Native Indian Horn Bows
First of all: yes, I do know the meaning of "ATARN" :wink:
but still...
I am sure, there are lots of people here (apart from redhawk whose amazing bows I?ve seen) who can possibly give me some advice and are experienced in the making of horn bows the american way.
Horn is ordered already but before I start building asiatic composites I would like to try out some Native Indian design first, horn and sinew.
Any suggestions? Should I just try and reconstruct one of the bows described and pictured by Allely/Hamm in "Encyclopedia of Native American bows arrows and quivers"?
but still...
I am sure, there are lots of people here (apart from redhawk whose amazing bows I?ve seen) who can possibly give me some advice and are experienced in the making of horn bows the american way.
Horn is ordered already but before I start building asiatic composites I would like to try out some Native Indian design first, horn and sinew.
Any suggestions? Should I just try and reconstruct one of the bows described and pictured by Allely/Hamm in "Encyclopedia of Native American bows arrows and quivers"?
What kind of horn did you order? -j-
Water buff - cut already for the lack of adequate power tools. All bow making takes places in a two-room-apartment...
J.
J.
Johnny; A Native American horn bow is made from a Big Horn Sheep or an Elk. Since the horn is not covered, one sees whiteish horn on both Kinds. W. Buffalo is black. This will create an obstacle to an authentic look. This WB horn will be best suited for another project. Look for a pair of Mouflon horns. They are not so expensive and will give an authentic look.
T M Hamilton, Native American Bows, has good prototypes.
Hawk, There are no rib bone bows. Bone lacks the flexibility that is needed in a horn bow. Elk horn was confused with rib bone. Old legends die hard. You two email me your mailing addresses for a list of dimensions of all known N A horn bows. I will give you contacts in Germany and Austria. -j-
T M Hamilton, Native American Bows, has good prototypes.
Hawk, There are no rib bone bows. Bone lacks the flexibility that is needed in a horn bow. Elk horn was confused with rib bone. Old legends die hard. You two email me your mailing addresses for a list of dimensions of all known N A horn bows. I will give you contacts in Germany and Austria. -j-
I love making Native American bows and I like to work with wood, so I have made some selfbows and have been experimenting with sinew as well.
On the other hand I am very much impressed by composite designs of the east. So the idea is to start with a seemingly less sophisticated concept as a sort of learning field before attempting a more complicated project, e.g. a turk bow.
I understand that the "authentic" would be a bow made of sheep horn or the like, but found a source that seems to be a good one and it?s water buffalo. I think I will ignore the "authentic look" if I can?t find sheep or the like.
Better build an American bow out of Asiatic Water Buffalo than waste the horn attempting something "big" and fail...
On the other hand I am very much impressed by composite designs of the east. So the idea is to start with a seemingly less sophisticated concept as a sort of learning field before attempting a more complicated project, e.g. a turk bow.
I understand that the "authentic" would be a bow made of sheep horn or the like, but found a source that seems to be a good one and it?s water buffalo. I think I will ignore the "authentic look" if I can?t find sheep or the like.
Better build an American bow out of Asiatic Water Buffalo than waste the horn attempting something "big" and fail...