I put this on the LeatherWall, but I thought some here might find it interesting:
Last weekend, my church here in Korea (it's part of the university I teach at) had a BBQ for international faculty members in the church at my and my wife's traditional Korean house. About fifty people came. Lots of beef (50kg) to go around (and big cuts, too).
Four of my wife's young students came out for that, and to spend the night at the place. The following day, she asked me to show them how to make a simple bamboo bow, which I happily did. Actually, I let them do a lot of the work, but I took care of some of the more difficult procedures.
After that, we strung it up and I showed them basic shooting (using a thumb pinch, similar to a thumb ring draw). Of course, we had lots of safety instruction, too, and they caught on fast.
After they each took turns on the bow they crafted, I brought out some other simple boo bows, so they could get more shooting in. I also took out a low draw weight bow to show them some things about shooting (the bow is one of the prototypes like the ones sent to Oliver Stone's people for Alexander the Great).
First, I put out an old cardboard box for them to shoot at. Later, I put out a half-stuffed bag target, and gradually moved it farther and farther away. By the end of the day, they were all regularly hitting it. You can see a pictorial of the day here:
You basically made them build Buthanese bows... How did you do for the arrows ?
Thomas Duvernay
This time, I just went for expedience, so I brought out a dozen of my carbons.
T
Romain
Last year I also did a bamboo bow for my son. He was 4 at the time and could not really pull it (it's about 10 pounds @ 14")
Romain
one year later, he can draw it without problems. It's almost a longbow for him (43" long)
Szabi Nagy
My very first bow was a simple bamboo bow, I got it when I was about 5 or 6, so it spent the last 30 years strung and still working fine...
Szabi
sbartels
Two bamboo bows I have made for kids: fist shows a longbow for a handicapped boy, about 28lbs still a bit heavy for him. Two bamboo splits tillered separately and glued together (back to back) with wood glue..Too stiff in the tiips, but durable.
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sbartels
The second bow was my first attempt at a "horsebow".
Same principle as above, but with pinewood "mini-siyahs". Draw is 20".
ginni
I have made this bow from my 5 years daughter.
Is made from bamboo floor - 14lbs@20".
ginni
The arrows are made from 6mm spruce wood.
I fletched it with four fletches, I think it would be easy for kids to nock, they can't do mistakes.
bustedarrow
Romain - Do you have a better picture and a diagram on that tillering stick in the photo. I would like to make one.
Ginni - Do you have a better photo of the nock end of those arrows, is that red silk you wrapped with? And how about a closer photo of the thumbrings?
Thomas Duvernay
It's nice to see this topic looked at again :)
T
ginni
Bustedarrow,
The arrows are wrapped with poliester sewing thread; the red colour is from the nail laquer which I have coated the nock end. :D
Those two arrows without red paint are the second generation, I have make a longer nock.
