Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Rhinegold on October 25, 2009, 12:43:06 am

Title: Shortest Possible Wood Bow?
Post by: Rhinegold on October 25, 2009, 12:43:06 am: What do y'all think is the shortest length technically possible for an *braced* wood bow?

This would involve no synthetics, no horn, no sinew, no glass...just wood, glue and maybe rawhide or some other natural backing material.

As a *minimum* lets say a 26" draw...and at least 40#.

I'm guessing it might be something made of several 1/8" strips.

Pictures are most welcome! ;)
Title: Re: Shortest Possible Wood Bow?
Post by: Tom Leemans on October 25, 2009, 01:01:10 am: If you're going to draw it with fingers, you have to consider string angle. Im sure folks have made them in the low 50" range, but normal rule of thumb is twice the draw length plus handle area.
Title: Re: Shortest Possible Wood Bow?
Post by: Shadow Walker on October 25, 2009, 01:49:45 am: Hop hornbeam,,,48" (46 nton)....bark back and belly

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Title: Re: Shortest Possible Wood Bow?
Post by: Shadow Walker on October 25, 2009, 01:54:15 am: sorry, wrong pic. Here it is at full draw.

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Title: Re: Shortest Possible Wood Bow?
Post by: Shadow Walker on October 25, 2009, 01:57:37 am: Here's another HHB 48" with 28" draw

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Title: Re: Shortest Possible Wood Bow?
Post by: Justin Snyder on October 25, 2009, 02:16:09 am: Boo backed Ipe
50" TTT and 48 1/2 NTN
50# @ 26"
Just over 1" wide from the grip out to 16" from center. The last 9" is a constant taper to the 1/4" tips.
It has a 4" rigid handle with another 1 1/2" of fades.
The static recurves are 6".
(http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l253/justinsnyder_2006/archery/Scoutcamp019.jpg)
(http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l253/justinsnyder_2006/archery/Scoutcamp020.jpg)
(http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l253/justinsnyder_2006/archery/Scoutcamp022.jpg)
Title: Re: Shortest Possible Wood Bow?
Post by: Rhinegold on October 25, 2009, 04:47:39 am: Awesome pics guys thanks!

Justin, did you sand the back of the grip into a convex shape before gluing it on the limbs?

Shadow, Are the limbs just as wide as the first on your second bow there?

Looks like 1.5" at the base...at least.
Title: Re: Shortest Possible Wood Bow?
Post by: Del the cat on October 25, 2009, 06:10:33 am: (http://i411.photobucket.com/albums/pp195/Del_the_Cat/minibow.jpg)
OK, I know it's not what you mean, but I couldn't resist... :-[
Justin, that's one great little bow, I bet she punches 'em out :)
Del
Title: Re: Shortest Possible Wood Bow?
Post by: Justin Snyder on October 25, 2009, 10:51:27 am: Quote from: Rhinegold on October 25, 2009, 04:47:39 am
Justin, did you sand the back of the grip into a convex shape before gluing it on the limbs?

Actually it isn't a glue on riser, it is spliced, and the pieces were that thick.
Here is the link to the original post. http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,7923.15.html
Title: Re: Shortest Possible Wood Bow?
Post by: Jmilbrandt on October 26, 2009, 02:34:26 am: I've got one of juniper 33 or 34" I don't remember which, unbacked draws 24". I think it's 35 or 40 pounds, I'm going to have to get it out get some pics and measurements.
Title: Re: Shortest Possible Wood Bow?
Post by: Shadow Walker on October 26, 2009, 03:44:05 am: the bark backed bow is 1.5" at the fades and the second bow is 1.25" at the fades. The second bow is not backed.
Title: Re: Shortest Possible Wood Bow?
Post by: The Gopher on October 26, 2009, 12:55:07 pm: Hey Rhinegold, did you have a bow in mind? i'm really getting into short bows too. my shortest to date is a little osage selfbow. that is 59" NTN, could have gone shorter if the stave was better, but there was some good character knots in there that i didn't want to push my luck.

http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,14576.0.html

i have a 50" HHB roughed out, and a 50" ash bow also roughe dout that will get a sinew job. we'll see how they all shake out.
Title: Re: Shortest Possible Wood Bow?
Post by: JackCrafty on October 26, 2009, 04:37:10 pm: I think anything under 46" is pushing the envelope on a 26" draw. But who knows...make it wide enough and apply enough sinew to the back and somewhere in the 40" range might be feasible?
Title: Re: Shortest Possible Wood Bow?
Post by: Justin Snyder on October 26, 2009, 06:02:14 pm: I suspect you could get down a little farther. I wasn't trying to make the shortest bow I could. I was trying to make a bow from the scraps I had on hand. ;)
Title: Re: Shortest Possible Wood Bow?
Post by: Rhinegold on October 26, 2009, 06:18:36 pm: Quote from: The Gopher on October 26, 2009, 12:55:07 pm
Hey Rhinegold, did you have a bow in mind? i'm really getting into short bows too. My shortest to date is a little osage selfbow.
Well this mainly has to do with my height. I'm 6'5" and my little archery range in the basement of an old house has low ceilings, so a shorter bow would help.

I realize however that its probably far more difficult to make a shorter bow.

Right now, I'll be pleased if I can turn out a decent set of arrows before Christmas. :-\
Title: Re: Shortest Possible Wood Bow?
Post by: Rhinegold on October 26, 2009, 06:21:54 pm: Quote from: Shadow Walker on October 26, 2009, 03:44:05 am
the bark backed bow is 1.5" at the fades and the second bow is 1.25" at the fades. The second bow is not backed.
Can you say why you deflexed the grip on your second bow pictured. I noticed it doesnt go flat at full draw like a Korean bow...so was it just for aesthetics???

The limbs must be very thin...with a very slight taper!
Title: Re: Shortest Possible Wood Bow?
Post by: Shadow Walker on October 26, 2009, 06:56:08 pm: it was just an experiment. A miscalculation in tillering due to a stubborn knot, so I coulndn't get it bending any more near the fades or I would have lost too much weight. Still, it held up and is quite a snappy shooter! I will make another soon, but more authentic. I really like the setback handle and the overall design seems to be faster than ant other bow I've made yet. When I make my good one, I will sinew back it though. That design puts a lot of stress on the limbs!
Title: Re: Shortest Possible Wood Bow?
Post by: Jmilbrandt on October 26, 2009, 06:57:24 pm: Ok so I got some pictures of my juniper bow. It is 33" long 50# at 19" anf 1"1/2 wide. I thought that the 24" I was saying before sounded really long ::). So here are a few pics.

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Title: Re: Shortest Possible Wood Bow?
Post by: Jmilbrandt on October 26, 2009, 07:02:04 pm: Sorry that's the only drawn picture I have it blew up just a few minutes ago while I tried to get another one.