Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Around the Campfire => Topic started by: JW_Halverson on October 13, 2014, 02:34:22 pm
-
It seems we have all been doing it wrong.
I saw a pickup with a load of tree trimmings headed for the yard waste site and I followed. I was explaining that I wanted some of the wood for making bows and was going to help him unload as my way of saying thanks. He was suitable impressed and thought I was pretty nice to pitch in and help.
He was sweeping up the last of the twigs and leaves when I attacked the two prospective elm staves, both about 4" in diameter and pretty straight! I was whanging away with a big ol' hammer and two wedges when he asked me what I was doing. Told him I was going to split 'em right there so that if any of the splits didn't come out good I could chuck them into the dumpster. He acted huffy and said that they were not splitting straight and that any limbs that are not sawn PERFECTLY STRAIGHT will not throw a straight arrow. :o
I stopped and looked up. "You have my undivided attention. Pray, tell me what I need to do to make a bow?!" (I speak fluent sarcasm, having been raised in Sarcastia.) He explained that the wood needed to be run thru a high quality mill in order to be straight, then it needed to be steamed into the bent shape like the "Injuns" did it. I interrupted to ask where the primitive people got their hands on high quality lumber mills. I was informed I was a smart ash (my clan is the Cottonwood Clan, we were the sworn enemies if the Ash Clan) and that since I didn't know how to behave he would let me fail.
That's why I posted this in Around The Campfire because I am going to burn these lovely, albeit not flawlessly straight, 7' long knot free elm staves. Maybe I should have posted this in Trading Post, seeing how I must now trade off $300 worth of high quality used hand tools in order to make a down payment on a saw mill.
Sux to be me.
-
Hahaha. He knows what he's talking about, that's for sure. :)
-
This is like the reenactor at the old settler days that was telling me I couldn't strike a spark "that way!" He said, "give it here flatlander and I'll show you." At which point, I calmly turned to him and showered sparks down with 3 easy strokes and said "you're probably right." Then he says, " you know if you use some of your wife's cotton balls that will catch a spark real good!
"... Thank you sir, I'll try and remember that next time I'm caught out with only my knife to start a fire."
-
I mentioned at work that I made some bows, and someone offered me a bunch of f****glass supplies he had left over from patching his boat, and when I told him I don't use the stuff he said I must not know much about making bows. While that last part has some truth to it, it does not follow the first...
-
I'll throw in 50 on that mill if you will take care of my Osage I have >:D
-
Some people know it all. ::)
-
Sarcastia.....purdy sure i have some kin down there 8)... Brian
-
As usual, great read! :laugh:
-
Well dang, I have been wanting to buy a Swedish "Logolsaw" portable saw mill for Montana, Now if I am ever going to get into bow making I will have to Plunk down two grand, and get busy. Shoot I just might head down your way, and cut some "Straight" stave's for you, if you will let me use your Indian steamer. Heck we could throw some taters, onions, garlic, and buffalo hump in there as well, and set the coffee pot on top. I am sure that is what the Native Americans did, before the White Man came along, infecting, and stealing everything in site. I wonder how long it will be before archaeologist find one of those primitive saw mills, and steamers? Good thing you met him, not just for the stave's, but for correct archaeological information you were able to garner from him. Should have asked him about raptors, might have steered you into the correct path for that also. Maybe he would be willing to speak on a tour about his knowledge, of ancient Americans, and how they did things. Must have read a political treatise on proper government treatment of the Native Americans, depending on how valuable their land was.
I think I have spent a few days in Sacarcastia a few times. Some of the people there did look familiar, and they seemed to know me...... But coincidences are common now a days, especially in a political sense. But you did make out OK for an uninformed newbie. Now if you can just remember what he told you, you should be able to make a bow in a few years, and maybe some fiber glass how to books will help also.
Good for you for not pestering him on spilling more of his enlightening knowledge. Might have worn off on you, and you would be arguing with Steve Parker about how to use a thumb ring. So..... where are the pictures of the elm stave's?
Wayne
-
Where is your brain young man?! Where is your brain?!
Sarcastia, that just north of Scoffington, over by Derisionville? ;D
-
The chiropractor I've been seeing is closely related to your fellow. After he'd get done "explaining" things to me, I'd be so tense he couldn't pop me very well. Had to bring Mike along for a distraction last time. The look of horror on Mikes face was great. He says I need to get fixed fast 'cause he can't deal with much more of that. :P
-
Fluent sarcasm ... raised in Sarcastia... Hilarious, I am going to be using that one!
Thanks!
-
It is true, what that man told you. My people did use sawmills to cut staves. You have no idea how hard it was to knap a perfectly circular sawblade out of flint. Then we had to catch enough deer to harness and run on a track to power the saw. We didn't have horses until the Spaniards brought them, so we had no concept of this thing called "horsepower". We had "deerpower" and that was what we had to work with. In fact, that is why one tractor company was called "John Deere" because they heard about this thing.
-
Now that's funny!
-
It is true, what that man told you. My people did use sawmills to cut staves. You have no idea how hard it was to knap a perfectly circular sawblade out of flint. Then we had to catch enough deer to harness and run on a track to power the saw. We didn't have horses until the Spaniards brought them, so we had no concept of this thing called "horsepower". We had "deerpower" and that was what we had to work with. In fact, that is why one tractor company was called "John Deere" because they heard about this thing.
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
Dharma is now inducted into the Society of the Walking Eagle*. As a longstanding member of the SWE, I welcome you, brother!
