Holmegaard bow. Updated!

[Aksel]

Hello, I decided to make a bow close in size to the smaller of the two stone age bows found in Holmegård in Denmark, dating back to apr. 9000 years ago. I stretched the original measurements out, added 4 inches in total to 64" instead of original bow´s 60".  The original bow was probably heavy;  70+ lbs or so. By stretching it and taking a couple millimeter off it´s thickness and width, this bow pulls #50 @27". One limb is reflexed which gives it a bit of a wonky brace. That famous shoulder is very subtle and appear only on one limb.

It is made from European elm and I decided to leave the finished bow rather rough, no sand paper just rubbing its surface smoth with a glass jar. I stained it with a mix of earth pigments and oil.

Not a scientific replica but it turned out a very nice bow!

Edit: I shortened the bow, see page 2.

[Aksel]

Full draw

[GlisGlis]

very nice
Definetly you can hear the echo of the human history in those bows
Is the string natural?

[Aksel]

Yes there is something almost magical over those old bows. The string is linnen, but this bow really should have a sinew string..

[organic_archer]

Excellent. My all-time favorite bow design, and you nailed it!

[Hawkdancer]

Very neat bow!  I'm psyching myself up to start a yew rendition of the Meare Heath bow.  Minor details like how to best lay it, etc.  Target draw weight will be 40-45#.  Relearning how to post pictures will help
Hawkdancer

[Lehtis]

Nice work!

[willie]

cool bow!  what was the diameter of the sapling??

[Del the cat]

Lovely, clean simple, one of my fave' bow shapes.
Del

[Aksel]

Thanks for kind comments. This is such a perfect design. Short, every part of the bow doing some work.

willie : The original Holmegård was made from a 2" sapling. I used a 4" sapling, so to get to the right cross section where thickness and width stay true to the original I had to round its back sides to get that high back crown shape of a very small sapling.

Hawkdancer: I look forward seeing that Meare Heath bow! It is a very curious big bow, worked on all sides and with the handle section sunk down a few year rings on the back. Maybe safest to avoid that dubious feature...!

[Pappy]

Beautiful simple bow, tiller looks dead on, very nice work.
 Pappy

[M2A]

Real Cool! Sinew wrapped nocks? a close up on one of them would be nice I dont know enough about these older European bows but always wanted to give it a shot. Great example of that era you made there and for a primitive archery forum. Like it a lot.
Mike   

[Chumash]

That is definitly a nice bow.

For smoothing the surface you should give Field Horsetail (Ackerschachtelhalm) a chance 

[Aksel]

Thanks Pappy, mike, chumash.

Here´s the nock. Just cheap Jute twine dipped in glue and wrapped/ tied on. I guess most people find it un-aesthetically or worry about the string coming off, I do most of my bow nocks like this and never have the nock fail and string coming off. Infact have I had more problems of string coming off or wood splitting with side and pin nocks. And you get really narrow low mass bow tips with a tied on nock.

Chumash: I´ve read about stone age people using Field Horsetail to polish wood. Must give it a go one day.

I also include a picture before I stained the bow where you easier can see how small that shoulder is on the one limb.

[superdav95]

Very cool.  I love it.  That tiller looks great!