old Papua bow with bamboo string

[Jodocus]

The bow is black Palm I believe.

Thanks, you're awesome! I looked it up and it looks just like that. Now I got to find out if the darker or the lighter side is the back...

here's one very cool article with modern and pre WW2 Papua-Bows: The old ones even have the same braided wraps, just not plastic!

http://www.alaskabowhunting.com/PR/Ashby_Papua_New_Guinea_Bows_and_Arrows.pdf

[DarkSoul]

The bow looks to be palm, I agree. Not sure about the species of palm, as there are many species which can look similar. It could be black palm, but I've seen much darker 'black palm' as well.

The lighter colored side is the interior section of the palm 'tree', while the darker colored side was the exterior face. The lighter colored side should have less fibers and as a consequence is lighter in weight and strength as well. I suspect this lighter side to be the back of the bow; grasses such as bamboo and palm are much stronger in tension than in compression, so the additional strength from the fibers is more needed on the belly.
Please don't take my guess for the truth, but if I had to put my money on it, I'd say the darker side is the belly.

[Holten101]

Very nice:-)

Im intrigued by the bamboo knot. I dont belive I have seen anything like that....wonder if that knot would work with other string materials?

Cheers 

[RT]

Google neebong Palm and search under images. You will be able to see images on the palm tree.

This Palm is all over south east Asia and the  wood is very hard like ipe but is very brittle. Hope this helps......RT

[Parnell]

I love seeing stuff like this.  Very cool post, thank you.

[loefflerchuck]

Black palm is black wood. Not that. Some other grass tree

[Chadwick]

I'm thinking mine is black palm. From Papua, 15 years ago. 70" long bow, tied bamboo string, arrow totals 64"