How to Make a Ninja Bow & Arrows

Ancient ninjas and samurai were skilled bowmen as well as swordsmen. They used both long and short bows in their work. Female ninjas were especially known for their skills with a bow. It is easy to build a bow like Ninjas used to use. The only difference between your bow and arrows and theirs will be the arrow tips. Ninjas used metal tips to their arrows, and you will be using a much less dangerous version. When finished, you can add Japanese symbols to your bow if you want to complete the Ninja feel.

Things You'll Need

• Hardwood sapling Saw Glue Kitchen knife Coarse sandpaper Rasp Vice Wood finish Bow string Protective glasses 2x4 or pipe a little longer than the bow Rope Chunks of wood Pencil Ruler Small, straight pieces of wood

Instructions

1. Use a piece of hardwood such as maple, oak, or beech. Use a piece that is straight and smooth and about 2 inches thick in the middle. Strip the bark off of the wood.

2. Split the bow in even halves. You can use a saw or split it with an axe. Use a kitchen knife to cut the best half down to just under 1 inch thick. Cut from the flat side. Seal the ends of the bow with glue.

3. Tie the wood-flat side out- to a pipe or 2x4. Put two chunks of wood at each end of the bow to start shaping it. Tie the middle of the bow to something to hold it taut. Leave it like this for at least two weeks, ideally a month.

4. Use a pencil and a straight edge ruler to mark the places on the bow to shape. The handle of the bow should be about 4 inches long. The bow should remain thick until 8 inches from each end of the bow. The tips should be about half an inch thick. Use the rasp to file down the bow to the dimensions that you outlined. Taper the lines, making the whole thing even on both sides. Use the vice to grasp onto the wood as you do this. Pull on the wood every now and then to make sure the wood is bending evenly. Use the sandpaper last of all.

5. String the bow and leave it strung overnight. Unstring the bow. Bend and lengthen the bow 100 times. Sand the bow where it is not bending evenly. String the bow again and shoot 200 arrows with it. Do any final sanding. Cover the bow in wood varnish. Let dry. Store the bow unstrung.

6. Take several small pieces of thin wood and strip them of bark. Shape and sand them until they are smooth. Cut down the ends of the wood to points. Cut a slit in the back of the arrows. Attach feathers inside the notches. Your ninja bow and arrows are complete.

Tips & Warnings

• It is better to use pre-seasoned wood than green wood. Green wood is too pliable to make a good bow.

• Go very slowly when tillering the bow. It can break very easily, and then you will have to start over.