How to Make a Bow and Arrow in Under Five Minutes

If you want to play Robin Hood, you need a weapon to engage the Sherriff of Nottingham. Swords are great for dueling, but the Bandit King of Sherwood Forest chose the bow and arrow as his weapon of choice. You can arm yourself with a bow and ammunition in under five minutes.

Things You'll Need

• Knife
• String
• Branch

Instructions

1. Cut down a dead branch that isn't too green or too brittle. Decide how big a bow you want. Larger ones shoot farther, but the smaller ones are easier for children to manage. Your branch should be straight and nearly flawless. Any knots will weaken the bow.

2. Set one end of the branch on the ground and find the branch's natural curve to define the outside of the bow. Carve two notches in the branch, one about an inch from the top and the other about an inch from the bottom.

3. Cut your string so that it is approximately ¾ the length of your branch. Tie knotted loops at each end of the string. Slip the loops around the branch, settling one loop in the notch at the top and one in the notch at the bottom.

4. Return to the tree you got your branch from and cut several smaller dead branches for arrows. Whittle points on one end and cut a notch in the other end that is large enough to contain the string when you use the arrow with your bow. The notch should not be so tight that the string sticks, or so wide that the arrow is difficult to hold in place as you line up your shot.