As the weapon of choice for everyone from Native American hunters to Turkish troops, the bow is one of the oldest hunting (and fighting) tools on Earth. While it's not suitable for modern weaponry -- or for modern archery equipment -- the primitive bow can still save your life if you have to hunt for survival in the jungle, or if you're a fan of the Hunger Games movies and want to be Katniss Everdeen! This bow and arrow is a cool and awesome piece of equipment to show off to your friends!
Step
Method 1 of 2: Making Bows
Step 1. Choose a long piece of wood for the bow
There are a few things to consider when choosing raw wood for your bow:
- Look for a piece of hardwood that is dry and dead (but not weathered or cracked) (such as oak, lemon tree, hickory, yew, black locust, or teak) about 1.8 meters long. The wood should have no knots, twists or branches, and it is most helpful if the center of the branch is thick.
- The wood should be somewhat flexible, such as juniper or mulberry. You can even use sticks of bamboo or rattan but be careful that this material is not too thick. For that you can use young bamboo that is strong and flexible.
- Greenwood (live wood you cut from trees or saplings) can be used if absolutely necessary, but should be avoided as it is not as strong as dry wood.
Step 2. Determine the natural curve of the wooden stick
Every log has a natural bend, no matter how small the trunk. When you create a bow, this arc will determine where you place its main features. To find the bend, lay your wood on the ground, with one hand holding the top of the wood. With the other hand, lightly press the center. The wood will rotate so that the natural belly (the surface of the bow close to the bowstring) is facing you, and the back is facing out.
Step 3. Determine the handle and the cleavage of the arc
This part is very important for the arc formation process. To find the handle, make a 7.5 cm mark above and below the midpoint of the arc. The part between these two marks is the handle of the bow, above it is the upper part of the bow, and below it is the lower part of the bow.
Step 4. Shape the arc
Place the lower end of the bow on your feet, and one hand on the top of the bow. With your other hand, press outward, with the belly of the bow facing you. Use this exercise to determine which areas are flexible and which are not. With a knife or other similar tool, cut only the hard part of the belly (inside the arc) until the top and bottom halves have the same curve. Check your work frequently. If the two halves become more flexible and have the same curvature and diameter as each other, you're ready to move on to the next step.
- You have to make the handle of the bow the strongest (thickest) part.
- Be careful to only carve from the belly of the bow. Great pressure will be applied to the back of the bow, so even a small flaw can break the bow.
Step 5. Make a notch to place the bowstring
Use a knife to cut a notch starting on the side of the bow and turn it toward the belly of the bow and inward toward the handle. One notch should be made for each end of the bow which is about 2.5 to 5 cm from each end of the bow. Remember not to cut into the back of the bow, and don't make the notch too deep to compromise strength at either end of the bow. Make a notch just deep enough to tie the string.
Step 6. Select the bowstring
The rope should not be stretched, because the strength comes from the wood, not from the rope. If you're stranded in the jungle, it can be difficult to find a suitable rope, and you may need to try different materials before you find one that has the strength you need. Some possibilities to be used as bowstring material are:
- rawhide
- thin nylon rope
- hemp rope
- fishing line
- thread from cotton or silk thread from caterpillar
- ordinary thread
Step 7. Attach the string to the bow
You should make a loose knot with a very strong knot at both ends of your bowstring before threading it over the top and bottom of your bow. Make the string slightly shorter than the length of your bow when the bow is not bent, so that the bow and string stiffen when the string is attached to the bow.
Step 8. Bend the arc
Hang the bow upside down by the handle of a tree branch or something similar so you can pull down on the bowstring. Pull it down slowly, making sure that the halves of the arc are evenly bent and form the required arc, until you can pull it the distance between your hand and jaw (arm fully extended from shoulder.)
Method 2 of 2: Making Arrows
Step 1. Choose a stick for the arrow
Arrows should be made from the straightest stick you can find. The wood must be dry and dead. The length of the arrow should be about half the length of the bow, or as long as your bow can be pulled back. An arrow cannot function properly if its length does not reach the length of the bow when pulled back with maximum force:
- Green wood (freshly cut wood) can be used if you have extra time to dry naturally, as the sap can burn if the wood is roasted over a fire until dry.
- Some strong, straight plants for arrows are goldenrod and mullen. Both plants can be found in the fields.
Step 2. Shape the arrows
You should sharpen the wood until it is smooth along the arrow. You can straighten an arrow by gently heating the stem over hot coals--don't scorch or burn the wood--then holding the arrow straight while the wood cools. Carve a small notch on the back end of each arrow to place the bowstring. This notch is called the nock (handle of the bowstring).
Step 3. Sharpen the tip of the arrow
A simple arrowhead is the front part of the arrowhead that is sharpened until it is pointed and sharp. You can sharpen the arrowhead with a knife and then harden it by gently heating it over hot coals (again, be careful not to burn or scorch the wood).
Step 4. Make arrowheads if possible (this step is optional)
You can make them with metal, stone, glass, or bone. Carefully use a small stone or hammer to scrape the material of your arrowhead until it is sharp and attach it to the tip of your arrow. You can do this by making nicks or notches in the wood, and inserting the arrowhead into the notch, then tying the arrowhead to the wood with some kind of string or wire.
Step 5. Make fletching or wings (optional)
Although fletching improves arrow gliding, it is not required for weapons used in the field. Find some feathers for fletching and attach (if possible) to the back end of the arrow. You can also split the back of the quiver, thread the feather through it, and wrap it tightly with light thread (you can probably get it from your clothes) around the fletching. If you use this method, you can use anything as your fletching.
- Fletching acts like the rudder on a ship or small aircraft, guiding the arrow as it pierces the air for precise accuracy.
- Fletching also has a similar effect to that of a glider, being able to increase the range of arrows when flying through the air.
- Even so, fletching is a bit difficult to make perfectly. If your weapon is meant for survival, this is not a priority.
Tips
- If you want to use it for fishing, tie a string to your arrow so that after you shoot a fish you can retract the arrow and the fish you caught.
- Do not shoot without arrows (snaps the bowstring without using arrows). This action will damage the bow over time.
- You can carve a notch about 1 cm into the wood and 2.5 cm up to place the arrow when you draw your bow (to place the arrow, and to keep the arrow from swaying).
- Using thread is perfect for homemade bows and purchased arrows.
- You can increase the strength of your bow by making two identical bows and firing them together in a crossed arrangement (so that they form an "X" when viewed from the side) with string or string. The two bows must be tied together at the ends. Attach the bowstring to only one bow. This is a kind of primitive arrow.
- Keep the bow away from your face at all times.
- Feathers must be glued within 120 degrees. Feathers that are cracked at a 90-degree angle to the bow will point forward when you fire them.
- Know when and how to fire it.
Warning
- It's a good idea to bring a bowstring from home when you're camping because bowstrings are difficult to make starting from scratch.
- The bows and arrows described here are intended for temporary use and will not last long. The longer you use your bow, the more likely it is that it will break. Change the bow every 3-5 months to avoid this.
- If shooting with another person, always wait for the person to finish their arrow before you take the arrow at the target.
- Bows and arrows are deadly weapons. Be careful when using it, and never shoot anything you don't want to kill.
- Use extreme care when working with sharp tools.
- It is not easy to use bow and arrow effectively. If you're in a situation that requires hunting for survival, it may be best to create traps or other weapons that are easier to use.
- Keep bows and arrows out of reach of children.
