Bows from the Amazon

[sheephunter]

In March, my wife was on a trip of South America. While in the Amazon, the locals had some of their bows and arrows out one day. Being a archer herself, she began to ask a lot of questions and eventually, they let her shoot one of the bows!! She took some pictures and asked if they would be willing to sell and of the equipment, which they did not. I guess they like their stuff as much as we do ours! The bow my wife is shooting was one of the long bows. Most were quite a bit shorter. Thought yall might enjoy!!

[Brianlocal3]

That is fascinating , thank you do much for posting it.

[sheephunter]

Glad you liked it! Wish I could have been there or if she could have brought some of that stuff home! Crazy looking stuff!

[owlbait]

Now that's D-shaped! How did they chrony those in the jungle?      

[ChuckC]

Think those arrows were 10 GPP of bow ?  How about UFOC ?
ChuckC

[Converml]

Thanks for sharing. I've been in Ecuador for 4 years now but haven't made it to the orient. Now I have more incentive. Nice photos

[kuch]

Really cool ! Any details such type of wood , approx. poundage, was poison used or different tips ?

[no nothing]

Thanks for posting, those look great.

[bawana bowman]

The bows and the arrow points both appear to be made of Black Palm. I have one here that was made in South America, it is 61" long and 46#@26". Not sure where it was made exactly but looks to be made the same as those in the pics, just longer. The arrows that came with it are made of cane with metal points of various shapes. Look more the size of North American Indian than S. American. Quiver is a rather large diameter section of Bamboo, don't think it is originally from S.A..

[sheephunter]

My wife says that the arrows are poisonous, they rub them on the backs of poisonous frogs. She shoots a #45 recurve and said the draw weight was heavier than that, she figures between #50-60 or so. Not sure on woods used.

[Big Ed]

Very cool!!!

[Green]

Now those are some footed shafts!     :eek:

[kuch]

Thanks for the details, also noticed arrow on the Right side of the bow , and she is RH....is that also a South A. technique?

[landman]

She needs to drop her right elbow.

[bohuntr]

Very cool!!!

[capt eddie]

Thanks for posting the pictures.  I have a palm bow that was made for me by our guide on a two week hunting trip to the Amazon.  I watched and helped him make the bow.  He did every part of the manufacturing with nothing but a machete.  I traded him all of the Fast flight strings that I took down with me   I was able to trade some Snuffers for Handmade Harpoons also.

[sheephunter]

To answer a couple of questions, my wife had to hold the arrow on the string in a pinch style because the nocks on the arrows were more like a shallow dish than a nock (you can see that in the pictures as well) so hence the high elbow and I am not sure on the arrow being on the right side of the bow. Maybe someone told her to do so. Ishi shot in a similar manner so the natives may have some similar tactics for shooting that style and told her to do so. She has never shot a primitive style bow without a shelf before, so i am not sure. Hey, were not perfect are we! Very interesting to see that others have had knowledge and experience with these bows as well!

[kuch]

thanks again for sharing , i appreciate it

[njloco]

VERY COOL, thanks for sharing.

[JamesKerr]

Neat looking arrows!