Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Jodocus on November 02, 2014, 07:32:22 am

Title: old Papua bow with bamboo string
Post by: Jodocus on November 02, 2014, 07:32:22 am
I don't know anything about this one, except that it was probably obtained in new Giunea in the 60s. Where's up, down, belly back? No idea. I braced it so the side with the dark streaks is the back. I've seen polynesian bows with quite a reflex in the lower limb, might or might not be the same here. What's it made of, how far pulled? Don't know. Arrow foreshafts are about half the entire arrow lenght and from the same material as the bow.

It's 68" , arrows 45", weighs 19 ounces, the arrows 630 grains. I'm not pulling it out of respect for its age, but it braces like one of my 60-pounders.

Enjoy the pics, tell me what you think.
Title: Re: old Papua (?) Bow
Post by: Jodocus on November 02, 2014, 07:35:48 am
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Title: Re: old Papua (?) Bow
Post by: Jodocus on November 02, 2014, 07:36:54 am
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Title: Re: old Papua (?) Bow
Post by: Jodocus on November 02, 2014, 07:39:35 am
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Title: Re: old Papua (?) bow with bamboo string
Post by: Pat B on November 02, 2014, 08:47:29 am
Very cool. Thanks for posting it. Tell me about the blue and yellow material used. Looks like plastic.
Title: Re: old Papua (?) bow with bamboo string
Post by: Jodocus on November 02, 2014, 09:04:33 am
Tell me about the blue and yellow material used. Looks like plastic.
it is! Looks similar to these plastic bands that are used to tie up goods, shredded and woven into these patterns.

The use of plastic as decorative element, just cause of it's shiny colours, is very touching, I think. To the person who did that, this plastic maybe was something special.
Title: Re: old Papua (?) bow with bamboo string
Post by: Arrowind on November 02, 2014, 11:34:16 am
Interesting.
Title: Re: old Papua (?) bow with bamboo string
Post by: dueb on November 02, 2014, 12:07:33 pm
That Bamboo string is way cool!
Title: Re: old Papua (?) bow with bamboo string
Post by: loefflerchuck on November 02, 2014, 12:38:29 pm
Thanks for posting. Don't see many like that here. Looks like a kind of palm
Title: Re: old Papua (?) bow with bamboo string
Post by: loefflerchuck on November 02, 2014, 12:41:21 pm
Is the bow bamboo or palm?
Title: Re: old Papua (?) bow with bamboo string
Post by: Jodocus on November 02, 2014, 01:17:01 pm
certainly not bamboo, as far as I can tell. Maybe rattan?
Title: Re: old Papua(?) bow with bamboo string
Post by: Jodocus on November 04, 2014, 04:30:04 am
Sorry for bringing this up again, but I was really hoping someone could tell me what kind of wood this is and what side ist most likely back and belly?
Title: Re: old Papua(?) bow with bamboo string
Post by: wizardgoat on November 04, 2014, 04:36:25 am
Cool bow, thanks for posting
Title: Re: old Papua(?) bow with bamboo string
Post by: seabass on November 04, 2014, 05:29:14 am
The bow is black Palm I believe.
Title: Re: old Papua(?) bow with bamboo string
Post by: GlisGlis on November 04, 2014, 05:39:01 am
beautiful bow and awesome string!
Title: Re: old Papua(?) bow with bamboo string
Post by: Jodocus on November 04, 2014, 06:39:07 am
The bow is black Palm I believe.

Thanks, you're awesome! I looked it up and it looks just like that. Now I got to find out if the darker or the lighter side is the back...

here's one very cool article with modern and pre WW2 Papua-Bows: The old ones even have the same braided wraps, just not plastic!

http://www.alaskabowhunting.com/PR/Ashby_Papua_New_Guinea_Bows_and_Arrows.pdf

Title: Re: old Papua(?) bow with bamboo string
Post by: DarkSoul on November 04, 2014, 07:10:01 am
The bow looks to be palm, I agree. Not sure about the species of palm, as there are many species which can look similar. It could be black palm, but I've seen much darker 'black palm' as well.

The lighter colored side is the interior section of the palm 'tree', while the darker colored side was the exterior face. The lighter colored side should have less fibers and as a consequence is lighter in weight and strength as well. I suspect this lighter side to be the back of the bow; grasses such as bamboo and palm are much stronger in tension than in compression, so the additional strength from the fibers is more needed on the belly.
Please don't take my guess for the truth, but if I had to put my money on it, I'd say the darker side is the belly.
Title: Re: old Papua(?) bow with bamboo string
Post by: Holten101 on November 04, 2014, 07:50:54 am
Very nice:-)

Im intrigued by the bamboo knot. I dont belive I have seen anything like that....wonder if that knot would work with other string materials?

Cheers 
Title: Re: old Papua(?) bow with bamboo string
Post by: RT on November 04, 2014, 08:38:04 am
Google neebong Palm and search under images. You will be able to see images on the palm tree.

This Palm is all over south east Asia and the  wood is very hard like ipe but is very brittle. Hope this helps......RT
Title: Re: old Papua bow with bamboo string
Post by: Parnell on November 04, 2014, 09:38:20 am
I love seeing stuff like this.  Very cool post, thank you.
Title: Re: old Papua bow with bamboo string
Post by: loefflerchuck on November 04, 2014, 09:46:12 am
Black palm is black wood. Not that. Some other grass tree
Title: Re: old Papua bow with bamboo string
Post by: Chadwick on November 04, 2014, 03:39:47 pm
I'm thinking mine is black palm. From Papua, 15 years ago. 70" long bow, tied bamboo string, arrow totals 64"