A nearby thread mentions the work of Robert Martin. Does anyone have any aditional info they can share about the designs he built?
Here is what I found in
American Indian Archery
by Reginald and Gladys Laubin
Drawings by Reginald Laubin
University of Oklahoma Press
Norman
I have tried many designs, but believe the one
developed by the late Robert Martin of Wisconsin, a famous bowyer
well-acquainted with Indians of his area, to be the best. It incorporates
ears about 5 1/2 inches long which are very narrow when viewed from
the back or belly of the bow but are quite thick when viewed from the
side. This design gives the necessary whip action at the end of the shot
for the most efficient flight of the arrow and eliminates extra weight
that could cause sluggish and jarring performance. Being heavier on
the side prevents the ear shearing off and produces stability. To make
a bow of this design requires much practice and skill and should not
be attempted as a first trial. It would be better first to try a simple
Indian style like some of the ones illustrated.
Most of my bows of Martin design are made of two pieces because this
makes it possible to give them quite a set back as much as three
inches in a four-foot bow. I will not go into detail about making the
splice at the handle; that has been illustrated in a number of archery
books. A little trick I have discovered to get the ears to line up
correctly is to bend them before I join the two halves. This way I
can lay out and saw the splice after the ears are turned and line them up perfectly.
Even when this method is used,there are times, due to peculiarities in the wood,
when a bow will go out of line after it is made. It is then necessary to heat the limbs and
twist the ears to change the alignment and bring the bow back to true.
Usually, though, the ears hold true and no such trouble is experienced.
Forms for turning the ears can be made of two-by-fours that have been
shaped to the curve desired. The wood should be heated in a steam
box, or boiled, to soften it before bending. Boiling is the easiest and
requires the least equipment, but it takes 3 1/2 to 4 hours of boiling to
soften it sufficiently. By using two pieces for the bow, both ends can
be boiled at once, saving much time, although saving time was not
particularly important to Indians. A big, heavy coffee pot does the job
nicely.