A composite bow is a bow made from disparate materials laminated together, usually applied under tension. Different materials are used in order to take advantage of the properties of each material. This image depicts a typical bow, as made by the Huns, lying against a tree. ...

This article describes mainly the traditional Asiatic composite bow, which normally uses horn on the belly and sinew on the back of a wooden core. Sinew and horn will store more energy than wood for the same length of bow. The strength can be made similar to that of all-wood bows, with similar draw-length and therefore a similar or greater amount of energy delivered to the arrow from a much shorter bow. Some Mongolian composite bows are known to have been able to produce a draw weight of nearly 160 lb. That can be compared to the approximately 80–180 pounds of the European Longbow which was about twice as long. Almost all composite bows are also recurve bows as the shape curves back away from the archer; this design gives higher draw-weight in the early stages of the archer's draw, so storing somewhat more total energy for a given final draw-weight. It would be possible to make a bow of wood that has the same shape, length and draw-weight as a traditional composite bow, but it could not store the energy and would break at full draw. Modern recurve bow // A recurve bow is a form of bow defined by the side-view profile; in contrast to the simple longbow, a recurve bow has tips that curve away from the archer when the bow is aimed. ...

The main advantage of composite bows over self bows (made from a single piece of wood) is their combination of smaller size with high power. They are therefore much more suitable for use from horseback, and presumably from a chariot. They also have disadvantages. Their construction requires much more time and a greater variety of materials than self bows, and the animal glue traditionally used can lose strength in humid conditions and be ruined by submersion. Self bow A self bow is a bow made from a single piece of wood. ...

Materials

Water buffalo horn is very suitable, as is horn of several antelopes such as gemsbok, oryx, ibex, and that of Hungarian grey cattle. Goat and sheep horn can also be used. Most forms of cow horn are not suitable, as they soon break up in use. For the controversy at the University of Pennsylvania, see Water buffalo incident. ... Binomial name Oryx gazella (Linnaeus, 1758) The gemsbok or gemsbuck (Oryx gazella) is a large African oryx antelope. ... Species Oryx beisa Oryx dammah Oryx gazella Oryx leucoryx An Oryx is one of three or four large antelope species of the genus Oryx, typically having long straight nearly upright horns. ... Species Capra ibex Capra nubiana Capra pyrenaica Capra sibirica Capra walie An ibex, also called steinbock, is a type of wild mountain goat with large recurved horns that are transversely ridged in front. ...

The wooden core is not normally under severe mechanical stress, and a wide variety of woods should be suitable.

The sinew is normally obtained from the lower legs and back of wild deer or domestic ungulates. A tendon or sinew is a tough band of fibrous connective tissue, attached on one end to a muscle and on the other to a bone. ...

Hide glue or gelatin made from fish gas bladders is used to attach layers of sinew to the back of the bow. Traditionally it is also used to attach the horn belly to the wooden core. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The gas bladder of a Rudd The gas bladder (also fish maw, less accurately swim bladder or air bladder) is an internal organ that contributes to the ability of a fish to control its buoyancy, and thus to stay at the current water depth, ascend, or descend without having to...

Other less-satisfactory materials than horn have been used for the belly of the bow (the part facing the archer when shooting), including bone, antler, or compression resistant woods such as osage orange, hornbeam, or yew. Materials that are strong under tension, such as silk, or tough wood like hickory, have been used on the back of the bow (the part facing away from the archer when shooting). Binomial name Maclura pomifera (Raf. ... Species Carpinus betulus - European Hornbeam Carpinus caroliniana - American Hornbeam Carpinus cordata - Sawa Hornbeam Carpinus fargesii - Farges Hornbeam Carpinus laxiflora - Aka-shide Hornbeam Carpinus japonica - Japanese Hornbeam Carpinus orientalis - Oriental Hornbeam Carpinus tschonoskii - Chonowskis Hornbeam Carpinus turczaninowii - Turkzaninovs Hornbeam The hornbeams (Carpinus) are a genus of relatively small hardwood... Species Taxus baccata - European Yew Taxus brevifolia - Pacific (or Western) Yew Taxus canadensis - Canadian Yew Taxus chinensis - Chinese Yew Taxus cuspidata - Japanese Yew Taxus floridana - Florida Yew Taxus globosa - Mexican Yew Taxus sumatrana - Sumatran Yew Taxus wallichiana - Himalayan Yew Taxus is a genus of yews, small coniferous trees or shrubs... Silk dresses Silk is a natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. ... Species See text Comparison of Carya nuts Ripe hickory nuts ready to fall, Andrews, SC Hickory is a tree of the genus Carya, including 17-19 species of deciduous trees with pinnately compound leaves and large nuts. ...

