Craftsmanship > Traditional Archery and Accoutrements

Where to begin

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Doc Or:
I've been shooting bows for years now but never primitive bows.
I would like to give it a try and would like an Eastern bow.
Where do I start when looking?

What type of wood?
Bow Length? [eastern]
Flat bow or self bow? [maybe they're one in the same]

There is a couple of traditional shoots coming up and I would like to know what I'm looking for.

Many here build bows and am hoping you can help me out.

Ohio Joe:
Doc,

I sent you a PM to a website.  I don't post the site here as they only reserve their posting of other websites for their forum's sponser's.

Stormrider51:
Doc,
A flatbow can be a selfbow and vice-versa.  Either one can be backed with sinew or another natural material such as rawhide but it ceases to be a selfbow because of the backing.  For a eastern Native American bow, hickory would be hard to beat as a wood.  Osage Orange (Bois D'Arc) would also be good and, many would argue, better.  As for length, use the formula of draw-length X 2 + 4" as a rule of thumb.  In other words, if your draw length is 28" then that number times two is 56".  Add 4" and you have 60" as a MINIMUM length of the bow.  Please note that I said "minimum length".  The bow can certainly be longer but any shorter and it will tend to stack and do various other bad things like take a set, etc.  Generally speaking, any bow longer than you are tall will be difficult to deal with.

Hope this helps,
Storm

Doc Or:
Thanks Storm.
 Would I be correct that you would shoot off your knuckles and not a shelf?

Stormrider51:
Doc,
Shooting off the knuckle is the traditional way to do it.  You can also use a fairly heavy piece of leather to form a shelf.  The shelf is tucked under the grip wrapping to keep it in place.  Wet the leather, form it into the required "L" shape, secure it onto the grip, and let dry.  This shelf has another benefit in that it guarantees that you will have the arrow in the same position on the bow each and every time.  Consistency is the key to accurate shooting with a bow just as with a firearm.

If you do shoot off the knuckle, pay special attention to the fletching on your arrows.  The leading point of the feather quill can cause a minor but painful cut on your knuckle.  You can prevent this by putting a drop of super glue on the pointed tip of the quill.  

Storm

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