
Jerry
-
Traditional bowyer bible series 1-4 has everything you need to know
-
"The Ben Stick" by Paul Comstock. I think this is a must read for anyone building bows with woods other than osage and yew.
...actually, take your pick...
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y199/PatBNC/bowbuildingbooks001_zps34c2298d.jpg) (http://s5.photobucket.com/user/PatBNC/media/bowbuildingbooks001_zps34c2298d.jpg.html)
-
Nice, um, rack there Pat! You have all of 'em. The Bent Stick and TBB series are great, plus at some point you might enjoy Hunting the Osage Bow, especially if you like to have lots of books (I sure do). If you want just a couple, The Bent Stick and TBB Vol. 1 will get you pretty far.
-
Wish i had known that TBB came in hardcover :(
-
My TBBI was printed in 1992 and my "The Bent Stick" was printed in 1988, my "Native American Bows" by TM Hamilton was printed in1982. All bought new.
-
Wish i had known that TBB came in hardcover :(
The words are the same. >:D ;D ;)
-
Tbb 1-4 , the bent stick , and Jim hamm wrote one about native American bows I forget the name at the moment though
-
Always, Jim Hamm's book is "Bows & Arrows of the Native Americans". I have that one too.
-
TBB Vol. I, if you can only buy one. I don't put The Bent Stick in the same class. Paul Comstock does know what he's talking about, but I think the organization of the booklet is not up to the TBB series. He also contributed to those books.
There are also older books that are good, but they are hard to find. One that I like for both the how-to aspect and the nostalgia is Archery Tackle How To Make & How To Use it, by Adoph Shane.
Jim Davis
-
TBB have been very helpful for me. Really starting a grasp of it once I read that.
-
The 'must read' is TBB vol1
Hunting with the bow and arrow by Saxton Pope is V good , but prob' out of print.
Longbow by Robert Hardy if you are into longbows, but also covers other stuff.
I'd say Del's Bowyers Diary is a must read too O:) ;)
Del
-
I second the recommendation for Del's Bowyers Diary; it's great for the price.
I'm re-reading some of my books now --- 15 years after buying them, and either I've forgotten a ton, didn't read it carefully the first time, or I get more from them now that I've got more in my head.
-
Bow books. I just love reading them over and over again.
Jawge
-
The pictured bookcase is right next to my chair. The bottom shelf has all my PA Magazines since the very first one.
-
Bow books. I just love reading them over and over again.
Jawge
Yeah, I picked up my tattered old copy of Hunting with the bow and arrow last night... there were bits in there I'd forgotten.
Great story in there of a museum curator offering to put on a chain mail shirt and have an arrow shot at him!
Instead they draped it over a wooden crate...
The arrow went right through with a shower of sparks and the curator turned a shade of green >:D
Del
-
I remember that story, Del.
Let's see. A good list and in order which is, of course, my opinion.
The Bent Stick-Comstock- Great book for getting started.
TBB 1-4- Great books to sharpen knowledge
Hunting with the Osage Bow- Great read. Dean is an excellent writer.
The Art of Making Selfbows- Heavy on the osage. Quite detailed.
All of these are available from Horsefeathers Ranch here on the PA site.
http://www.horsefeathersranch.com/archery.htm
Jawge
-
I ordered TBB 1-4 and subscribed to PA.
Jerry
-
I also like Glenn St. charles Billets to bows and The flat bow by Hunt&metz
-
Like Auggie mentioned, Billets to Bows, by Glenn St. Charles is another good one, and one that focuses on yew. TBB1 covers all the basics, and like others have said here, this is the one to have if you have only one.
Dean Torges Hunting the Osage Bow is great stand alone book as well if you are planning on making an osage bow, though most of the principles covered apply to bow-making in general as well.
From the Den of the Old Bowhunter, the stories and photogrpahs of Chester Stevenson, Edited by Nick Nott is not an inctructional book by any means, but the hunting tales, the bow-making tidbits, and the photos of archery equipment are quite the inspiration.
I would love to get my hands on a copy of The Bowyer's Craft by Jay Massey, or his Book of Primitive Archery Anybody have copies they would trade?
-
I built my first bows over a decade ago after reading the bent stick. I was building mostly from ash and hickory slabs from a friend of mines sawmill. But I agree the TBB series is great!
I think the book that helped me the most in the early days was Dean Torges book "Hunting the Osage Bow." The pages are falling out in my copy I've read it so much! Also, I've recently read Stim Wilcox's "art of making selfbows" Good read no doubt.
-
As. fellow beginner, I also would recommend TBB (all 4 volumes, but especially 1 and 4) and "The Bent Stick". May have been mentioned, but the Build-alongs on this site are VERY helpful.
I have also found that pestering the experts around here with constant annoying questions can be very fruitful!
Russ
-
Consider making this a sticky?
-
Consider making this a sticky?
How do I make a sticky?
-
I think that's an Administrator's task/responsibility.
-
I do it by spilling sweet and sour sauce on the iPhone screen.
-
Hunting the Osage Bow, by Dean Torges is THIS bowyer's bible.
I have TBB's 1-4.
HOB was the only reference I had when I made my first one and it still shoots. There's good info in there that isn't in the other books.
-
I just ordered the first volume of the "Encyclopedia of Native American bows, arrows, and quivers" this weekend. I can't wait for it to get to my door!
-
I read Deans Book first then
TBB 1-3 then got #4 when it came out
Also Al Herons Cherokee bows and arrows or whatever its called I would have to dig it out.
Of course my initial questioning here with these guys and on Paleo Planet when Tim Baker was active.
The other books mentioned are all great I'm sure. Just never needed more than what the above provided. Especially since we have this wonderful site to learn and share with.
The cool thing about it is once you get several under your belt and continue to come around here you pick up certain things from other peoples style and if you stay at it long enough you start to develop a style of your own.
-
There is a fist edition copy of The Bowyers Craft signed by Jay Massey on the big auction site right now for $50. I wish I could afford it right now. Just thought I would pass this along to you guys hoping someone here gets it.
-
Is there much in "Hunting the Osage Bow" for a guy that will probably never see a piece of osage.
-
I'd say yes there is in Deans book even if you dont "see" any osage wood,all the info on bow building is very good! The book its self is a good read,plus all the info for making bows
-
an addendum to the book from his website......
if you like his style, i recommend the book
www.bowyersedge.com/organic.html
-
Anyone ever read Backcountry Bowhunting A Guide to the wild side by Cameron Hayes. While he doesn't use a traditional bow I have heard really good things about this book. Trying to decide if I should spend the money..