How to Make Bows

Bows have been used for thousands of years for hunting, sport and warfare. The bow is versatile and has been used and developed independently in across almost all human culture. Making your own bow can be a satisfying and enjoyable undertaking. The entire process of walking through the woods to select the sapling you will use to make your bow to whittling the wood down to size is perfect for anyone who likes to work with their hands and be in the great outdoors. For the example in this article, you will be making a "self bow" which is made from one single wood piece, in this case a small sapling.

Things You'll Need

• Hacksaw Sapling tree Hunting knife Irish linen string 1 1/2 feet of leather strap 1-inch wide, or the same measurements in bicycle handle wrap 2 small tacks

Instructions

1. 

   Cut down a thin (1- to 2-inches in diameter) sapling with a hacksaw. The sapling should between 3 to 4 feet tall. Strip all the branches off with hunting knife. Pull off the bark and let the wood dry out slightly overnight.

2. 

   Trim the sapling into a thin, straight staff with a hunting knife. Starting at the middle of the staff trim so that each end is 1/2-inch in diameter while the middle of the staff remains close to its original diameter.

3. 

   Carve two small notches on each end of the bow for the bow string to wrap around. Do this by cutting a small sideways "V" shape on each top side of the bow. These grooves should be a little less than a 1/2-inch wide.

4. 

   Wrap a strip of leather or bicycle handle padding around the middle of the bow to make a comfortable handle. Secure in place with a small tack on the top and bottom outside edge of the handle.

5. 

   Measure out a length of Irish linen string. Be sure this is approximately 1 foot shorter than the length of your bow. Make a loop on each end and hook the string into the grooves on the ends of the bow. Your bow is now ready for use.

Tips & Warnings

• Remove the string from your bow when you are not using it to keep it strong.

• Do not fire toward any person or set up a target near anything that could be damaged.

Resources

• Click here for more information on the history of bows and archery over the years.