History

Origins, working tips

Composite bows may have been invented first by the nomads of the Asiatic steppe, perhaps ancestors of the Xiongnu, who may have based it on earlier Northern Asian laminated bows. Composite bows were first introduced in Mesopotamian warfare around 2350 BC and were adopted by the Chinese Shang dynasty about 800 years later. Their first appearance coincides with the adoption of the horse to draw chariots or as a riding animal. The Scythian bow ^[1], with working tips, was the dominant form for millennia in the area between China and Europe. Composite bows were widely used by the cavalry archers of the Parthians, Turks, Mongols and other Asiatic nomads, for whom horseback archery was an essential part of their normal way of life. However, composite bows were soon adopted by civilizations, such as the Chinese, Assyrian, Indian, and Egyptian, who came into contact with nomads. Horse archers such as the Scythians, Mongols, Seljuk Turks and Parthians often used skirmishing tactics where they would approach, shoot, and retreat. ^[2] The term Parthian shot refers to the widespread horse-archer tactic of shooting backwards over the rear of their horses as they retreated. Kazakh nomads in the steppes of the Russian Empire, ca. ... A Xiongnu belt buckle. ... // Laminated bow is a description applied to a method of construction of bows in which different materials are laminated together to form the bow stave itself. ... Remnants of advanced, stratified societies dating back to the Shang period have been found in the Yellow River Valley. ... A horse archer (or horsed archer, mounted archer) is a cavalryman armed with a bow. ... The Scythians (also Scyths, from Greek ), a nation of horse-riding nomadic pastoralists who spoke an Iranian language[1], dominated the Pontic steppe throughout Classical Antiquity. ... The name Mongols (Mongolian: Mongol) specifies one or several ethnic groups. ... The Seljuk coat of arms was a double headed eagle The Seljuk Turks (also Seldjuk, Seldjuq, Seljuq; in modern Turkish Selçuklular; in Persian سلجوقيان Saljūqiyān; in Arabic سلجوق Saljūq, or السلاجقة al-Salājiqa) were a major branch of the Oghuz Turks and a dynasty that ruled parts of... Parthia[1] (Middle Persian: اشکانیان Ashkâniân) was a civilization situated in the northeast of modern Iran, but at its height covering all of Iran proper, as well as regions of the modern countries of Armenia, Iraq, Georgia, eastern Turkey, eastern Syria, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Pakistan, Kuwait, the Persian Gulf... The Parthian shot (or Parthian shaft) was a tactic employed by ancient Persian horse archers. ...

Iranian people who migrated from Central Asia and Southern Europe and settled modern Iran, brought horse archery and improved composite bows to the Middle East. Aryan nomads such as Scythians, Sakas, and Sarmatians were skilled archers. Parthians, originally a Scythian tribe, were famed horse archers. Parthians inflicted several devastating defeats on Romans, the first being the Battle of Carrhae. Iranian peoples are peoples who speak an Iranian language and/or belong to the Iranian stock. ... Aryan (/eərjən/ or /ɑːrjən/, Sanskrit: ) is a Sanskrit and Avestan word meaning noble/spiritual one. ... The Scythians (also Scyths, from Greek ), a nation of horse-riding nomadic pastoralists who spoke an Iranian language[1], dominated the Pontic steppe throughout Classical Antiquity. ... Saka is also the name of a town in Hiroshima, Japan; for information on this town, see Saka, Hiroshima. ... Sarmatia Europea in Scythia map 1697 AD Sarmatia Europæa separated from Sarmatia Asiatica by the Tanais (the River Don), based on Greek literary sources, in a map printed in London, ca 1770 Great steppe in early spring. ... Reproduction of a Parthian warrior as depicted on Trajans Column The Parthian Empire was the dominating force on the Iranian plateau beginning in the late 3rd century BCE, and intermittently controlled Mesopotamia between ca 190 BCE and 224 CE. Origins Bust of Parthian soldier, Esgh-abad Museum, Turkmenia. ... Scythia was an area in Eurasia inhabited in ancient times by an Indo-Aryans known as the Scythians. ... Combatants Roman Republic Parthia Commanders Marcus Licinius Crassus †, Publius Crassus † Surena Strength 35,000 Roman legionnaires 4,000 cavalry 4,000 light infantry 9,000 cavalry archers 1,000 Cataphract Casualties 20,000 dead 10,000 captured 4,000 wounded Minimal The Battle of Carrhae was a decisive battle fought...

