Definition and characteristics

Self bow

A self bow is a bow made from a single piece of wood. Extra material such as horn nocks on the ends, or built-up handles, would normally be accepted as part of a self bow. Self bows may be of any side-view profile; moderate recurving can often be achieved with heat and force, and it normally increases arrow speed. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 400 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (600 × 900 pixel, file size: 151 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 400 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (600 × 900 pixel, file size: 151 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... This image depicts a typical bow, as made by the Huns, lying against a tree. ... 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. ...

History

In many parts of the world including much of Africa, the Americas, northern Europe, and Southern Asia, the great majority of traditional bows are self bows.

See also

• Bow (weapon)
• Crossbow
• English longbow
• Longbow
• Flatbow
• Archery
• Horse archer

This image depicts a typical bow, as made by the Huns, lying against a tree. ... 15th century man wearing coat of mail, shield, and armed with a crossbow/arbalest and resting on 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

• Cable-backed bow
• Compound bow
• Laminated bow
• Composite bow

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. ... // A composite bow is a bow made from disparate materials laminated together, usually applied under tension. ...

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