ATARNarchive

Where to get a mughal bow?

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Rishov
Hello, does anyone know where to get a mughal bow replica that is a modern hybrid? And if not, does anyone know where to get a bow similar to the mughal bow. I was wondering if the turkish, or the scythian were. Thanks!
Uli
.. at Saluki Bows or Grozer Bows
Bede
Both Lucas and Grozer make bows that are effectively crab bows. The Grozer bows vary somewhat in the smoothness of the draw, but are all accurate. However, if you do not want a crab bow, a small Crimean Tatar bow looks like some of the bows in the miniatures from Akbar's reign. The translations of the two major Indian archery works of the Mughal period mention four main classes of bow in use. One appears to be the crab bow, another the four curved bow, and two that look like Persian bows.
Uli
Bede, what are these works and where to get it ?
Bede
The two books are the Hidāyat ar-Rāmī and the Kullīyāt ar-Rāmī,

See
Edward McEwen, Journal of the Society of Archer-Antiquaries, Vol. 44, 2001, ?Persian Archery Texts The Hidāyat al-Rāmī and the Kullīyāt al-Rāmī?, pp. 45-52

Copies are in the British Library, but the catalogue entries are a little confused.

The Hidāyat ar-Rāmī was written about 1500. The author was Muhammad Budha'i and the copy formerly owned by the Marquis of Bute was dated 1722.

The Kullīyāt ar-Rāmī was written in 1720 by Sayyid Amin ed-Din and the copy accessed was from 1782.

Both books recorded earlier traditions as well as contemporary practice where they were written.
Jamez99
This looks really interesting and one that would be helpful in almost all implementations. I am not likely to consider what is going to be used and supported from any other place but would actually be more useful to the side where they are going to be used fairly.
KenH
The Indian Four Curve bow looks somewhat similar to, although less extremely curved in the tips, than the Scythian bows or archeological record.

IMHO the majority of the commercially available "Scythian" bows are actually closer in profile to the Indian/Mughal Four Curve design than to the true s\Scythian bows..