Building of a proper Hungarian composite bow [b]
A friend of mine is planning to reconstruct a true composite Hungarian bow
from before 900 a.d. We all know the bows of Grozer & Kassai with the
bindings outside of the backing. I wonder whether this really was the case
in historic hungarian bows or the general practice. I would also like to know
if birchbark backing was used among early Hungarian bows. Also I am uncertain of the wood that was being used. The horn part is clear.(cattle)
Anyone who can provide some useful information is welcome to do so as
long as it is archeological/historical correct.
[/b]
from before 900 a.d. We all know the bows of Grozer & Kassai with the
bindings outside of the backing. I wonder whether this really was the case
in historic hungarian bows or the general practice. I would also like to know
if birchbark backing was used among early Hungarian bows. Also I am uncertain of the wood that was being used. The horn part is clear.(cattle)
Anyone who can provide some useful information is welcome to do so as
long as it is archeological/historical correct.
[/b]
There is some information on the bone plate finds from Hungary on the Magyar pages of ATARN ( http://www.atarn.org/magyar/magyar_2/bow.htm ). The only complete finds of similar design are the Alan/Khazar bows from Moshcheveya Balka in the Northern Caucasus, Russia.
There is a photo of one of the bows on http://www.courses.fas.harvard.edu/~cla ... rce/3.html (the other almost intact bow from the site has more typical Magyar siyahs). The sinew wraps are visible on the grip and the base of the right siyah (the left siyah is broken and has lost it's plates and wrap). It has a birch bark covering and a core of cornel wood. Other woods used for the bows are maple and wild plum.
I am making an approximation of this bow, and strung it for the first time last week. I will post some photos soon.
Regards
Andrew Hall
There is a photo of one of the bows on http://www.courses.fas.harvard.edu/~cla ... rce/3.html (the other almost intact bow from the site has more typical Magyar siyahs). The sinew wraps are visible on the grip and the base of the right siyah (the left siyah is broken and has lost it's plates and wrap). It has a birch bark covering and a core of cornel wood. Other woods used for the bows are maple and wild plum.
I am making an approximation of this bow, and strung it for the first time last week. I will post some photos soon.
Regards
Andrew Hall
Thank you Andrew. Coincidental, the friend I mentioned, his name is also
Andrew.
Greetings & Salaam
Andrew.
Greetings & Salaam