Not an Australian Aborigine Self-Bow Pre-1920's

[Scaramouche]

Greetings everyone,

I had an interesting occurrence the other night. I was at my local convenience store, buying aluminum foil for steaming
some kids bows in my backyard fire pit, when I fell into a conversation with a man waiting in line beside me. When I
mentioned the bows, he told me that he had inherited an Australian Aborigine bow that had been brought over in the
1920's, and didn't know what to do with it. He didn't want to sell it for profit, as it was an heirloom, but he didn't really
care to keep it, not being an archer.

Instead, he told me, he wanted it to go to someone "who would appreciate it."

I am that someone. And I thought you guys might be those someone's too.

So I gratefully accepted the offer, met him the next night, and now have the bow sitting in my garage, posing for pictures.

Here's the link to the pics: http://imgur.com/a/ohwZx

The bow measures 61 1/4" from tip to tip.
It's 1 5/16" wide at handle.
Tips are 1/8" in diameter, 2" past the nocks.
Nocks are 5/16" wide.
It's slightly more than 7/16" thick at handle, tapering to a little over 1/4" at nock. (My calipers don't read 32nds. )

I'm hoping you guys can give me some advice about the type of wood it is, and what I should do with it. I'm not going to try bracing it anytime soon, but I'd like some experts to weigh in on it. If nothing else, maybe I can ship it to one of you guys for proper testing. I'm too novice to attempt anything myself just yet.

One thing I do want to do is make sure it's preserved properly from here on out. That's one thing that wasn't done, and one thing it deserves. The guy I got it from told me he was told to keep it in his garage, and never the house. Consider the RH in Australia, I can believe it.

Looking forward to your input guys,
M.

Some of the pics:

[PatM]

I thought it was generally accepted that Aboriginal Australians did not use full size bows.

[Scaramouche]

I know nothing about them. This is the first I've ever even heard of.  It's 61 inches long, so I don't know if I'd call it "full-sized."

Honestly, I don't know what to think. That's why I'm asking all of you guys.

It's entirely possible it's just some guy's selfbow pawned off as an Aussie.

[Knoll]

That's soooo kewl!  Congrats!!

[paco664]

Any idea what kinda wood it is?

[PatM]

It looks like Palm and I'd be more inclined to say it's from New Guinea or perhaps one of the areas between New Guinea and Australia.

[paco664]

Not meaning to hijack... palm is suitable bow wood?

Cause that i have in spades down here. ... tons and tons of palm

[PatM]

  Many bows from tropical areas are palm. Different ypes will surely vary in properties.

[Pat B]

Pat, I was thinking the same; New Guinea or other South Pacific area.
 I'd always heard that Australia was one of the few places on earth that didn't develop bows.

[Traxx]

When i read the title of the thread,i thought,WHAT,This has to be some kinda joke.

You guys are not mistaken.

[Scaramouche]

The guy who gave it to me inherited it, and I don't think even he knows that much about it. Just what he was told, and relayed to me. I didn't pay for the bow - it was a donation, and I don't think he really valued it that much. Just more clutter for him.

If it's not Australian, any idea what culture might have originated this?

[Parnell]

Not that I know for sure, but I'd have to side with PatM.  Aboriginal people of Australia were Atlatl folks from all I've ever read...but, who knows.  Bet it's an import but may have been an early one.

[PatM]

When you say "brought over", what do you mean? To where?
  At some point in the Islands bridging New Guinea and Australia the bow certainly makes an appearance but the atlatl and  the boomerang dominated on the larger part of the continent.
 Technically New Guinea and Australia are the same piece of land.

[DC]

If all you know is that it's pre 1920 it could be a legitimate Aboriginal bow. They may have learned how to make them from a convicted boyer from England.

[Scaramouche]

@PatM, It's my understanding that it was brought over from Australia around 1920.

@paco664, I have no idea. I was hoping you guys would.