ATARNarchive

how to make a turkish horn bow

3 posts2006live thread
stefandemeter
once again after posting this under the wrong topic:

hi there,

after making for one year about 25 bows (selfbows and backed ones) from whichI broke one third I got the obsession of making the absolute bow: the turkish bow.

where I live, in ulm germany, the museum has three old turkish bows and two mongolian chinese ones from the 18th century. so I got the chance to draw and x-ray them. I also went twice to karlsruhe that has one of the best collections of turkish bows in europe.

I also tryied to get detailed information on how to make such a bow. so I read joachim hein, latham/patterson, the saracen archery of faris and elmer (I am still waiting for the klopsteg book) but noone has the complete information and the search turned out to be quite frustrating.

I think I dont have to mention that about half of the information is wrong or false since those guys were not craftsmen.

so let's start at the beginning. I suggest we make it step by step.

the first point is the construction of the wooden core.
sec?nd the horn application and
third the sinewing

already at the wooden core I got many questions. how do you saw the grip ? with the tree rings vertically or horizontally?
when do you make the grooves for the horn? before glueing the pieces together or after?
where does the horn end towards the syiahs, and how far from them?
how do you embed the ends of the horn?
what kind of device or tool do you use to make the grooves?

if there is anyone out there who can answer these questions I would greatly appreciate it.

many thanks for your contributions,
stefan
Dave
I can't help much with your problem, except to say that you should get more insight from Klopsteg, as he goes through the process, but I have a question for you:

Is it possible for you to scan and share the drawings/xrays of the bows you mention? I think they would be very interesting to see.

Sorry I can't help,

Dave
stefandemeter
hi Dave,

I've started by mistake this discussion twice. p

lease go to the same topic above in the list. but to answer your enquiry:
I will post some drwawings and pictures by the end of the week.

stefan