Archery Arrow and Bow Making
Bows and arrows are timeless equipment used throughout the course of history. Bows and arrows have a variety of uses and purposes. Weapons of war, children's toys, athletic gear or hunting equipment are some common uses for bows and arrows. No matter its purpose, the act of making bows and arrows by hand can be a rewarding achievement in itself.
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Instructions
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Bow
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1
Look for a tree limb that is flexible and nearly straight. The limb should be about 3 to 5 feet in length and about 1 to 1 1/2 inches in diameter. A limb with small side twigs can be made into a useful bow, but limbs with side branches should be avoided as the branches twist the direction of the limb.
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2
Cut the thinner end of the limb. Cut lightly into the wood to remove the bark and the twigs, what remains is the "bow staff".
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3
Grip the center of the bow staff and draw a 6-inch vertical line where the hand is positioned. Begin to carve the smaller end of the bow down to about 1/4 inch. Cut it so that the bow's thickness smoothly tapers from the wider handgrip area (about 3/4 inch to 1 inch) to the thinner top and bottom ends of the bow.
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4
Carve two shallow notches at the top and bottom ends of the bow staff. The notch should circle around the entire end.
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5
Choose a bowstring made of heavy hemp twine or heavy fishing line. The string should be about 6 to 8 inches shorter than the bow. Make a tight loop in one end of the bowstring that fits securely in the notches of one end of the bow. Place a knee on the bow and slowly bend the bow until the second loops fits over the other end of the bow into the notch. Tighten the loop, leaving a suitable bow.
Arrow
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6
Purchase wood dowels at a hardware store or collect branches that are around 18 inches long with diameters between 1/4 and 3/8 inch. Trim off the side twigs from each limb.
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Cut gently into the wood to peel off the bark. Set the wood aside to dry for a few days. Smooth out any remaining knots with sandpaper.
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8
Wear protective gloves while gently holding the wood over an open fire. Heat bent sections of the shaft and the wood will slowly straighten. Hold the wood in position while it cools so that the shaft will remain straight.
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9
Gently cut a 1/8-inch notch into the end of the arrow. This will steady it against the bowstring before the arrow is shot.
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10
Cut iron wire or other thin raw materials in 1 1/2-inch arrow shapes. The bottom of the arrow should be cut so a small shaft juts down from the center. Cut a notch into the top of the arrow shaft and push the arrowhead into the notch. Wrap the arrowhead and the top of the shaft with a cord.
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11
Split feathers in half. Cut feathers down to four or five inches and trim the feathers down the width to about 1/2 inch. Glue three feathers vertically around the arrow and make sure the feathers are spaced equally. Tie twine around the feathers to further keep them in place.
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References
- Photo Credit archer getting ready image by sumos from Fotolia.com
