This bow is 48" long and draws appx 45-50 pounds at 23" maximum draw. The bow was made from a naturally cured piece of osage orange wood and was taken down to one growth ring before sinewbacking, and applying the horn belly. The belly of the bow is comprised of 5 sections of Buffalo horn, the sinew backing covers the back of the bow and the sides as well as the edge of the horn belly. Each joint is reinforced with real sinew wrappings as well. The sinew backing is ochred with a rusty red earth pigment I collect locally and the sinew wrappings are ochred with a classic looking green. This bow has the end of a buffalos tail as a decoration hanging from the bottom tip. The last bone in the tail was left in place, the tail was covered with brain tanned buckskin and beaded with 1840's pony beads in chalk white, greasy yellow and cranberry red. the leather handle on the bow is also smoked brain tanned buckskin.
I heated this bow into a gull wing or 5 curve shape giving it a classic look.
The bows sinew backing also goes over the tips onto the belly where sinew wrappings have been applied. The bow has a double string grooves at the bottom end and a single at the top. The bow is being drawn 23" in the pictures.
The arrows are seasoned red osier dogwood and have been ochred red with the same pigment used on the bows sinew backing, the upper end of the arrows are also ochred green to match the sinew bands on the bow as well as the sinew wrappings on the arrows.. Each arrow has three sets of shaft grooves running from the base of the fletchings to the points. Two wavy grooves and one straight. Each arrow is fletched with turkey feathers and the fletchings are a little over 6" long. The feathers are glued down and sinew wrapped with real sinew. The arrows also feature flared nocks.
The arrow points I made from antique hand saw blades and each one has double notches cut into the base of the point so after they were inserted into the arrow shafts the sinew wrappings help secure them into place. Each arrrow is 23.5" long based on the Sioux standard arrow length, Thats not counting the points. Each point has been sharpned by hand.
Enjoy the pics.
Eric
