Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Stiks-N-Strings on March 06, 2012, 11:52:06 pm

Title: African species of bow woods?
Post by: Stiks-N-Strings on March 06, 2012, 11:52:06 pm

My Dad is going on his second hunting trip to Africa and asked me if I wanted him to bring me home some bow wood. Is there any thing he should look for.

 Also does any one have any info on aboriginal (primitive archery) from Africa. He mentioned bringing me back a bow made by the natives. How cool would that be!

Title: Re: African species of bow woods?
Post by: Lee Slikkers on March 06, 2012, 11:55:54 pm

Have him grab a Baobab for ya  8)  >:D

Title: Re: African species of bow woods?
Post by: Pat B on March 07, 2012, 12:11:18 am

Kris, anything from a relatively primitive culture would be cool. Your Dad might have a problem bringing raw wood back in the US  but I don't know that as fact.
  Where in Africa will your Dad be going?

Title: Re: African species of bow woods?
Post by: DarkSoul on March 07, 2012, 07:13:27 am

Africa is a LARGE continent. Where exactly will he be going to?

Watch out for bringing back wood. It is often regulated by law; your father can get into real trouble when he brings back home the wrong (protected) species. In any case, make sure there is no bark left on the wood. I sneaked home some ebony myself, when I was in west Africa last summer. It is difficult to find any long bow-stave like pieces of wood. Plus it's hard to sort out which species of wood it is and if it's useful. Don't expect nice lumberyards with flat boards, sorted by species...

PS: baobab wood is no good for bows; extremely soft and weak.

Title: Re: African species of bow woods?
Post by: Lee Slikkers on March 07, 2012, 11:46:50 am

My Baobab comment was referring to a whole tree since they are so tiny...it was a joke

Title: Re: African species of bow woods?
Post by: coaster500 on March 07, 2012, 02:39:24 pm

I'll be there on May and poke around a bit...  my trip time is pretty tight but maybe I can find a little time? I don't know how a guy could get a stave or lumber back without it costing a fortune but maybe something cool for a riser? I have no clue about Native bow possibilities??? We'll see :)

Something I did find out is that the oldest known arrows heads where found very close to the area I'll flying into "Richards Bay" ...  They were found in Sibudu Cave and date over 60,000 years ..  kind of cool

Title: Re: African species of bow woods?
Post by: Stiks-N-Strings on March 07, 2012, 07:25:37 pm

Talked to my Dad today and he is going Zimbabwe to the southern low veld. He told me he could get a stick of bow wood shipped back with his taxidermy. He said it would be treated. He also said he spent some time at the Zimbabwe museum his last trip and they had alot of native archery exhibits and he was gonna try to get me a bow  ;D Either way it will be pretty cool.