Author Topic: question about west coast bows  (Read 2708 times)

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Offline Blacktail

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question about west coast bows
« on: September 11, 2014, 12:55:38 am »
has any ever seen a west coast bow that was made with out ANY backing on it...i have wanted to try it on some yew but i dont know if it would hold up for there shortness..john

Offline JonW

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Re: question about west coast bows
« Reply #1 on: September 11, 2014, 07:23:19 am »
John check out the American Museum of Natural History database. There are bows from different tribes from all across the country. Yes there were plenty of bows made without backing.

Offline Hrothgar

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Re: question about west coast bows
« Reply #2 on: September 11, 2014, 09:00:20 am »
Blacktail from what I've seen, the west coast bows are all heavily  sinewed. Being so wide and thin the ratio of backing to wood is essential to the bow's performance.
« Last Edit: September 11, 2014, 09:21:48 pm by Hrothgar »
" To be, or not to be"...decisions, decisions, decisions.

Offline JonW

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Re: question about west coast bows
« Reply #3 on: September 11, 2014, 11:37:49 am »
There are many examples of West Coast bows that are all wood.

Offline Hrothgar

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Re: question about west coast bows
« Reply #4 on: September 11, 2014, 09:24:27 pm »
JonW, I should clarify, I was referring to Ishi and his Yahi people. If I recall most of his short bows were backed with sinew and a few with rawhide.
" To be, or not to be"...decisions, decisions, decisions.

Offline bradsmith2010

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Re: question about west coast bows
« Reply #5 on: September 11, 2014, 09:44:52 pm »
Steve Allely has a chapter on Ishi,, and shows some bows,, self,, and rawhide backed,, as well as sinew backed,, unbacked ash ,, and unbacked yew,,

Offline bubby

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Re: question about west coast bows
« Reply #6 on: September 11, 2014, 10:05:14 pm »
If you just read kroberer's book it doesn't go into alot of detail but jon is correct, sinew, rawhide and selfbows plus longer length for taller people
failure is an option, everyone fails, it's how you handle it that matters.
The few the proud the 27🏹

Offline Traxx

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Re: question about west coast bows
« Reply #7 on: September 12, 2014, 02:59:11 am »
It is reported,that there were selfbows used even among those known for sinew backed bows.Some people in various locations of the WC region,were known to use self bows primarily.

Offline Peacebow_Coos

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Re: question about west coast bows
« Reply #8 on: September 12, 2014, 09:02:30 pm »
Yes.  We have an Allely bow that is unbacked VM, decrowned and real short that I'm assuming shoots but they won't let us shoot it :/