Primitive Bow

[soggy]

During the last few years most of the weekend/rendezvous that I have attended included a Primitive bow competition of some sort as one of the events. So when a friend delivered several ash logs to me this spring I decided to get creative (that and the fact that my friend asked me to make him a bow :wink: ) This has been a project that I would spend a few minutes at then leave it for a week or two, when ever time would permit I would have a go at it.
The finished bow measures 72" long and is 1-1/2" wide at the widest part, I finished it with a couple of coats of clear finish and used artifical sinew for the string :
DAY 1

Raw staves

Rough layout

Final stages

Ready to shoot

I have no idea how much "pull" this bow has, but since it will only be used to kill cardboard & styrofoam grizzlies and such I'm sure it will do.... :grin:

 

[Roy]

Looks good Soggy :thumbsup:

 

[rabjr]

Pretty cool Soggy. :hatsoff:

 

[mazo kid]

Looks great! A quick way to test pounds of pull is to cut a notch for the bow string in a strong dowel, broom handle, etc, place the strung bow on the dowel and the dowel end on a bathroom scale. Mark length of pull on the dowel. Pull down on the handle of the bow the amount of draw you have for arrow length and read poundage on scale.

 

[crockett]

Or, hang some barbell plates on the string until the proper draw length is reached.
In making such a bow, do you split the wood along a growth ring? Did you work with green wood or let it season? Really nice looking bow, only comment, making some period arrows would be a plus. I think most tribes used blunt points for small game, they ought to work ok for targets.
If you previously shot a bow, how does your new bow compare as far as accuracy?
Thanks.

 

[deanscamaro]

Some of you really experienced ML'ers have talents we novices can't even comprehend. Good work!
:grin: :bow:

 

[BadHeart]

Some of you really experienced ML'ers have talents we novices can't even comprehend. Good work!
:grin: :bow:

I was told by an old timer that I used to do a little wood carving with when I lived in Texas that it is just a piece of wood and you can always get another one when you mess up. The only way that you will get good at something is to screw up a few times. You learn from your mistakes. By the way that is sure a nice bow. How do you make your strings from the artifical sinew?

 

[RC]

Nice job Soggy! but..(ain't they always.. :haha: ) so i sees ya aimin....but the target be behind ya and low??? you use driftwood?

 

[soggy]

I'll try and answer some of your questions, keeping in mind that I'm anything but an expert in this field :grin: .
I try to follow the same growth ring for the entire length of the bow. This will help prevent the bow splitting when you draw it. Also I suspect that is one of the reasons that ash is the prefered wood (up here) due to it's straight grain.
I will no doubt make some wooden arrows; that fiberglass one was the only thing I had around when the picture was taken. (Not really P/C :redface: )
Frosty: I have to agree with your friend; The only way you'll ever get half ways good at something is if you try and learn from your mistakes. You don't know how many times I have started to make something and it wound up as kindling :wink:
As for the bow string; it's pretty hard to explaine, however I picked up a book from Track of the Wolf a few years ago and I find it very helpful.
" The Art of Making PRIMATIVE BOWS and ARROWS" written by D. C. Waldorf. Can't remember the exact price but think it was somewhere around $8-$10 dollars.
Hope this helps
Soggy

 

[soggy]

Nice job Soggy! but..(ain't they always.. :haha: ) so i sees ya aimin....but the target be behind ya and low??? you use driftwood?

I'm shooting what'cha call a ricochet shot :grin: :grin:

 

[huntman58]

Nice looking bow! :thumbsup:
I have pulled plans off the net some time last year to also build on . A freinds father years ago used to make them and I trund down his offer for one . now i wish I had not as I enjoy bows as much as muzzle loading. I do plan to try and make on. What size of string did you use or could you post a close up of the bow string.

 

[soggy]

For the string I used 4 strands of artifical sinew. I whipped a small area where the arrow will be noched, and the loops at each end were also whipped.
The artifical sinew is available from Track of the Wolf for $7.95 per half pound. It has many uses, and I would suggest that anyone who is into making any muzzleloading "stuff" should have a spool.

 

[Robert Egler]

looks nice! :thumbsup:

I'll warn you though, make one bow, and then you'll think of a better way to do something or just want something a bit different, a draw weight or style, and soon you'll have bows all over the place! When I hunt with a bow now I always use an English longbow (65#) that I made. But I have maybe 6 or 7 more bows in the closet, and I gave away about 4 or 5 others. I was finally banned from making any more by the wife.

 

[RonT]

Irish Linen carpet thread will also work well for string making. I have a few selfbows and all are strung with this material.
R

 

[Minuteman]

That arty sinew is pretty crummy string material. Unless its dacron , if its nylon( they make both) you are robbing the bow of some of its energy and not just a little either. Find you some Linen and make a string out of that, its primitive looking and makes a very quiet string.
You'll need to test break the linen to determine how many strands to put in the string. Break 5 or 6 two foot sections(using a hanging scale) to get an average tensile strength then make the string four times the draw weight.
Tiller looks good by the way.
Check out the primitive archer forum if ya wanna ask questions about bows, arrows or just about anything primitive archery related. Good site, like this one...

 

[jethro224]

Cool! :thumbsup:
I always wanted to make one. Still never tried. Maybe one of these days...
I'm just not sure I can use that much kindling. :haha:

 

[PaulN/KS]

Nice looking bow. Good tiller and finish.
Yep, ya can't beat a good piece of Ash...

For a bow that is. :hmm:

 

[soggy]

:grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: :rotf:

 

[Flint311]

That's a great looking bow. Nice job. Was the ash seasoned and what size log to start? I've got ash trees falling around the house (looks like someone just cut off the roots). So, I would rather not cut a live one. I've got some articles on making bows and definitely want to try!

 

[soggy]

The log had been cut and air dried for 8-9 months, and was approx. 8" in diameter. It wasn't completely dried when I started but as I worked the stave it seemed to dry as the wood became smaller, and by the time that I had finished I would guess that it was completely dry. I spent a couple of months from the time I started the project until I finished it.
Hope this helps