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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: Silent Bear on June 25, 2010, 12:23:00 AM

Title: West Coast Native Tribal Bow
Post by: Silent Bear on June 25, 2010, 12:23:00 AM
Hello, this is the latest bow that I have built its 44 inches long and has a 22 inch draw at about 55 pounds, I am from the Pit River nation and am in the Atsugewi tribe. The markings on my bow are Atsugewi tribal markings that represent Geese flying in a V formation, this bow is very similar to the type of bow that Ishi used and that my tribe also used, The Atsugewi people historically used Yew in their bowmaking but this bow is of Fruitless Mulberry.
  (http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/9830/bendingbow1.jpg) (http://[url=http://img340.imageshack.us/i/bendingbow1.jpg/) ]web page[/URL]
  (http://img689.imageshack.us/img689/4213/bendingbow2.jpg) (http://[url=http://img689.imageshack.us/i/bendingbow2.jpg/) ]web page[/URL]  


(http://%20[url=http://img27.imageshack.us/i/atsugewibow2.jpg/%5D%20%20%5Bimg%5Dhttp://img27.imageshack.us/img27/9282/atsugewibow2.jpg)[/url] [/IMG]
(http://%20[url=http://img340.imageshack.us/i/atsugewibow3.jpg/%5D%20%20%5Bimg%5Dhttp://img340.imageshack.us/img340/290/atsugewibow3.jpg)[/url] [/IMG]
(http://%20[url=http://img171.imageshack.us/i/atsugewibow4.jpg/%5D%20%20%5Bimg%5Dhttp://img171.imageshack.us/img171/6696/atsugewibow4.jpg)[/url] [/IMG]
(http://%20[url=http://img689.imageshack.us/i/atsugewibow1.jpg/%5D%20%20%5Bimg%5Dhttp://img689.imageshack.us/img689/6350/atsugewibow1.jpg)[/url] [/IMG]
(http://%20[url=http://img15.imageshack.us/i/atsugewibow5.jpg/%5D%20%20%5Bimg%5Dhttp://img15.imageshack.us/img15/8659/atsugewibow5.jpg)[/url] [/IMG]
Title: Re: West Coast Native Tribal Bow
Post by: Rich Evans on June 25, 2010, 01:08:00 AM
that's a great lookin bow. never made one of those short bows, but that has me thinkin.
Title: Re: West Coast Native Tribal Bow
Post by: walkabout on June 25, 2010, 01:37:00 AM
very cool.im cherokee and blackfoot and my family has lost much of its heritage, i always love seeing recreations of tribal art and implements.
Title: Re: West Coast Native Tribal Bow
Post by: Curt Brisky on June 25, 2010, 02:10:00 AM
Silent Bear, does the bow have sinew on the back?
Title: Re: West Coast Native Tribal Bow
Post by: Roy from Pa on June 25, 2010, 02:57:00 AM
Very nice..
Title: Re: West Coast Native Tribal Bow
Post by: gudspelr on June 25, 2010, 05:14:00 AM
Great looking bow-I love the quiver, too.  Any close ups of that?  Thanks for sharing

