Anyone DIY a longbow?

[stomachmonkey]

The daughter is reading the Hunger Games books.

She has developed a fascination with bow and arrow.

Took her to my range last weekend and she did really well with her brothers cheap Boy Scout set.

She has been scouting the local woods for a suitable limb and actually knitted herself a quiver.

The wife has a girls thing this weekend so I have both kids for a good part of it and am considering doing something like this to keep them entertained. Just need to scale it for her size, draw length.

traditional bows and arrows :: (pictures and descriptions of my hand made bows and arrows)

Looks like a good 1-2 day project.

What do you guys think? Good project for the kids? They are 11 and 8.

[slodave]

Yes, a long time ago. If I remembered the specifics, I'd gladly share. Made it out of lemonwood. It's funny, when I rollerbalde at the park, I pass what I think are some lemonwood trees. They always remind my of that bow.

[porsche4life]

Hmm.... Dave?

Edit, I see he beat me to it...


I don't have either of my bows around any more or I would let you have them...

[slodave]

Hehe. If something can be made from wood, I've probably already made it.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by slodave

Hehe. If something can be made from wood, I've probably already made it.

TMI

[HHI944]

I used to work for a Doc, taking care of her thoroughbreds, who had an oddball son (he'd been a SEAL and had a breakdown) He spent an entire summer perfecting a traditional Japanese long bow and a few dozen arrows. That thing was wickedly accurate and powerful.

[porsche4life]

This is dave... Dave likes working with wood....

[slodave]

I get what he was saying.


I starting building a submarine in my parents garage out of wood. Was supposed to fit me. Dad financed and helped with the construction and procuring things from yard sales, such as dive tanks, bikes that would become the steering and propulsion mechanisms.

Mom finally came to her senses and had a big talk with dad. They pulled the plug on that one. We were just about ready to fiberglass the hull.

[pwd72s]

I heard from a native that the plains tribes loved a wood called osage orange for bow making.

[slodave]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

I heard from a native that the plains tribes loved a wood called osage orange for bow making.

There are a few woods that are good for making bows. Osage was commonly available around these parts.

[masraum]

I always thought that one of the preferred woods for a bow was Yew.

Here, check this out.

List of Potenial Bow Wood Species - With Comments in Technical Bowmaking Information Forum

[LeeH]

Funny... my 11 year old is also discovered archery thanks to The Hunger Games. Hope the guy who put together the first web page is more technically accurate than his spelling and punctuation would suggest!

A friend of mine found a Bear recurve bow at Goodwill for $8. It will become part of this year's Halloween costume.



My daughter has mostly been shooting a compound bow I got at a garage sale for $5.

[RPKESQ]

Sure, several.

I have a interest in ancient weapons. I learned to knap flint for knives, spear points, arrow heads, awls, axes, etc. I try to duplicate the weapons using the original materials. Atlatls, bows, spears, slings, swords, knives, armor, axes, maces, hammers, etc.

For the bow, yew was best but other species and materials are possible. Horn, metal and composites were all made in ancient times.

In fact the first composite bows were developed over 6000 years BCE. It used sinew attached with a fish intestine glue on the face of the bow. I have made these as well as the later type where horn is also added to the mix. Better glue made from animal hoof is a decided improvement.

It is quite interesting to only use ancient techniques and materials and then use the weapon or tool.