Siyahs, stiff tips

At some time before the end of the Roman Republic, it became usual to stiffen the ends of composite bows using laths of bone or antler. The resulting bows with their stiff ends or "siyahs", became standard from China to the Middle East, and under the Roman Empire were made even in the cold and damp of Britannia. They were the normal weapon of Roman archers, both infantry and cavalry units, although Vegetius recommends training recruits "arcubus ligneis", with wooden bows, which may have been made in the northern European longbow tradition.^[3] It has been suggested that Roman composite bows may have been asymmetric, with lower limbs shorter than the upper. ^[4] This combines the power of a longer bow with the convenience of a shorter one. Similar stiffeners for bows with rigid siyahs are found associated with nomads of the time, such as the Alans and Huns, whose ancestors may well have invented them. The Huns and their successors greatly impressed their neighbours with their archery. Germanic tribes transmitted their respect orally for a millennium; in the Scandinavian Hervarar saga, the Geatish king Gizur taunts the Huns and says: Britannia on a 2005 £2 coin. ... Vegetius (Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus) was a celebrated military writer of the 4th century. ... Lemonwood, purpleheart and hickory longbow, 45 lbf draw force. ... Eurasian nomads are a large group of peoples of the steppes of Central Asia, Mongolia and Eastern Europe (Pontic steppe). ... The Alans, Alani, Alauni or Halani were an Iranian nomadic group among the Sarmatian people, warlike nomadic pastoralists of varied backgrounds, who spoke an Iranian language and to a large extent shared a common culture. ... The Huns were an early confederation of Central Asian equestrian nomads or semi-nomads. ... Hervarar saga ok Heidhreks is a fornaldarsaga from the 13th century using material from an older saga. ...

Eigi gera Húnar oss felmtraða né hornbogar yðrir. We fear neither the Huns nor their hornbows.

The Romans were so impressed that, as described in the Strategikon, Procopius's histories, and other works, they changed the entire emphasis of their army, from heavy infantry to cavalry, many of them armed with bows. After the fall of the Western empire, Eastern Roman armies maintained their tradition of horse archery for centuries. They finally fell to the Turks before the decline of military archery in favour of guns. Turkish armies included archers until about 1591, and flight archery remained a popular sport in Istanbul until the early 1800s.^[5] Strategikon (6th century) is a manual of war by Byzantine emperor Maurice I; it is moreover a practical manual, a rather modest elementary handbook, in the words of its introduction, for those devoting themselves to generalship. ... Procopius of Caesarea (in Greek Προκόπιος, c. ... Combatants Byzantine Empire Ottoman Empire Commanders Constantine XI† Loukas Notaras Giovanni Giustiniani†[1] Mehmed II Strength 7,000[2] 80,000[1]-200,000[1][3] Casualties 4,000 dead[4] 10,000 civilian dead[5][6] - The Fall of Constantinople refers to the capture of the Byzantine capital by... Istanbul (Turkish: , Greek: , historically Byzantium and later Constantinople; see other names) is Turkeys most populous city, and its cultural and financial center. ...

Integral wooden siyahs

Later developments in the composite bow included siyahs made as a continuation of the wooden core of the bow, rather than strengthened by external reinforcement.

Most modern documentation of the use and construction of composite bows comes from China and the Middle East; until reforms early in the 20th century, skill with the composite bow was an essential part of the qualification for officers in the Chinese Imperial army.

