Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: natty on July 28, 2009, 10:19:24 pm

Title: i'd like some info on horse bows
Post by: natty on July 28, 2009, 10:19:24 pm

was looking at making one. i'v reseached it and comprehend the basic facts but would like some fine tuning and pics if possible ;Dthanks

Title: Re: i'd like some info on horse bows
Post by: kayakfisher on July 28, 2009, 10:42:22 pm

This is an Osage rawhide ,backed plains style bow. It is 54 inches ntn draws a weight of 45# 27 inches
       Dennis

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Title: Re: i'd like some info on horse bows
Post by: shikari on July 29, 2009, 11:35:25 am

What type are you planning to make,Asian or american style?

Title: Re: i'd like some info on horse bows
Post by: natty on July 29, 2009, 11:54:33 am

i was going to try a mongolian type where you glue the ears on .

Title: Re: i'd like some info on horse bows
Post by: medicinewheel on July 29, 2009, 12:26:41 pm

Lots of info about that style of bow over there at

atarn.org

Title: Re: i'd like some info on horse bows
Post by: shikari on July 29, 2009, 02:05:15 pm

what type of horn do you have available and what length?The ATARN is a wealth of info.The mongol bows require larger horn than the turkish,indian or korean sizes and they usually use ibex horn but anything like water bufallow or gemsbock have been used.the core is usually tartarian maple or birch but hard maple can be used.

Title: Re: i'd like some info on horse bows
Post by: natty on July 31, 2009, 02:23:36 pm

i was going to make one out of just wood and see how it works out. then try one out of horn,as this would be my first go at it thank yall for the input

Title: Re: i'd like some info on horse bows
Post by: El Destructo on July 31, 2009, 02:44:57 pm

James Parker (robustus) makes them....he's on this Site...he could probably hook you up too....

Title: Re: i'd like some info on horse bows
Post by: TBod on July 31, 2009, 02:47:28 pm

Here's a pretty cool site. I think there's two Horse bows in there.

http://www.bahnhofbredband.se/~wb304054/index.html

Title: Re: i'd like some info on horse bows
Post by: shikari on July 31, 2009, 03:12:28 pm

the chinese used to make composite bows for the general army that had a belly of tempered bamboo,I had started one myself as an experiment but the bamboo I was using for the core cracked so I am going to try red elm now or just stick with good old hard maple if that fails,I would recomend you use mulberry for the sahiyas/ears.

Title: Re: i'd like some info on horse bows
Post by: natty on August 01, 2009, 08:43:00 pm

i was thinking; would taking fresh bone pounding it into small strands letting it dry then gluing it to the belly like sinew,would it behave like horn ;)just a crazy thought.thanks for the links maybe some more  ;D

Title: Re: i'd like some info on horse bows
Post by: shikari on August 01, 2009, 08:48:54 pm

what are you smoking?lmao

Title: Re: i'd like some info on horse bows
Post by: FVR on August 01, 2009, 10:55:34 pm

Bone is bone and not very flexible.  I tried to make a cow rib bow once, backed with sinew and it failed.  That bone just would not bend.  Now, there have been bone bows made and I read about them and used them for inspiration.  Only to fail.

If I could find some bison rib bones, yeh, I try it again.  This time maybe use a very thin osage core, bone on the belly and two or three layers of sinew on the back.  Then do a sinew wrap.

It should work, if I can pull it back.

Title: Re: i'd like some info on horse bows
Post by: loefflerchuck on August 02, 2009, 02:33:02 am

Wow! Thanks medicinewheel for the atarn.org site. There is an amazing amount of info on it. I started on 2 composite water buffalo horn bows last year. That site kind of gave me a kick in the pants to continue.

Title: Re: i'd like some info on horse bows
Post by: natty on August 02, 2009, 11:45:00 am

i ifyou shreded the bone to 1/8 strands it would be flexible but still have high compression.would cedar make good sahiyas/ears.         
maybe i think to much  ;D

Title: Re: i'd like some info on horse bows
Post by: shikari on August 02, 2009, 11:52:26 am

james parker has used ceddar for the sahiyas n his bamboo turk,i would suggest trying one with a tempeed bamboo belly first just to get the general idea of things before investing the time and effort with bone\horn.The japanese used bayleen for their short bows but i doubt if bayleen would be easy to come by these days.

Title: Re: i'd like some info on horse bows
Post by: El Destructo on August 02, 2009, 12:55:46 pm

                                                 Mulberry or Osage would make good Syahs

                                      They have Baleen on eBay....but it's rare and aint too cheap