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Author Topic: Hello from South Africa - Mpumalanga the place where the sun rises  (Read 10936 times)

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Offline GVC86

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Hello from South Africa - Mpumalanga the place where the sun rises
« on: December 30, 2017, 12:22:33 pm »
Hi Guys & Gals,

Just a quick hello, George from South Africa here. Always had a fancy for traditional archery, and have been involved in sport shooting basically my whole life. currently into Long range shooting and Sports Adventure Shooting.

Have started doing research into building self-bows and started chopping down some trees to find a good stave, but alas not as easy as it looked. I feel like the kid from the movie "the sixth sense", instead I see possible bows everywhere I look :laugh: come to think of it cant remember when last I saw a tree....

Anyhow looking forward to learning.

Cheers
George
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Offline JW_Halverson

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Re: Hello from South Africa - Mpumalanga the place where the sun rises
« Reply #1 on: December 30, 2017, 12:32:05 pm »
*whispers* I see bow staves....too.
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Guns have triggers. Bicycles have wheels. Trees and bows have wooden limbs.

Offline Pat B

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Re: Hello from South Africa - Mpumalanga the place where the sun rises
« Reply #2 on: December 30, 2017, 12:47:57 pm »
Welcome to PA George. Seems we have another member from South Africa but I can't remember his name.
 
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Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline Hawkdancer

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Re: Hello from South Africa - Mpumalanga the place where the sun rises
« Reply #3 on: December 30, 2017, 09:49:56 pm »
Welcome aboard, George!  Bow staves, arrow shafts, and knapp able rock every where I look!
Hawkdancer
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Life is far too serious to be taken that way!
Jerry

Offline GVC86

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Re: Hello from South Africa - Mpumalanga the place where the sun rises
« Reply #4 on: December 31, 2017, 03:25:39 am »
Thanks Guys.

spent the whole of yesterday carving a bow from Bluegum (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eucalyptus_globulus) using a hatchet. Still need to get all the tools for this hobby, but I aint got the patience to wait before I start. needless to say it didn't work out so good as the grain is twisted badly, good experience though.

hopefully the other South African blokes will reply here, would like to have a "direct" line to more experience (=)

Cheers
George
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Offline TSA

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Re: Hello from South Africa - Mpumalanga the place where the sun rises
« Reply #5 on: March 25, 2018, 05:33:49 am »
hi George,
 i am originally from Weenen , KZN.
sorry i missed this for so long.
when in south africa i really struggled to get help as well.
but anyway, here are some trees you can try.
white stinkwood, makes a great bow, treat like hickory, cut in the spring, split the stave, bark will peel off, seal ends and back.
the bugs love it, so be careful- spray with some kind of bug killer.
make the bows wide and with a flat belly- just like hickory. trap the backs and toast the belly.
 makes a great bow. easy to find nice long , straight pieces.

Mulberry- common old garden mulberry is awesome too.
find someone with a pecan nut orchard- treat like hickory.
many of the acacia species. "Tortillus" will make a good bow, and possibly "Karoo"

although not an acacia- looks very similar- Dichrostachys cinerea
it is very good i believe!!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dichrostachys_cinerea

good luck boet!! ;)
 
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