How to Make a Cheap Bow
Nothing signifies wilderness like the bow. Something about how simple yet resonant the weapon is seems to hark back to an ancient time when persistent determination and self-discipline dictated how much the hunter ate that day or if the archer saw another day after a great battle. Now, this article in no way suggests that the prospective archer should flee into the woods and yield this tool. Knowledge must come before using a bow and arrow; so, this guide will show how to make an endless supply so that the rudimentary archer be not so rudimentary.
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- A relatively straight branch of dead wood about as tall as the user Hemp Sharp pocket knife
Instructions
-
-
1
Select a piece of dead -- but not rotting -- wood free of knots, limbs, or debilitating cracks. Some examples of prime wood are oak, ash, elm, hazel, black teal or any cut comparable to those. Preferably, the wood will have a stronger, thicker middle with thinner ends. This will make shaping the bow easier.
-
2
Find the natural curve of the wood. From there, whittle the inside of the curve so that the middle is thicker than the ends. The middle should be about an inch thick, whereas the ends should be about a half-inch thick. Don't worry about whittling to make the inside curve smooth and flowing. Just make sure the middle is about a foot long.
-
-
3
Cut the ends of the bow as shown in the picture to fit on the hemp string, which will serve as the bow string. About an inch from the end, chisel an indentation about 1/4 inch wide and a few centimeters deep.
-
4
Tie one end of the hemp string at one end of the bow and the other end of the string at the other end of the bow to complete the bow string. The string should be taut enough so that, when the bow is held away at arm's length, the string should just reach the chin when pulled back.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
If looking to hunt, then it's better to learn how to trap beforehand rather than giving the self a crash course on archery when the stomach begins to growl. Before heading out into the woods, learn how to make this tool so that a replacement can be quickly made if the bow breaks in mid-trek.
Watch for splinters Don't rely on the bow and arrow to survive out in the woods as a bow is only as good as its user. Consider the implement a tool to facilitate spending time outdoors. Never test the bow without an arrow. Doing so will warp the bow.
