It's funny how ya can read something several times and then all of a sudden a light comes on. I was going through the Smithsonian Report of 1893 [by Mason] and something struck me as odd. So much so that I needed to re-read it and make a bow to answer some questions.
quote: ".....Since the substances used in making bows are of the region, techno-geography finds an excellent illustration in the bows of North America, which may be on the basis thus divided."
"(1) The hard-wood, self-bow area. It embraced all of North America east of the Rocky Mountains and South of Hudson Bay." ....."Indeed, in those regions where more highly differentiated forms prevail, it constantly occurs as the fundamental pattern."
"(2) The compound-bow area. By the compound bow is meant one in which the grip and two wings are separate pieces, or one in which the cupid's bow is made up of as many bits of horn as are necessary." "All the examples examined by the writer are wrapped in flannel or buckskin so as to conceal every trace of the joints made by the union of the different parts." "The compound bows of the Sioux are the most beautiful in shape of any among savage tribes........" In both types the compound bow arose from a dearth of wood for making a self bow."
(3)The sinew lined bow area ......"The occurrence of hard wood in the Great Interior Basin and of Yew and other soft woods on the western slopes give rise to wide, thin bow in the latter and the long ovate sectioned bow in the Basin" [ it goes on to explain the wide "California types" the sinew is laid on in glue where the narrow types of the Shoshonean type are sinew lined and wrapped at intervals to keep it adhered because of the small gluing area.
The rest of the area bow types are discussing the The far Northern "sinew-corded" areas
Upon examining the drawings he furnished of the various bows I was struck by how widespread these narrow, rectangular section, double curve bows were. The vast majority of the bows given up as examples were rectangular in section (some nearly square), made of osage, ash or hickory, and double curved without tips turned back.The big surprise was the Tribes involved, or rather the area involved. There are examples of Cheyenne, Western Chippewa, Kiowa, Dakota (hickory), Dakota (unknown hardwood), Tonkawa (hickory). Apache bows of Mountain mulberry are mentioned.
The last thing was a quote from Bourke specifically referring to Apache bow making. "The curvature of the bow was determined almost entirely by individual strength or caprice."
Sorry for the long intro. After reading this I wanted to know how-come this type was widespread, preferred, so universally accepted as "THE" form. So I made me one. It was carved out, rough finished and then checked for weight (draw) and physical weight and oh-baby is this thing hard shootin. Anyways I've drawn and shot it a bunch "in the white" and right now it's getting it's pitch and grease bath so I'll put up pics when that part's done, as well as these right now. Hope ya like the pics . I have to believe that this type of bow is the easiest to make with hand tools, easiest to shape, and takes the least amount of wood. Did I mention these things draw a lot of weight
I'll get you the dimensions in an additional post.
rich
