The favorite weapon of American Indians and hunters to the Turkish armies, the bow is one of the oldest hunting and warfare tools on the planet. Although no longer used as a modern weapon, but only on a sporting level, a primitive bow can still be useful for hunting or surviving in emergency situations in wild environments. In addition, it is an object of great impact to show to friends!
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Building the Arch
Step 1. Take a piece of wood long enough to create the arch
There are a few things to keep in mind when choosing wood for your bow:
- Try to get a piece of dry wood (but not dry or cracking), perhaps oak, lemon, walnut, yew, acacia or teak for example, and that is about 1.6 meters long. The wood should be free of knots, folds, protrusions, and better if thicker in the central part.
- It must be flexible enough, like juniper or mulberry. You can also use a bamboo stick, as long as it's not too thick. Young bamboo may do well because it is strong and flexible.
- Fresh wood, the one cut from a tree or a bush, is used only if strictly necessary, but it should be avoided because it does not guarantee the same power as dry wood.
Step 2. Calculate the natural curvature of the wood
Each piece of wood, each branch, has a natural curvature, no matter how pronounced. In the construction of the arch this determines where the main features will go. To find it you just have to place the piece of wood on the ground, holding it firmly at the top with one hand and pressing lightly with the other in the center. This way he will turn with his "belly" towards you and the rest facing outwards.
Step 3. Establish a grip and limbs
They are essential parts in the bow making process. To find the point of the grip, make marks about 6 centimeters above and below the center point of the bow. The part enclosed between these points will be the grip, above and below will be the limbs.
Step 4. Model the bow
Keep the bottom of the arch under your foot and one hand on top. With the other hand, push your belly out towards you. In this way you will also be able to understand where the arch is flexible and where it is not. Use a knife or other tool to remove the non-bending parts, only on the belly, until the upper and lower limbs curve equally. Check your work frequently. When both limbs are mirrored in shape and diameter then move on to the next step.
- The bow must be stronger (and thicker) at the height of the handle.
- Be careful to cut only from the belly. The back of the bow is subject to some pressure, and even the slightest damage can cause it to break.
Step 5. Cut notches to insert the string
With a knife cut notches starting from one side and cut them out so that they go towards the belly and towards the handle. There should be one on each side, approximately 2.5 to 5 cm from each end of the bow. Remember not to cut in the back and not to make the notches too deep so as not to compromise the tightness of the ends. Make them deep enough to hold the rope in place.
Step 6. Choose a string
It does not have to be springy as the power of the bow comes from the wood, not the string. If you are lost in wild territory it may be difficult to find something suitable to act as a rope and you may need several materials before you can find one that is strong enough. Some good options can be:
- Leather
- A thin nylon string
- Hemp
- Fishing wire
- Cotton or silk threads
- String
Step 7. Insert the string
You will need to make a fairly loose loop closed with a tight knot on both ends of the string and then thread it into the ends of the bow limbs. The string should be slightly shorter than the bow so that they both stay taut.
Step 8. Put on the tiller
Hang the bow from a branch or something similar for the handle, so you can pull it down from the string. Pull gently, making sure the limbs bend the same way and eliminating as much wood as possible. Pull down until you have covered the distance between your hand and the jaw (as a reference take the arm extended out).
Part 2 of 2: Building the Arrows
Step 1. Choose sticks to make arrows with
The arrows should be made with the straightest branches you can find, they must be of dry, dry wood and each arrow should be about half the length of the bow or as long as you can pull the string back. There is no need to have arrows that do not allow you to draw the bow to its maximum potential. Consider these materials:
- Fresh wood is fine as long as it dries a little naturally, if you put it near a fire the sap could catch fire.
- Some hardy plants are the crayfish (such as sunflower or thistle) found in lawns.
Step 2. Shape the arrows
You will need to carve the wood around the entire circumference of the arrow. You can straighten it by heating it on embers being careful not to burn it, and keeping it straight as the wood cools. Carve the back of each arrow to create space where the string will hang. This part is called the nock.
Step 3. Sharpen the tip of the arrow
The simplest arrowhead is simply wood carved and pointed and then heat hardened (always be careful not to burn everything).
Step 4. Build the arrowhead if possible (optional)
You can make it in metal, stone, glass or bone. Use a hammer or a rock to break the material into sharp pieces. Then you can attach it to the tip of the arrow by carving it and tying everything together with a string or some similar material.
Step 5. Build the Flags (optional)
Flags are used to stabilize and improve the flight of the arrow, but are not required for use as a field weapon. Find some feathers and somehow glue them to the back of the arrow. You can also open the back of the arrow, slide the feather in and then close it with fabric (maybe made from your clothes). This way you can use just about anything.
- Flags work much like the rudder of a boat or plane, they guide the arrow with extreme precision.
- They also have a glider-like function because they improve the range of the arrow.
- However, they are difficult to perfect. If the weapon you are building is for survival then they are not a priority.
Advice
- If fresh wood is your only option, then look for some pine. It is the easiest to cut and clean.
- If you want to use the bow to fish, tie a string to the arrow: in this way as soon as you have caught a fish you will be able to lift it much easier.
- You can carve an inch high notch in the wood and two high to house the arrow once you shoot the bow (to hold the arrow and prevent it from swinging).
- Do not dry with fire (apart from the rope). You will damage the bow.
- You can increase the power by making two identical bows and then tying them together with a string so that they form an "X" by looking at them from the side. They should be tied only for the tips. Attach the string to just one of the arches. This is a kind of primitive crossbow.
Warnings
- Better to bring a bowstring with you, it is difficult to make.
- The bow and arrows described here are intended to be temporary and will not have a long life. The more you use the bow, the easier it will break. Change it every 3-5 months.
- If you shoot with other people, wait for everyone to finish before going to collect the arrows.
- Bow and arrows are a lethal weapon. Be very careful when using them and never point them at something you don't want to kill.
- However, the bow and arrow are not easy to use. If you find yourself having to hunt to survive then you'd better build more user-friendly traps or weapons.
- Keep bow and arrows out of the reach of children.
- Be very careful when using sharp tools.
