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Author Topic: Horse bow, photo shoot building and advice  (Read 2311 times)

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Offline hedgeapple

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Horse bow, photo shoot building and advice
« on: June 14, 2012, 01:15:53 am »
I am a photographer and love building bows.  So last summer I started combining these two passions in a Primitive Archry series for potential gallery exhibits.  So, I need help and advice on building a horse bow and how to pose the model for the shoot.

I plan to use osage, I know it's not very authentic, but it's bendable properties will probably give me the best chance of success.  This only needs to be a 20 or 25 pound bow.  Otherwise, the model will not be able to draw it.  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

I have searched horse bows. This is what I've come up with so far.  Short 48" or so. Reset handle, r/d design.  The belly looks to be rounded.

Photo style techniques. Shot from the chest with a pinch string draw.  Bow canted quite a bit.  Shor draw less than 24"
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Dave   Richmond, KY
26" draw

Offline Parnell

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Re: Horse bow, photo shoot building and advice
« Reply #1 on: June 14, 2012, 01:20:24 am »
Encyclopedia of Native American Bows, Arrows & Quivers - Volume 2.  Allely & Hamm.

Good luck and have fun.
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1’—>1’

Offline hedgeapple

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Re: Horse bow, photo shoot building and advice
« Reply #2 on: June 14, 2012, 01:58:19 am »
Thanks Parnell.  I'll try to find it.
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Dave   Richmond, KY
26" draw

Offline Carson (CMB)

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Re: Horse bow, photo shoot building and advice
« Reply #3 on: June 14, 2012, 03:00:56 am »
There are lots of variations on horse bows out there.  Plains Indians of NA, or asiatic style would be the two main groups, I would think.  Are you thinking of osage with sinew?  horn belly?  I would say the light target weight will help you succeed.  Good luck!
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"The bow is the old first lyre,
the mono chord, the initial rune of fine art
The humanities grew out from archery as a flower from a seed
No sooner did the soft, sweet note of the bow-string charm the ear of genius than music was born, and from music came poetry and painting and..." Maurice Thompso

Offline hedgeapple

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Re: Horse bow, photo shoot building and advice
« Reply #4 on: June 14, 2012, 03:55:11 am »
CMB, I am looking for Plains Indian, not horn bow, but osage.  I'll really like to finish this up in the next 2 to 3 weeks  So sinew is not the best option do to lack of curing time.  I could put it in the hot box, though.  Take in mind the model will probably only be drawing the bow 18 to 22 inches.
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Dave   Richmond, KY
26" draw

Offline LivingElemental

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  • Appalachi/Wataugi/East Tennessee
Re: Horse bow, photo shoot building and advice
« Reply #5 on: June 14, 2012, 04:32:35 am »
Get a model who has some muscle tone. Elbow tendons like steel cables, pulling a 40# recurve while on horseback. I would beat puppies for such a woman, and I loves me some puppies.
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Alzamaal illi yadour 'ala qurnayn fakhira, yarja' idhana maqtu'a.

Offline MWirwicki

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  • The wood speaks to you; Listen with your eyes. GSD
Re: Horse bow, photo shoot building and advice
« Reply #6 on: June 14, 2012, 10:08:02 am »
If you're crunched on time, the bit of time it takes to cure sinew may hinder your deadline.  If you do an all wood (osage) bow and since you mentioned 48" draw, I would make it a bend-in-the-handle design.  It doesn't necessarily have to be a r/d design. 

At 48, you should be able to draw it 24", if properly tillered.  A 24" drawlength is plenty for a horse bow.  If you're only seeking 20-25 lbs, start out about an inch wide and after about mid-limb, taper out to the tips as narrow as you are comfortable with.  Good Luck!   ;)
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Matt Wirwicki
Owosso, MI
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