"Bodman" type Bow 40# - 28" - 63"ntn

[simk]

Hi Folks

This type of bow was trendy around here about 3500 bc before coming out of fashion again.

I thought it was a real handsome design and it was worth a relaunch.

I don't usually copy anything but did try here - I only stretched it some; the original was 59" whereas my bow is 63" to provide a comfy 28" draw.

It bends a little in the handle which is very reduced in both, width and thickness - that maybe the resaon that for that little handshock....

All in all I really like the design and will try again.

Cheers

[simk]

thanx for watching

[Chumash]

I like the grip (cherrybark?). I also like the bodman design

[Pat B]

Yes, very nice bow.   

[superdav95]

Beautiful bow.  Very slick looking shooter

[simk]

Thanks Guys! It was for sure my pleasure to make it!
The handle is a cork built up and elm raffia covered Chumash 

[Chumash]

Very beautiful. Elm bark or cherry bark both look great, and a bark handle wrap is a perfect match for the bow.

[organic_archer]

Simple style and stellar execution. Love it!

[GlisGlis]

such a nice bow !!! I love it

[Selfbowman]

Nice bow. They had it right a longggg time ago.🤠

[willie]

nice execution!

the original was 59"

tell us more about bodman.  Links to the finds?

[Muskyman]

Very nice, as usual.

[Aksel]

Very nice bow!

[simk]

Thanks again Guys, much appreciated.
I don't know much about the bow from Bodman.
It's found at the border of lake constance, close to where I live. I'ts estimated to be 3000-3500bc. Its obviously made of a pretty difficult to work piece yew with a few branches. It's a typical paddle-bow-design. It's a very crooked stick in the historical mueseum of Constance. Jürgen Junkmans took measurments and documented it in the book  :das Bogenbauerbuch- "Nachbau des Bogens von Bodman".
I started one with the original measurements also and must say: No way that bow would shoot: Only 59.5" long, with a thickness of almost 20mm and a width of 35mm in the main bending zone it would have been super strong and break alreday at a short draw. Maybe the find was an unfinished bow. Maybe it was deflexed unstrung. Maybe its made of some strange kind of compression yew which allows bending athick diameters. Nobody knows...
cheers 

[Aksel]

I can explain a little more, the yew bows from late stone age to bronze age were also worked on the sides of the back. Stone age man always used saplings for bows but had this perculiar habit of only leaving a narrow strip of outer growth ring along its back and shaping the allready high crown even higher, really rounding the back. Ive made a few bows like this and it works fine but this is why bows becomes thick. Following the measurements only really work if you follow the methods They used. I think it was to reduce mass or increase the ratio heart wood to sapwood.