question about west coast bows

[Blacktail]

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

[JonW]

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.

[Hrothgar]

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.

[JonW]

There are many examples of West Coast bows that are all wood.

[Hrothgar]

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.

[bradsmith2010]

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,,

[bubby]

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

[Traxx]

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.

[Peacebow_Coos]

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 :/