Jeremy
Title: Re: West Coast Native Tribal Bow
Post by: Rainshooter on June 25, 2010, 10:47:00 AM
that's a really nice looking bow. Ilove the contrast of the heartwood on the belly. beautiful job, ditto on the quiver
Title: Re: West Coast Native Tribal Bow
Post by: Silent Bear on June 25, 2010, 12:17:00 PM
thanks for all of the great comments guys, yes the bow has 2 layers of deer sinew on the back, the quiver is of antelope from Africa, I could maybe snap a couple closeup pictures of it tonight
Title: Re: West Coast Native Tribal Bow
Post by: scottm on June 25, 2010, 12:49:00 PM
Nice job Silent Bear!
Title: Re: West Coast Native Tribal Bow
Post by: ChristopherO on June 25, 2010, 02:48:00 PM
Please show us the 22" full draw, also!  Good looking bow, btw.
Title: Re: West Coast Native Tribal Bow
Post by: Pat B on June 25, 2010, 03:00:00 PM
Very nice bow! Let's see a full draw pic.
Title: Re: West Coast Native Tribal Bow
Post by: Molson on June 25, 2010, 03:05:00 PM
Very nice indeed!!
Title: Re: West Coast Native Tribal Bow
Post by: JEFF B on June 25, 2010, 05:13:00 PM
yup a full draw pic would be good as it looks like it sure could fling an arrow. nice job indeed!!  :clapper:    :clapper:
Title: Re: West Coast Native Tribal Bow
Post by: Silent Bear on June 25, 2010, 08:12:00 PM
I will try and get a full draw pic up in the next couple of days, thanks guys
Title: Re: West Coast Native Tribal Bow
Post by: Mike Most on June 25, 2010, 10:53:00 PM
very nice...
Title: Re: West Coast Native Tribal Bow
Post by: Osagetree on June 26, 2010, 07:02:00 AM
Your bow reminds me of this picture
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/securedownload.jpg)
Title: Re: West Coast Native Tribal Bow
Post by: tishtail on June 26, 2010, 02:30:00 PM
hi Silent Bear very stuning bow could you please email me i'm live in the midwest and i'm doing research on native american/tribal bow wanting to talk directly to members that do make these so i can make something true to form not looking to read about it because i have but to be able to have live contact for referals if you can please email me tischnl@netzero.net LjT thanks
Title: Re: West Coast Native Tribal Bow
Post by: Silent Bear on June 26, 2010, 04:59:00 PM
thanks for all of the great comments guys, tishtail I would be glad to help you I sent you an email
Title: Re: West Coast Native Tribal Bow
Post by: ChristopherO on June 26, 2010, 05:09:00 PM
Silent Bear,
I notice you are holding the bow in your left hand but have the arrow pass on the right side of the bow.  Is this the way the Atgusewi Tribe built and shot their bows?
The picture has become even more interesting to me when I saw that.
Title: Re: West Coast Native Tribal Bow
Post by: Silent Bear on June 26, 2010, 05:14:00 PM
Yes that is the way most west coast natives shot, look up ishi and the way he shot, Ishi's tribe was a neighbor of the Atsugewi so there methods are similar the main difference is the Atsugewi did not use the same release as ishis
Title: Re: West Coast Native Tribal Bow
Post by: Mike Gerardi on June 28, 2010, 09:24:00 AM
Silent Bear,
Very nice bow.
Title: Re: West Coast Native Tribal Bow
Post by: George Tsoukalas on June 28, 2010, 09:26:00 AM
Aweome bow! Jawge
Title: Re: West Coast Native Tribal Bow
Post by: coaster500 on June 28, 2010, 10:09:00 AM
Great looking bow! It would be really cool to see a video clip of you shooting the bow!!! Is that possible for you?

Great job!!

 :thumbsup:
Title: Re: West Coast Native Tribal Bow
Post by: fujimo on June 29, 2010, 09:50:00 AM
beautiful gear man!!
the hide used for the quiver, is from the small desert dwelling antelope, called a springbuck (south africas national animal) so named for their tendancy to "pronk" or "spring". which is the act of jumping stiff legged, straight up into the air.
in my humble opinion, these are the best eating of the african antelope, theyre all good, but man springbuck is the best- often referred to as "kalahari lamb".they are  not very big though bit smaller than the sitka, or black tailed mulie.
Title: Re: West Coast Native Tribal Bow
Post by: Silent Bear on June 30, 2010, 12:04:00 AM
coaster500- im pretty sure my camera doesent have a video mode on it so that most likey wont be possible, I am going to  build a tillering jig up tomorrow and will be able to get some full draw pictures
Title: Re: West Coast Native Tribal Bow
Post by: Silent Bear on July 01, 2010, 01:01:00 AM
pic at full draw, drawing 22 inches
Title: Re: West Coast Native Tribal Bow
Post by: coaster500 on July 01, 2010, 02:36:00 AM
Again, great job !!

 :campfire:
Title: Re: West Coast Native Tribal Bow
Post by: Silent Bear on July 01, 2010, 07:55:00 PM
Full draw 22 inches

(http://%20[url=http://img806.imageshack.us/i/bendingbow1.jpg/%5D%20%5Bimg%5Dhttp://img806.imageshack.us/img806/9830/bendingbow1.jpg)[/url] [/IMG]  (http://%20[url=http://img3.imageshack.us/i/bendingbow2.jpg/%5D%20%5Bimg%5Dhttp://img3.imageshack.us/img3/4213/bendingbow2.jpg)[/url] [/IMG]
Title: Re: West Coast Native Tribal Bow
Post by: gudspelr on July 02, 2010, 05:27:00 AM
QuoteYes that is the way most west coast natives shot, look up ishi and the way he shot, Ishi's tribe was a neighbor of the Atsugewi so there methods are similar the main difference is the Atsugewi did not use the same release as ishis  
Now you've got my curiousity going...  I must sadly admit that I don't know much in the way of history, here.  Maybe you could write out some some of the practices and history of your tribe in reference to bows?  Never thought about different shooting styles, releases, etc.  Anyway, thanks for sharing and again-really cool bow and quiver.

Jeremy
Title: Re: West Coast Native Tribal Bow
Post by: Silent Bear on July 03, 2010, 04:41:00 PM
I would love to share knowledge about my tribe, what specifics are you wanting to know
Title: Re: West Coast Native Tribal Bow
Post by: Izzy on July 03, 2010, 04:49:00 PM
Fine looking bow.