Question on eastern woodland bows.

[Dakotian]

I have decided on a resonable goal, one project a season. Shortly now I should like to get started on my winter bow(which at the rate I work will probably take me all winter). I would like to make a rabbit bow for when springs comes around. So far the style that has served me best for this is the east coast woodland design. However I have made two bows I have called an east coast design whoose inspiration came from places I no longer remeber. One was a fairly short flatbow about 1.5" in width, the other was a fairly long flatbow 1" in width. Before I start my project I would like to discover what it is that defines a bow as an eastern woodland design? In keeping with this style what features should be added?

[richpierce]

In just reading the Traditional Bowyers Bible and a few other things, there is a lot of variety in eastern woodlands bows.  They range from the outrageous Penobscot to the famous Sudbury bow, to decorated Iroquios deflex-reflex bows, to Cherokee longbows, and many more.  Short bows were relatively rare compared to the midwest and west.  Many bows were simple D bows, long and narrow.

if you look at the websites of some of the sponsors of this site, you will find they offer bows ready-made to be close to some of these designs, just needing final tillering and finishing.  Rudderbows is one of them.

[Hillbilly]

What most people refer to as the generic Eastern Woodlands bow is the typical type for the region-anywhere from 50-72" long, usually about an inch to 1 1/2" at the grip and most of the length, 5/8" to 3/4" or a little more at the nocks; rectangular cross-section, bending slightly through the handle, diamond or pin nocks.

[Mechslasher]

here is one i made using hickory a couple years ago.  it's a replica of the bow in the bowyer's bible.


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[Pat B]

Andrew, Check out last years Community Bow. It is a Cayuga style, bendy handle, recurve bow. Also the Cherokee style bows that bend through the handle and have nocks like Hillbilly discribed or just simple side nocks are very effective bows.  Pat

[Dakotian]

Alrght, I have decided on a longbow similar to the one Mechslasher displayed, only shorter. Now to decided on whethor to use mulberry stave or a red oak or birch board.

[Hillbilly]

Go for the mulberry. It's a historically accurate wood for that type of bow, too.