Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Morgan on March 19, 2017, 03:44:50 am
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I have a narrow and shallow stave of hackberry that split off of a larger stave.
A bow from this piece of wood is going to have to bend through the handle I'm pretty sure.
I believe I want to make an eastern woodland style bow from it.
There are various dimensions in TBB vol2 for these bows, but I cannot seem to find when the side taper to nocks begins.
I will also want to build up the handle with leather or cork, or maybe rawhide. Anyone used rawhide for that?
My nephew has a Cherokee bow that I find uncomfortable to shoot because of the wide and shallow "handle" section.
This will be my first attempt at a bend through bow, so I'll probably need lots of help with tiller.
Stave has been 3 weeks air drying, going to throw in the car tomorrow and maybe build a hot box if I don't get too caught up in other chores.
Any advice on when to start width taper, or built up handles is greatly appreciated.
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Encyclopedia of Native American Bows, Arrows & Quivers: Volume 1: Northeast, Southeast, and Midwest
has quite a few illustrations. Although the illustrations are drawings, they are said to have been made with an eye towards accuracy. Taper on those that I have looked at, seem to vary...... straight from handle to tip, to tapers that start half way down the limb, to hardly no taper at all.
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I start at about 1 1/4" at the handle and go straight to 3/4" at the nocks. You can adjust the width with the dimensions you have to work with.
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You have to let go of any thought that bows were standard according to tribe or area or that they were perfectly designed.
Use any taper that makes you happy.
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the wide shallow handle can be very comforatble to shoot, in fact it is my favorite,, you have to rotate your left hand a bit to the right and hold with a loose grip,, where the bow is resting on your thumb muscle ,,, your fingers wil rest on the back of the bow,, and not be wrapped around the grip,, :BB
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the wide shallow handle can be very comforatble to shoot, in fact it is my favorite,, you have to rotate your left hand a bit to the right and hold with a loose grip,, where the bow is resting on your thumb muscle ,,, your fingers wil rest on the back of the bow,, and not be wrapped around the grip,, :BB
Thanks, I'll try that
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Use any taper that makes you happy.
no doubt there was quite a variety, and you are free to choose. I find it a bit easier to taper the thickness first, and then the sides last on bendy handled bows.
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(http://i1053.photobucket.com/albums/s479/morgan_w_w/IMG_5614.jpg) (http://s1053.photobucket.com/user/morgan_w_w/media/IMG_5614.jpg.html)
(http://i1053.photobucket.com/albums/s479/morgan_w_w/IMG_5615.jpg) (http://s1053.photobucket.com/user/morgan_w_w/media/IMG_5615.jpg.html)
(http://i1053.photobucket.com/albums/s479/morgan_w_w/IMG_5616.jpg) (http://s1053.photobucket.com/user/morgan_w_w/media/IMG_5616.jpg.html)
This is the little stave.has some propeller twist and quite a bit of reflex. 66" long 2" wide across back and right at 1 1/4" from back to point of wedge on belly. Hope I can get something out of it.going to whittle it down to closer dimensions now