Modern "composite" bows

Modern replicas of traditional composite bows are commercially available; they are usually made with fiberglass on both belly and back, easier to mass-produce and easier to take care of than traditional composite bows.

Types of composite bow

American composite bows

In northern America at first contact, some bows already had sinew backing and a few had horn bellies. After the re-introduction of horses, newly-mounted groups rapidly developed shorter bows which were often given sinew backing. ^[6] The full three-layer composite bow with horn, wood, and sinew does not seem to be recorded in the Americas.

Chinese bow

Zhangxian shooting a pebble bow.

The Chinese archery tradition goes back millennia. In general, Chinese composite bows derive from the same nomad origins as other Eurasian composite bows, but there is also a long tradition of local developments. ^[7] Image File history File links Size of this preview: 283 × 599 pixel Image in higher resolution (800 × 1693 pixel, file size: 220 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Bow (weapon) Tiangou... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 283 × 599 pixel Image in higher resolution (800 × 1693 pixel, file size: 220 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Bow (weapon) Tiangou...

Hungarian bow

Main article: Hungarian bow

The Hungarian bow is a fairly long, symmetrical, composite reflex bow. The Hungarian bow is a symmetric, composite and recurve bow. ... The Hungarian bow is a symmetric, composite and recurve bow. ... A reflex bow is a bow (often made entirely of wood) that has curved or curled arms. ...

Korean bow

Main article: Korean bow

A traditional modern Korean bow, or gakgung, is a small but very efficient horn-bamboo-sinew composite bow. Korean archers normally practice at a range of approximately 144 metres. The Korean Bow, based on the similar mongol bow, was used effectively in the Imjin war against the Japanese Invaders. ... The Korean Bow, based on the similar mongol bow, was used effectively in the Imjin war against the Japanese Invaders. ...

Mongol bow

Main article: Mongol bow

The Mongol bow is the type most often referred to as the typical Asian recurve bow, made as a composite bow, from ibex or (more traditionally) water buffalo horn,sinew, birch wood and bark. The principal technical difference used to distinguish a "Mongol bow" from a "Hungarian bow" is the presence of a string "bridge" or "run"—an attachment of horn or wood, used to hold the string a little further apart from the bow's limbs. This attachment should give a small increase in the speed of the arrow, by increasing the initial string angle and therefore the force of the draw in its early stages. It is an interesting fact that during the time of Genghis Khan's conquests, the Mongol bows did not have string bridges yet. These were a later adoption from the Manchurian ("Qing dynasty") bows of northwestern China.^[8] The Mongol bow is a special recurve bow. ... The Mongol bow is a special recurve bow. ... World map showing the location of Asia. ... Modern recurve bow // A recurve bow is a form of bow defined by the side-view profile; in contrast to the simple longbow, a recurve bow has tips that curve away from the archer when the bow is aimed. ... Species Capra ibex Capra nubiana Capra pyrenaica Capra sibirica Capra walie An ibex, also called steinbock, is a type of wild mountain goat with large recurved horns that are transversely ridged in front. ... For the controversy at the University of Pennsylvania, see Water buffalo incident. ... A tendon or sinew is a tough band of fibrous connective tissue, attached on one end to a muscle and on the other to a bone. ... Species Many species; see text and classification Birch is the name of any tree of the genus Betula, in the family Betulaceae, closely related to the beech/oak family, Fagaceae. ... For other meanings of bark, see Bark (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Genghis Khan (disambiguation). ...

The Mongolian tradition of archery is attested by an inscription on a stone stele that was found near Nerchinsk in Siberia: "While Genghis Khan was holding an assembly of Mongolian dignitaries, after his conquest of Sartaul (East Turkestan), Esungge (the son of Genghis Khan's brother) shot a target at 335 alds (536 m)." Ancient Egyptian funerary stele Suenos Stone in Forres Scotland A stele (or stela) is a stone or wooden slab, generally taller than it is wide, erected for funerary or commemorative purposes, most usually decorated with the names and titles of the deceased or living—inscribed, carved in relief (bas... Nerchinsk is located in the Chita Oblast. ... “Siberian” redirects here. ... For other uses, see Genghis Khan (disambiguation). ... East Turkestan (also transliterated: East Turkistan; Uyghur: Sherqiy Türkistan), also known as Uyghuristan, is the part of greater Turkistan in Xinjiang, China and far eastern Central Asia. ...

