Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

KuKulzA28 · 8th February 2013, 05:40 AM

I don't know if you guys are into archery or hunting, or into South American indigenous stuff... but for those who are or will be, here's something cool. Here's what I was told is an Apinaje tribe bow and arrows set collected in the 1950s. For a roughly 70 yr old set, it's been kept in decent condition. Normally on the Matis, Matses, and Yanomamö bow and arrow sets, the feathers have disintegrated.

The bow is a typical South American longbow, similar to the English kind, but made of what I think is probably black palmwood. The string is looped/tied on the narrow ends without string nocks carved in. It was not taut despite being strung, so I suspect either the wood shrunk, the string loosened, or it was purposely set on there loosely but firm enough to stay on for shipping purposes. Black Palm is excellent bow material, stiff and strong. The bow is this long to maximize the power... a bow this stiff needs to be long to avoid over-drawing, and allow for a long draw which would be impossible in a short self-bow of this material... in essence, unless you place the bow on your feet and make yourself an improvised human crossbow, you'll never reach the full potential of the bow.

The arrows are typical of the Amazon and Guianas. There's one with a wooden spike and another with a bamboo broadhead. They are set into an arrow reed/cane that is extremely light but straight and durable. Most use Gynerium sagittatum. Cotton fibers bind the ends where the heads and nocks are pushed into the pithy center. The glue (whichever kind they use) is gone or mostly. The fletching is very well done, the black feathers are probably curassow. Two feathers, like much of the fletching in the Americas (though 3 and spiral fletching was not unknown, just not preferred). YES, they are typically that long. While sizes varied between tribes and individuals, they tended to be 5-7 feet long. The long arrows fly steady, are less easily deflected by vegetation, and are harder to lose than conventional short arrows... the lightness of the arrow reed allows for this length - which would be too heavy with solid wood, rivercane, and most bamboos at 6' long. Trust me, I've tried those materials.

Here are pictures:

8th February 2013, 05:40 AM	#1
KuKulzA28 Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: between work and sleep Posts: 731	Apinaje bow and arrows I don't know if you guys are into archery or hunting, or into South American indigenous stuff... but for those who are or will be, here's something cool. Here's what I was told is an Apinaje tribe bow and arrows set collected in the 1950s. For a roughly 70 yr old set, it's been kept in decent condition. Normally on the Matis, Matses, and Yanomamö bow and arrow sets, the feathers have disintegrated. The bow is a typical South American longbow, similar to the English kind, but made of what I think is probably black palmwood. The string is looped/tied on the narrow ends without string nocks carved in. It was not taut despite being strung, so I suspect either the wood shrunk, the string loosened, or it was purposely set on there loosely but firm enough to stay on for shipping purposes. Black Palm is excellent bow material, stiff and strong. The bow is this long to maximize the power... a bow this stiff needs to be long to avoid over-drawing, and allow for a long draw which would be impossible in a short self-bow of this material... in essence, unless you place the bow on your feet and make yourself an improvised human crossbow, you'll never reach the full potential of the bow. The arrows are typical of the Amazon and Guianas. There's one with a wooden spike and another with a bamboo broadhead. They are set into an arrow reed/cane that is extremely light but straight and durable. Most use Gynerium sagittatum. Cotton fibers bind the ends where the heads and nocks are pushed into the pithy center. The glue (whichever kind they use) is gone or mostly. The fletching is very well done, the black feathers are probably curassow. Two feathers, like much of the fletching in the Americas (though 3 and spiral fletching was not unknown, just not preferred). YES, they are typically that long. While sizes varied between tribes and individuals, they tended to be 5-7 feet long. The long arrows fly steady, are less easily deflected by vegetation, and are harder to lose than conventional short arrows... the lightness of the arrow reed allows for this length - which would be too heavy with solid wood, rivercane, and most bamboos at 6' long. Trust me, I've tried those materials. Here are pictures: Attached Images