Making Indian Bows and Arrows, The Old Way (Paperback)

~ Douglas Spotted Eagle (Author) "Just the word seems to invoke awe in the minds and hearts of men..." (more)
Key Phrases: Bell Back, Plains Indians, Native American

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

This exciting Eagle's View edition includes all you need to know to make powerful and attractive Native American bows with an easy-to-follow text together with numerous illustrations and photos. The reader is shown how to use both primitive and modern techniques of bow and arrow making.

The book explores in detail acquiring tools and woods; designing the bow to fit your purposes; how to cut the wood and shape it to your design; how to bring the bow to a perfect arc; methods for recurving and/or reflexing the bow for added speed; backing the bow with wood, rawhide, intestine or sinew; dozens of ideas and photos for finishing the bow; photos and instructions for applying a snakeskin back; making quivers and cases with hides, beads and more; arrowsmithing from natural or modern materials; making bow strings with techniques that are understandable to even the beginning bowyer; and shooting the way that Native Americans did years ago.

Written for the beginning craftsman with over 200 illustrations, photos, charts and diagrams, this book will be invaluable to anyone interested in traditional weapons of the American Indian, their material culture and/or early Americana.

119 illustrations; 116 photographs; 5 charts.

Product Details

• Paperback: 98 pages
• Publisher: Eagles View Publishing; Eagle's View Publishing Ed edition (June 1, 1978)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0943604214
• ISBN-13: 978-0943604213
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #88,460 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Thank you for the criticism, January 26, 2003

By	DSE "DSE" (Stockton, Utah, United States) - See all my reviews

I'm the author of the book, and appreciate the criticisms and praises. I *would* like to let folks know that I wrote this book when I was 19 years young, and had a lot to learn. I wrote it in response to a very bad, and misinformative book that was considered the 'bible' of indigenous archery books at the time. Now, there are many books available on this wonderful subject.
Jim Hamm's book, video, and classes are invaluable. So is TM Hamilton's book, and DC Waldorf as well.
Don't miss my "Voices of Native America" music book as well.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars arrows are included !, October 3, 2002

By	MR ROMAIN BERARD (China) - See all my reviews

The other title of the same author "making arrows the old way" has its text already fully printed within "making indian bows and arrows the old way". Amazon gave me a discount so I could get both titles at once, and I end up having twice the same text and pictures on arrows... Do not do like me, buy only this title, not the arrow one. Nice book by the way...

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A bit judging and little detail on important subjects., April 25, 2000

By	Torjus Gaaren (Fyresdal, Norway) - See all my reviews

This book is overall pretty good, but does not offer much for the slightly experienced bowyer. He is very narrow in his writings and do not discuss options very broadly, but makes a rapid and narrow conclusion. I also missed a little bit on the thing I bought the book for, which was how to make the weapons the old way, with primitive tools. He mentions it briefly, but is much more detailed on the use of metals instead. For beginners it is ok, but there are many similar books that provide better and more detailed information on making bows and arrows.