Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: simson on September 12, 2014, 05:00:37 am
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My friend Erwin has donted a nice ERC stave to me. It is 52 long, cross section is triangular with a bit of a crown with still one or two layers sap on. At the crown it is about 2“ wide. Some knots are avoidable, a big one not.
I did some searching for indian bows made out of ERC – but didn't find anything. Some west coast bows are made out of juniper, but I assume not from ERC. I'm searching for an indian design/style suitable for my ERC stave.
So can anybody point me in the right direction? Where in North America does ERC grow?
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ERC grows in the eastern half of the US. I don't know of any Native American bows made from it. That's not to say it wasn't done, just that I haven't seen any examples. ERC is a juniper so if you should decide to make a west coast sinew backed paddle bow, it should do well in that design. I wish I could be of more help. Josh
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I agree, treat it like any other juniper and build a Plains or Western style bow. We all know you will do a fantastic job no matter what, Simon. ;)
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I can't recall the exact source but some southeastern US natives used ERC with a sinew backing. I remember seeing a video of a guy reproducing the process.
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Are you sure it was in the SE US, Jon? sinew backed bows are not very practical in the humid Southeast.
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I'm sure the guy was from Georgia. Are you familiar with the video "Full Circle" ? I want to say that is where I am getting my info Pat.
I will add that I can't say for certain the guy was representing a specific region or locale. I just remember he was from somewhere in the southeast and showed how the stave was "plucked" or "wedged" from a live tree by taking it from the trunk without cutting it down. I will go back and try to find my video and re-watch it.
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Is it Thad Beckum? I thought you were talking about the SE Indians using sinew on bows.
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I think that is correct Pat. Again I will say I may be mixing up information. My "sometimers" kicks in once in a while and I don't always remember what I remember :o
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What does ERC stand for?
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ERC= Eastern Red Cedar.
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I've made some nice shooting bows in the Eastern Woodland bow style. I've never heard or seen pictures of a SE native bow that was sinew backed.
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I've seen and own a old Kiowa bow of ERC it has no sinew backing and has alot of set. If you sinew back the bow it could work.
E
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I went and watched the video. I will correct myself by saying the bow he made was not necessarily representative of a SE native peoples. It was an all sapwood sinew backed ERC bow though. You are right Pat it is Thad Beckum.
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(http://i1378.photobucket.com/albums/ah96/asdasd123456789/1_zps6ad97cc1.jpg)
(http://i1378.photobucket.com/albums/ah96/asdasd123456789/webmedia9_zpscd13ae53.jpg)
Here is a Huron bow made of decrowned eastern red cedar. I have also seen some Ojibwa bows made from cedar.
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ERC= Eastern Red Cedar.
Thanks GB!
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Thanks for all the info, gentlemen!
Obviously there are not that much ERC bows from indian natives.
21st century archer:
where did you get the pics from? is there a chance to get more info, measurements etc.? This stick looks like unbacked.
Thanks again.
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simson, the bow came from the canadian museum of civilization. The bow is unbacked and is 133 cm long, 4 cm wide and 1.2 cm thick at the handle.
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erc was probably used by eastern natives for self bows when nothing else was available. That's why you don't see very eastern woodland self bows of erc. I once read that eastern natives would use erc for green wood bows. I have also seen a few plains self bows that had a bright red stripe on the belly like erc or rocky mountain juniper which is related to erc.