*Too full of sh** to fly!
-
Thank you for that honor. I have already been awarded the Raven's Wings badge with tobacco leaf clusters. So this honor is much appreciated. When do I get my free commemorative plate and velvet painting? They'll match my naugahyde couch perfectly.
-
Thank you for that honor. I have already been awarded the Raven's Wings badge with tobacco leaf clusters. So this honor is much appreciated. When do I get my free commemorative plate and velvet painting? They'll match my naugahyde couch perfectly.
WHAT?!?!?! You are summarily stripped of your membership to the SWE for your insensitivity to the plight of the endangered North American Nauga. Hunted to near extinction in the 1970's for furniture and automotive seat covers, the nauga has shown virtually no increase in population. I ask everyone in here to inspect their consciences and ask themselves when they last saw a wild nauga.
I encourage everyone to send me $20 to help pay for a breeding pair of naugas to be used for the support of the Nauga Reintroduction Program.
-
Hold up on the outrage there JW! The North American nauga has been extinct for quite some time. I'm reasonably sure that Dharma's couch is made from the Chinese nauga. I'm 42 and I've never seen an American nauga or American nauga Hyde. Come to think of it, I've never seen a Chinese nauga on the hoof (foot). But their hides are not only cheap, but plentiful. By the laws of supply and demand, that would suggest that the Chinese nauga population is doing quite well. Admittedly I don't know if the Chinese naugas are wild or domestic, so the wild ones might be in peril. By the way, does anybody have a picture of a wild nauga? Josh
-
Josh, the last time I saw one was during the age of the Shagg Carpetioo.
-
Josh and Mullet are, indeed, correct. The North American Nauga was hunted to extinction some 5,000 years ago or more. This was due to the efficiency of my ancient ancestor's flintknapping skill in producing the Ronco Point and also the K-Tel Point, which were deadly in penetrating the thick hide of the North American Nauga when affixed to the spear shafts launched from our atlatls. This was, of course, long before we began knapping circular saw blades because we didn't need bows yet. Yes, Naugahyde and a tie-dyed t-shirt. What can I say? We were desperate. Get used to it.
-
Josh and Mullet are, indeed, correct. The North American Nauga was hunted to extinction some 5,000 years ago or more. This was due to the efficiency of my ancient ancestor's flintknapping skill in producing the Ronco Point and also the K-Tel Point, which were deadly in penetrating the thick hide of the North American Nauga when affixed to the spear shafts launched from our atlatls. This was, of course, long before we began knapping circular saw blades because we didn't need bows yet. Yes, Naugahyde and a tie-dyed t-shirt. What can I say? We were desperate. Get used to it.
Ronco and K-Tel? I know the younger folks are scratching their heads on those, but I think I may have to go change my shorts....I laughed pretty dang hard there.
-
Man gnats.. You can't help stupid. ;)
Cipriano
-
Josh and Mullet are, indeed, correct. The North American Nauga was hunted to extinction some 5,000 years ago or more. This was due to the efficiency of my ancient ancestor's flintknapping skill in producing the Ronco Point and also the K-Tel Point, which were deadly in penetrating the thick hide of the North American Nauga when affixed to the spear shafts launched from our atlatls. This was, of course, long before we began knapping circular saw blades because we didn't need bows yet. Yes, Naugahyde and a tie-dyed t-shirt. What can I say? We were desperate. Get used to it.
Ah the Ronco point. My tribe used to purchase those from yours for just 4 easy payments of a dozen wild turkey feathers each. And we always got a free one to give away.
-
But wait! There was more! If you acted then, you would have received a genuine agate jerky slicer ab-so-lute-ly free! How much would you have paid for such a bargain? Not 20, not 10, but only 5 seashells! That's right! Only 5---5!!!---seashells! Still not convinced? What if I told you that we also threw in the much-loved "Goofy Greats" record album, lovingly knapped from clear quartz for crystal listening clarity? Again, ab-so-lute-ly FREE! The whole family would have been thrilled! Don't wait! Act now (then)! Operators were standing by for your smoke signals! Dial three long puffs, two short, then four long...again, that's three long, two short, four long!
-
~~~--~~~ >:D
-
Kinda thought there were some mighty long puffs there.
-
I am under the influence of four bowls of sugary breakfast cereal.
-
Y"all are HIGH larious!
-
;D ;D ;D
-
That was the Ronco Pocket Point wasn't it O:)?????????????? To funny Guys :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:Bob
-
Back in the olden times when I was a young lad, I was fishin on the AuSable. Well ya had to shinny out the corrigated steel breakwall for several hundred yards to fish on the end pier. We was out there after some shallow water lake trout (terribleous freighttrainous americana) that come in each year to eat the steelhead roe. Fished awhile and here come a pilgrim with a brand new, shiny, "Po-Peel Pocket Fisherman", it was a true thing of beauty for sure. He just did get his second retrieve up to speed when all of a sudden there was a terrible loud crash, followed by banshee's screaming, and more smoke than a meat locker.......then it all went quiet as he peered down at the remains of the wrap around grip plastic cause everything else was surely gone......man never said a word as he turned and left. I had to go also cause I pee'd my pants, and my ribs hurt. >:D
rich
-
He needed a REAL "Pocket Fisherman" (concussion grenade.)
-
I can't tell you how many times I have heard guys tell me how real bows are made. They always include bending into the braced shape. You just have to laugh,
-
I heard some great ones after the first Lord of the Rings movie came out. It was almost as if they had smoked too much Longbottom Leaf.