baked bows
I have seen bows similar to what you describe from Nagaland but they were alveys short and with two strips of bamboo,the belly was smoked and the back was not,the arrows that accompanied these bows were usually 24 to 28 inches long and they were usually in the range of 50- 60 #.the shafts of the arrows were thinner than anything I have seen in any other and were fletched with three two inch vulture feathers which were cross checquered with silk thread.I am trying to obtain samples of these bows as well as arrows,I will post picks as soon as I have a sample available.
PJ; anything like these?
They're from India, brought back here in the 1950s, that's about all I know about these items. Any help highly appreciated!
Cheers,
Jan
They're from India, brought back here in the 1950s, that's about all I know about these items. Any help highly appreciated!
Cheers,
Jan
Jan; That is a really fine collection!
Jan could you confirm if the dark coloured rope material on the bow in the first picture is coconut fibre or not?The arrows in the second picture look like arrows used by the bhils of central India and so do the bows in the third picture.could you post a close up of the fletching of the arrows.
That is a fine collection.
P.J.
That is a fine collection.
P.J.
Thanks for your kind words, gentlemen!
PJ, I'm afraid I couldn't tell coconut fibre from any other fibre. Any special characteristics to look out for? I'll try to find out, sadly I can't take a close-up pic, my lenses are not good enough for that.
Thanks a lot for the info on the Bhil! I had found similar bows in the Grayson collection and also in Museums in the UK, but in each case, the provinence only stated "India", "Northern India?" or even "Bengal? Melanesia? New Guinea?".
Nowhere have I found these specific forms of arrows. Some shafts are made of reed, some probably bamboo, others are clears of some light wood, probably hollo(ed) as well. Different kinds of feathers and different means of fletching have been used. I hope the pictures are of some use, I can take more any time.
In some cases, great care has been taken to apply the fletchings, which forms a sharp contrast to the bows, which are rather crude. One has the words "Sri Pradhu" and some other illegible Western letters written on the back.
Thanks for any info you can give!
Best wishes, Jan.
PJ, I'm afraid I couldn't tell coconut fibre from any other fibre. Any special characteristics to look out for? I'll try to find out, sadly I can't take a close-up pic, my lenses are not good enough for that.
Thanks a lot for the info on the Bhil! I had found similar bows in the Grayson collection and also in Museums in the UK, but in each case, the provinence only stated "India", "Northern India?" or even "Bengal? Melanesia? New Guinea?".
Nowhere have I found these specific forms of arrows. Some shafts are made of reed, some probably bamboo, others are clears of some light wood, probably hollo(ed) as well. Different kinds of feathers and different means of fletching have been used. I hope the pictures are of some use, I can take more any time.
In some cases, great care has been taken to apply the fletchings, which forms a sharp contrast to the bows, which are rather crude. One has the words "Sri Pradhu" and some other illegible Western letters written on the back.
Thanks for any info you can give!
Best wishes, Jan.
Tha arrows with the fletchings wrapped in thread are from the naga tribe ,I can be 100 % certain of that as only the nagas take that much time and effort with their arrows as well as the size of the fletching confirms that.The ones without the wrappings are from the bhils.The bows I am very certain are from the bhils as well.Naga bows in comparison are much finer and better made and all the naga bows I have seen and shot have been made with 2 strips of bamboo.the bamboo string is also from nagaland.That was the traditional way they made the strings earlier.now it is wound bamboo fiber.
Thanks a lot, PJ - that is very valuable information!
I think I have a picture of a bow labelled as "Naga" in the Royal Armouries Leeds, I'll look it up and post it.
Btw, sorry for hijacking your thread, maybe all of this should be moved to a new thread under "Hardware". Stephen?
Best wishes,
Jan
I think I have a picture of a bow labelled as "Naga" in the Royal Armouries Leeds, I'll look it up and post it.
Btw, sorry for hijacking your thread, maybe all of this should be moved to a new thread under "Hardware". Stephen?
Best wishes,
Jan
The single nock is interesting. It must provide uncentered propulsion to the arrow, the "string" being off centered.
Would that string really be rattan vine and not bamboo? The two have a very similar appearance when worked up.
Would that string really be rattan vine and not bamboo? The two have a very similar appearance when worked up.
I'm sorry, I can't seem to upload any more pictures. So please have a look here: https://www.dropbox.com/gallery/2633845 ... w?h=1c9d0e
Apologies for the chopped up picture; this is the bow on display in the Royal Armouries Collection in leeds (UK). The description reads:
"Bow (dhunookh) Indian, Chota Nagpur, early 19th century.
The old Indian longbow was a self bow, one made from a single piece of bamboo. It was replaced by the more efficient composite bow in the Middle Ages. The old form of bow survived among the hill tribes, with a string made from the same material."
The warriors:
"Korewah group from Chota Nagpur, 1868,
from J F Watson and Sir J W Kaye, The people of India"
Apologies for the chopped up picture; this is the bow on display in the Royal Armouries Collection in leeds (UK). The description reads:
"Bow (dhunookh) Indian, Chota Nagpur, early 19th century.
The old Indian longbow was a self bow, one made from a single piece of bamboo. It was replaced by the more efficient composite bow in the Middle Ages. The old form of bow survived among the hill tribes, with a string made from the same material."
The warriors:
"Korewah group from Chota Nagpur, 1868,
from J F Watson and Sir J W Kaye, The people of India"
Jack; I would really like to know how these arrows perform. Could be interesting to build a replica bow with flat string and try those asymmetrical nocks. I can provide you with measurements, if you feel tempted to do the work .... ;-)
My strings have traces of nodes on them, I'm not sure this would be the case with rattan?
My strings have traces of nodes on them, I'm not sure this would be the case with rattan?
Jan; You would want to build your own repro and report back to us. Don't pass up the experience.
I am sure in my mind that your flat strings are rattan rather than bamboo. The two look superficially quite like eachother, and as such, rattan is often misidentified as bamboo. Rattan has an outer skin, it has node like intervals, and a stringy interior. But rattan can be bent when dry and bamboo cannot.
Those owning traditional bamboo yumi bows will recognize the wrappings at the tips and above the grip as rattan and not bamboo. Demonstrations of bow finishing from Japan feature techniques for rattan working.
Rattan is inexpensive and can be found from chair caning suppliers, basket making suppliers or just salvaged from old baskets.
I am sure in my mind that your flat strings are rattan rather than bamboo. The two look superficially quite like eachother, and as such, rattan is often misidentified as bamboo. Rattan has an outer skin, it has node like intervals, and a stringy interior. But rattan can be bent when dry and bamboo cannot.
Those owning traditional bamboo yumi bows will recognize the wrappings at the tips and above the grip as rattan and not bamboo. Demonstrations of bow finishing from Japan feature techniques for rattan working.
Rattan is inexpensive and can be found from chair caning suppliers, basket making suppliers or just salvaged from old baskets.