Another example is given in the historic novel "Khökh Sudar" written by Injinashi, the Mongolian philosopher, historian and writer: he describes the competition amongst all Mongolian civil military men in about 1194 -1195. Dzulgetii, a 16-year-old man from Dzurgen Aimag (province), and 4 other archers each hit the target three times from a distance of 500 bows (1 bow = at least 1 meter).

Until today, archery with traditional composite bows is part of the annual festival of the three virile sports (Wrestling, Horseriding, Archery), called "Naadam".

Perso-Parthian bow

Main article: Perso-Parthian bow

The Perso-Parthian bow is a symmetric recurve under high tension when strung. The "arms" of the bow are supposed to reflex far enough to cross each other when the bow is unstrung. The finished bow is covered by bark, fine leather, or in some cases shark skin, to keep out moisture. Traditionally, ox tendons are considered inferior to wild game sinews since they have a higher fat content, leading to spoilage. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... A reflex bow is a bow (often made entirely of wood) that has curved or curled arms. ...

Perso-Parthian bows were in use as late as 1820s in Persia (ancient Iran). They were then replaced by muskets. Nationalistic independence helped reshape the world during this decade: Greece gains independence from the Ottoman Empire in the Greek War of Independence (1821-1827). ... For other uses of this term see: Persia (disambiguation) The Persian Empire is the name used to refer to a number of historic dynasties that have ruled the country of Persia (Iran). ... A musket is a muzzle-loaded, smooth-bore long gun. ...

See also

• Crossbow
• English longbow
• Longbow
• Flatbow
• Archery
• Horse archer

15th century French soldier wearing a helmet and a hauberk, carrying a crossbow/arbalest and a pavise. ... Self-yew English longbow, 6 ft 6 in long, 105 lbf draw force. ... Lemonwood, purpleheart and hickory longbow, 45 lbf draw force. ... An American Flat bow, similar to the longbow but based on native American bows A flatbow is a bow with non-recurved, flat, relatively wide limbs that are rectangular in cross-section. ... It has been suggested that Primitive Archery be merged into this article or section. ... A horse archer (or horsed archer, mounted archer) is a cavalryman armed with a bow. ...

Bow construction techniques

• Self bow
• Compound bow
• Laminated bow

Self bow A self bow is a bow made from a single piece of wood. ... A Browning Compound Bow A compound bow is a modern bow that uses a levering system of cables and usually cams and pulleys to draw the limbs back. ... // Laminated bow is a description applied to a method of construction of bows in which different materials are laminated together to form the bow stave itself. ...

Bow forms

• Recurve bow
• Decurve bow
• Deflex bow
• Reflex bow

Modern recurve bow // A recurve bow is a form of bow defined by the side-view profile; in contrast to the simple longbow, a recurve bow has tips that curve away from the archer when the bow is aimed. ... A decurve bow is a bow that has arms curved or curled at the ends to turn towards the archer. ... A deflex bow is a bow that has arms curved or curled at the base or throughout their length, to turn towards the archer. ... A reflex bow is a bow (often made entirely of wood) that has curved or curled arms. ...

References

• (1992) The Traditional Bowyers Bible Volume 1. The Lyons Press. ISBN 1-58574-085-3
• (1992) The Traditional Bowyers Bible Volume 2. The Lyons Press. ISBN 1-58574-086-1
• (1994) The Traditional Bowyers Bible Volume 3. The Lyons Press. ISBN 1-58574-087-X

External links

• The Asian Traditional Archery Research network
• Ancient Composite Bows
• Making an Asiatic Composite Bow
• Five composite bows from the tomb of Tutankhamun
• The Composite Bow
• Ju Yuan Hao Chinese Bow and Arrow - the only remaining Chinese bow maker

• Spitfire Horsebows, Eurasian Archery Forum
• Grozer Archery - fiberglass and traditional composite bows
• Kassai fibreglass bows