Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: jkyarcher on January 20, 2011, 07:05:34 pm
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Hey I was wanting to get some opinions on the best bow building books.
I have some books on the subject and they seem to be repetitive in what they say.
They either repeat or focus on one type of bow from one type of wood.
I know the bowyer bible series are good and I have one of the books but I was wondering which is the best
in your opinions.
Thanks for the help
-jkyarcher
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The Bent Stick
Bows and Arrows of the Native Americans
Building the Osage Bow.
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For me, it depends. You working boards, billets, staves...making recurves, longbows, warbows...slef bows, laminates, etc. There's a lot of good books with different information.
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The rest of the TBB series, as you know. Get the ones you don't have. Each has helpful information. "Making Indian Bows and Arrows the Old Way" by Douglas Spotted Eagle. Written in a pretty unique tone. There might be a couple of minor points of disagreement with other sources, but I just don't think he would be too interesting in aruging about it. Very pleasant read.
It's not a "bow building" book, Jim Hamm's "Ishi and Elvis" has, as part of the story, some good pointers. It isn't designed to complete a bow from start to finish, but has some neat information that he uses as part of his story.
Those are what I have to reccommend at the moment. I want to get some others, but those have gotten me a long way already.
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The only books I have read are all of The Traditional Bowyer's Bible's and while there's not a whole lot of step by step bow making information for different kinds of bows the design and performance information is invaluable to anyone who wants more than just a bow that "works".
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Paul Comstock's "The Bent Stick"
Doug Wallentine's "Making Indian Bows and Arrows, The old Way"
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The bent stick.
Rattle stick video.
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PRIMITIVE ARCHER MAGAZINE & WEB SITE
thats all i have ever used
well i have also used Georges web site,super good stuff there
never even seen a copy of any other bow making book, ever
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The Bent Stick is a good starter book. Once you get started you will want to find out how to straiten, back, bend, heat treat, flip tips, tip over lay etc. The back issues of PA are a good investment as are all the TBB's. Anything by Jim Hamm also.
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IMO, the Bowyer's Bible Series (all four books) is the best reference to have. There are parts in the books that are difficult to understand but, for the most part, your bow making ability will be improved greatly after reading these books.
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THE INTERNET!! More step by step, how to's, and buildalongs, and helpful people than you can shake a stick at!!
I also love the rattle stick video.