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Author Topic: African Acacia  (Read 1784 times)

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Offline Oz

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African Acacia
« on: February 20, 2013, 08:52:56 am »
Hi All

I am living in Zimbabwe, Africa and there are a lot of Acacia trees about. In fact I still have thorns stuck in my shoe from the last hunt. I have never successfully made a bow before and would like to do make the dream happen. I have an Acacia in my yard (have identified what type yet) and I would like to know if it is possible to make a bow from one of its 3in wide branches (I cant cut the tree down as the wife will kill me).

Any tips would be great.

Oz
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Offline Slackbunny

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Re: African Acacia
« Reply #1 on: February 20, 2013, 09:33:15 am »
I've never heard of acacia being used, but that is probably because most of the people here are from North America and Europe. If nobody here has any experience with it I would give it a go anyway to test it out. Most wood can make a functioning bow even if it isn't a very heavy or fast one.
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Offline autologus

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Re: African Acacia
« Reply #2 on: February 20, 2013, 09:43:43 am »
Acacias are in the Mimosa family of trees and Mimosas tend to be very brittle.  My guess is that they would not make a good bow but you can always try it out.  Red acacia is also known as Shittim wood, the wood that was used to make the Ark of the Covenant.

Grady
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Offline Pat B

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Re: African Acacia
« Reply #3 on: February 20, 2013, 09:59:48 am »
What did the local indiginous people use for their bows?
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Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline Dictionary

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Re: African Acacia
« Reply #4 on: February 20, 2013, 10:04:58 am »
Quote from: Pat B on February 20, 2013, 09:59:48 am
What did the local indiginous people use for their bows?

This is the best question......




If experimenting with unfamiliar wood, make the first bow as tall as you are.
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"I started developing an eye for those smooth curves as a young man.  Now that my hair is greying and my middle spreading I make bows instead."

-JW_Halverson

Offline BowEd

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Re: African Acacia
« Reply #5 on: February 20, 2013, 12:50:38 pm »
If you don't mind learning from books the TTB series is available but maybe you can get a local bow maker from a tribe near you that could help too.Just an idea.These questions asked have a way of getting answered with time.If there's a will there's a way.Bottom line is you'll have to pull some shavings and make some saw dust to really know yourself.
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BowEd
You got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything.
Ed

Offline Peacebow_Coos

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Re: African Acacia
« Reply #6 on: February 20, 2013, 08:32:16 pm »
I remember hearing of acacia being used.  The one in my mom's backyard flowers yellow and has no thorns, I think the purple flowered thorned kind was used by Australian Aboriginees?  It's worth a shot, one of these days I'll try one of my ma's trees George Washington style, I bet he was a bowyer :)
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Offline Newindian

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Re: African Acacia
« Reply #7 on: February 20, 2013, 09:03:33 pm »
Wernt there some acacia bows used by the Egyptians
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Offline kid bow

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Re: African Acacia
« Reply #8 on: February 20, 2013, 09:36:34 pm »
I would try it friend always wanted to learn bush craft in south africa. You can learn from local tribes. I hope you are successful in your now building
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i need nothing but my old bow and arrows.
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