Bow Making - Just how difficult is it?

[Commander Krill]

Hello,

I've been meaning to learn how to craft a bow and arrow from completely natural materials.

I understand that a lot of it will be trial and error whilst I pick it up, but on the whole is it difficult?

Apparently Sweden has started to allow some forms of bow hunting, though I think it currently excludes large game such as bear and deer.
Nonetheless I would still be interested in learning how to make one and then hunt the things I can hunt legally.

Thanks!

 

[Seoras]

There are plenty of threads here about Bow making, however in this country it is illegal to hunt with a bow.

Come to the Moot and there may be a couple of classes on Bow making.

Cheers

George

 

[dwardo]

Its like any other craft i suppose, its easy to make a bad but still working/shootable bow and a lifetime, possibly never to master every bow design and bow wood and material out there.
I have been bowyerin for about 5 years now and put in some serious hours over the past few years and i rekon i am only just scraping the surface and thats the way i like it to be honest, never stop learning and always a new design to try.

 

[Corso]

google selfbow - plenty of youtube clips showing the process - the time you invest in the bow will pay dividents but a survival bow can be knocked up quite simply - it just wont last

 

[JMHAZ]

Commander,

Some years ago I made an English longbow from a yew stave I bought mail order, along with a couple of how-to books. I took my time, and the result met my hopes in every way. I've used it at longbow shoots at ranges up to 200 yards.

If you're patient and not a complete klutz with drawknives, etc., you shouldn't have any trouble. Frequent use of the tillering stick is the key to obtaining a bow with an even draw and proper flex.

 

[k975]

Hello,

I've been meaning to learn how to craft a bow and arrow from completely natural materials.

I understand that a lot of it will be trial and error whilst I pick it up, but on the whole is it difficult?

Apparently Sweden has started to allow some forms of bow hunting, though I think it currently excludes large game such as bear and deer.
Nonetheless I would still be interested in learning how to make one and then hunt the things I can hunt legally.

Thanks!

Just to keep things simple (and legal) - bowhunting anything at all is still illegal in Sweden. There's an ongoing process trying to change this but no luck so far.

//K9_75

 

[mrcharly]

Last week I went along on a 5-day school trip. During the trip the kids each made a simple bow, then shot it. I guess they spent about 4 hours making each bow, including time taken to cut the green hazel and excluding chatting, time taken to dry green wood over a stove, and doing the stuff 13-yr-olds do.
These were very basic bows. Each one used two hazel (or ash) thin saplings, cutting about 1meter of straight wood from each. Peel bark, shave a chamfer on each for a scarf joint. Put scarf joint in a 12cm bit of old steel tent pole. Cut a groove for a nock. Use baling twin for a string.

The idea of using two saplings is that they naturally have a taper, removing the need to tiller the limbs.

See the results below:
[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=picasacid&feature=player_embedded[/video]

 

[santaman2000]

Just to keep things simple (and legal) - bowhunting anything at all is still illegal in Sweden. There's an ongoing process trying to change this but no luck so far.

//K9_75

Even when/if it becomes legal it would likely be wise to study the law carefully. In most places where bow hunting is legal there are restrictions on just what draw weights (usually a minimum draw weight for a specific species) and types of bows are allowed/required. Also similar requirements/restrictions on arrows and arrowheads. For example blunts are normally used for arboreal small game whereas a claw point is used for ground dwelling small game (to prevent arrow loss from the arrow skimming under the turf) and a minimum number of blades is usually placed on broadheads for big game.

 

[Wayne]

I run bow making courses 3 days to make flat bow from ash log including making your own arrow and string. Nothing better than shooting an arrow you have constructed with your own handcrafted bow.

 

[lannyman8]

have a look at this "How To", its the best i have seen around, when i get the time and wood i will be giving this a go too.....

regards...

chris.

http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php?topic=4815.0

 

[resnikov]

See the results below:
[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=picasacid&feature=player_embedded[/video]

The URL contained a malformed video ID.

 

[mrcharly]

The URL contained a malformed video ID.

hmm

try this

https://picasaweb.google.com/111911013318146960925/Misc?authkey=Gv1sRgCLu1qJi1sMvJ3gE#5620657913658306530

 

[resnikov]

That works, looks like they were having fun with the bows.

 

[lannyman8]

i never looked at the video i just used the pics and writing....

 

[dwardo]

have a look at this "How To", its the best i have seen around, when i get the time and wood i will be giving this a go too.....

regards...

chris.

http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php?topic=4815.0

Gordon is one of my bow hero`s.
I recently made a bow from Hazel and its a great bow wood especially when carefuly heat treated.
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=74412