Replica of a Turkish siper
I made a replica of a Turkish siper using info gleaned from Klopsteg, P.E . 1987.Turkish Archery and the Composite Bow, Third Edition, Simon Archery Foundation, Manchester. Note that the 3rd edition of his work is the last and has the most info.
The Ottomans used a device called a siper to allow a long draw with a short flight arrow. The siper is a long and shallow trough that straps to the thumb of the bow hand. In its most elaborate form, the trough is mounted on a wooden base and has a movable plate below the trough to protect the archer?s hand if the arrow is overdrawn too far. The word ?siper? is Persian for ?shield?.
The trough was made from horn or ivory. The ivory was sometimes dyed various colors. A siper measured by Klopsteg was 4 ?? long by 1? ? 1-1/16? wide. The middle of the groove was about 5/32? higher than the ends, curving in an approximately circular arc of about 18?. The trough was lined with very thin Moroccan leather, glued in with fish glue. My replica was made from camel bone with leather glued down with fish glue.
The shield (tabla) was an oval plate measuring 3 ?? x 5?. It was made of tortoise shell or sheet metal (brass, copper or silver). Some were covered with lizard skin. Another brass plate had parchment with Persian verses covered with transparent horn. One had edges decorated with silver and silk braid. My replica tabla is a piece of brass sheet.
The wooden support (esbik) was made from linden or maple unless it was carved out of the same block as the trough. The trough was glued to the wooden based. Fish glue was used. This assembly was then glued with a slight inclination to the left to a leather strap that fits the hand.
The strap (tasma) was made from the best Moroccan leather and carefully fitted to the wearer?s hand. One was dyed crimson and lined with water silk. The part below the head of the siper was long and the place where the strap fastened was cut away. It was buckled at the wrist.
The Ottomans used a device called a siper to allow a long draw with a short flight arrow. The siper is a long and shallow trough that straps to the thumb of the bow hand. In its most elaborate form, the trough is mounted on a wooden base and has a movable plate below the trough to protect the archer?s hand if the arrow is overdrawn too far. The word ?siper? is Persian for ?shield?.
The trough was made from horn or ivory. The ivory was sometimes dyed various colors. A siper measured by Klopsteg was 4 ?? long by 1? ? 1-1/16? wide. The middle of the groove was about 5/32? higher than the ends, curving in an approximately circular arc of about 18?. The trough was lined with very thin Moroccan leather, glued in with fish glue. My replica was made from camel bone with leather glued down with fish glue.
The shield (tabla) was an oval plate measuring 3 ?? x 5?. It was made of tortoise shell or sheet metal (brass, copper or silver). Some were covered with lizard skin. Another brass plate had parchment with Persian verses covered with transparent horn. One had edges decorated with silver and silk braid. My replica tabla is a piece of brass sheet.
The wooden support (esbik) was made from linden or maple unless it was carved out of the same block as the trough. The trough was glued to the wooden based. Fish glue was used. This assembly was then glued with a slight inclination to the left to a leather strap that fits the hand.
The strap (tasma) was made from the best Moroccan leather and carefully fitted to the wearer?s hand. One was dyed crimson and lined with water silk. The part below the head of the siper was long and the place where the strap fastened was cut away. It was buckled at the wrist.
Gorgeous work. I'd wanted to try my hand with the navak-types for a while, but am hopeless with most of the crafts required (I'm okay with leather, but so hopeless with wood I've had shop teachers suggest trying other crafts).
Massive admiration/jealousy points here, bud. 8)
Massive admiration/jealousy points here, bud. 8)
Great work!
Once again, I appeal to readers to be careful with using this sort of equipment. Accidents with siper and navak can cause serious injury to the archer or others.
Once again, I appeal to readers to be careful with using this sort of equipment. Accidents with siper and navak can cause serious injury to the archer or others.