Author Topic: Native American bow build challenge and showcase (Read 81316 times)

randman · « **Reply #195 on:** October 15, 2016, 09:35:00 pm »

Great stuff Rich! Always love your work.
I have some information which may change the style (name) of your red bow though. I've seen the picture you posted of "Tail" before with different captions. I believe I've even seen him labeled Kiowa. I recognized the fellow immediately because I have another photo of him hanging on my wall wearing most of the same outfit with a few changes (scarf, hair ornament, mirror collar, etc.) It's an actual period print from a negative with photographer's stamp and label -Tail-Sioux-....Appears our friend Tail is a bit of a poser so I've always wondered about the authenticity of everything in the photos. Which items are personal affects and attire of Tail or mere studio props (ala some of Curtis' work). Especially the fact that he's holding blunts on the bow pic. I would think any brave showing off his gear would have his arrows with the points that mean business LOL...

Anyway, in my opinion, looking at the style of your bow, it could totally pass as a Lakota bow.

randman · « **Reply #196 on:** October 15, 2016, 09:48:05 pm »

Tail could totally pass for our friend Oglala Bowyer

half eye · « **Reply #197 on:** October 16, 2016, 09:17:53 am »

I am aware of the problem sir. It has always amazed me what white guys will do to put a nickle in their pocket. The early photographic period is especially rife with self aggrandizing and there are a quite a few cases of studio "embellished" pictures, miss-labeling, and genuine misrepresentation.

I chose the color pattern because I have other "non studio" references so I have confidence in the color selection (red, green, white and yellow) there might be some issue with the exact pattern.....but I would have to deffer that to our Native American members to clarify. If I get information that the pattern is false you can bet it will get changed immediately.

I'm attaching an example of the "non-studio" pics that I have squirreled away. I kept this pic because of the bow case/ quiver straps being twisted raw-hide, for the 3 band case decoration, and especially the way the thunderbird is depicted.

Thank you so much for bringing up this point. There is a whole lot of miss-information to be had....weather it is/was intentional or accidental remains to be determined but shows not to trust any one source alone........maybe the exception would be information gathered directly from Tribal Elders.
rich

Aaron H · « **Reply #198 on:** October 16, 2016, 11:02:58 am »

Cool picture, thanks for sharing Rich

tipi stuff · « **Reply #199 on:** October 16, 2016, 11:58:31 am »

I love loking at old photos, but there are certainly photographers who used a mish mash of props. All of these photos are staged, but each shows some great material culture. Tail's clothing is probably his own. It is classic Lakota for the time period, but was probably not worn as his normal attire. The colorized photo is a guy named Bone Necklace. His clothing is likely his own too, or at least family clothing. again, by 1899 these guys probably were not dressing this way in their day to day lives. The bow could very well be something the photographer owned, but it is defiantly the right type, as are the blunt arrows. I think these guys are both Oglalla.
The photo of the girl is very interesting for, for many reasons. I don't know their tribal affiliation, but their clothing looks more like something from the 1930's.
Like the photos, the accuracy of what you hear from tribal elders can vary also. Tribal elders nowadays are my age. They are far removed from the happenings of the nineteenth century.
I am certainly enjoying the great stuff you all are posting on here. Keep it coming!

RatherBinTheWoods · « **Reply #200 on:** October 16, 2016, 12:40:12 pm »

This is a fantastic idea. I have recently started building bows and am cutting my teeth by working my way through the Encyclopedia of Native American Bows, Arrows and Quivers. There are some beautiful examples already posted and I really look forward to seeing more as they appear.

Here is my opening gambit which is a slant on the Algonkian style. #50 at 28". Made in ash not hickory as all your lovely American hardwoods can be difficult to get in reasonable quantity and quality here.

I wrapped the handle which is not authentic but I use it in the field and this add to the comfort. If you take it off I promise there is a tortoise burned into the handle too though.

RatherBinTheWoods · « **Reply #201 on:** October 16, 2016, 12:42:16 pm »

....this is also my everyday quiver based on a modern woodland design by D C Waldorf

FilipT · « **Reply #202 on:** October 16, 2016, 12:57:40 pm »

Wow!!! I like the face of in the tip. So this is eastern woodlands style bow?

burchett.donald · « **Reply #203 on:** October 16, 2016, 02:23:11 pm »

Excellent carving Bin...

Bow looks like a shooter from here

Don

RatherBinTheWoods · « **Reply #204 on:** October 16, 2016, 04:14:13 pm »

The Algonkin hail from North Eastern Michigan, Southern Quebec and Eastern Ontario I believe. They have some fantastic designs including a shorter one with a wavy line and dots pattern on the back and pointed ends. It has similar pyrography to that pictured on my bow above. This may well be my next project if I can get a nice bit of hickory. Thanks Don, this one shoots okay but not one of my favourites I have to say.

Oglala Bowyer · « **Reply #205 on:** October 16, 2016, 05:35:18 pm »

Just to clarify something the above photos are indeed "tail" short for Porcupine Tail. His elder grandson has this photo in his home and is quite fond of it. There's been mislabeling of a lot of names. Furthermore, there is a community not far from me (20) minutes named after him "porcupine". His family lives on the northern portion of this community. And yes he is Oglala.

tipi stuff · « **Reply #206 on:** October 16, 2016, 07:13:29 pm »

Thanks Oglala. The colorized photo is marked Heyn and Matzen. The other is a Rhinehart. I think these photos were taken in Omaha, within a short span of time and during the same year. If so, the Rhinehart photo should have been taken first, and then the H and M. Heyn and Matzen are the ones who have listed him as Bone Necklace, which I realize does not necessarily mean anything. Does Porcupine Tail have any reference to the hairbrush? CC

Oglala Bowyer · « **Reply #207 on:** October 16, 2016, 10:36:10 pm »

No I don't think there is a correlation to a hair brush. His grandson never made mention of it so I'm inclined to think there was another reason for it

half eye · « **Reply #208 on:** October 19, 2016, 07:04:23 pm »

Hey fellas,
Wanted to post this bow... I mentioned it in my flight shooting numbers....but finally got the chance to do it justice. There are two sets of pictures.

The bow was made by Jon W, from hard maple, and made in the style of a museum bow attributed to the Great Shawnee Warrior Tecumseh. The museum bow has the attribution written on it's back in French. Also the original is incised carved on its belly quite elaborately but not painted.
Jon copied it exactly of course, but the Maple is so white I asked him if it would be OK to stain the wood and then paint the "back" only....he said it would be OK so here she is. 50" hard maple, 50 # @ 25", shoots hard and smooth and is going to the hunting woods for sure. One note is that the attribution is probably wrong or earnestly attributed but based on false field information. I say this because of Native American first hand accounts of the fight at Moraviatown (Tippacanoe). There were Ottawa warriors there who recounted that the reports of Tecumseh's death were wrong....and that the 4 Native warriors who were skinned were NOT him nor was the Warrior shot by Tyler. The Odawa and Shawnee warriors returned to the battle field and recovered his body which was later hidden. So I doubt the attribution......anyway here is the Shawnee bow.
Thank you so much for the fine bow Jon, it suits me very well sir.
rich