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Wilderness Survival

Bow and Arrow

Construction of a Bow from Osage Orange
Bow and Photographs by Anthonio Akkermans

 
Here's a series of photos showing various aspects of the construction of a bow from Osage Orange. The bow is being made by Anthonio Akkermans, who took and sent these pictures.
  
Imperfections in the wood often result in imperfections in the finished product. Sometimes these have little or no effect on the final product. This dip near the end of the bow will probably have little effect, provided it is not a weak spot.
  

  
Tillering setup. Tillering is the process of thinning out the bow in such a manner as to achieve the maximum force when the bow is bent. The two sides of the bow must bend evenly. The scale on the ground is to measure the amount of "pull" that the bow has.
  

  

Note the dent or scratch on the bow surface here.

The presence of this may mean that another layer will have to be removed from this side of the bow.

Note the beautiful orange colour of the Osage Orange wood!

  

Anthonio decided to "recurve" the ends of the bow. This picture shows the very end of the bow.

The picture below shows the "recurvature" as part of the overall bow.

 

  

  

Almost finished...

  

FINISHED!!
  

Here is Anthonio trying out his beautiful new Osage Orange bow.
  

Here is the bow with a quiver that Anthonio made for his arrows.

Nice job, Anthonio!

 

 

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