Search found 22 matches

by Nicholas George
Sun Mar 10, 2024 4:45 pm
Forum: Traditional Crafts
Topic: What is the suitability of Australian species for self-bows?
Replies: 1
Views: 142

What is the suitability of Australian species for self-bows?

Hi all, Here is a recent research paper that explores the suitability of different Australian species for self-bows: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12231-024-09598-x I was anxious about posting it here because I know people have strong feelings about this topic, and the paper uses inform...
by Nicholas George
Fri Nov 03, 2023 10:28 pm
Forum: Traditional Crafts
Topic: Indigenous Australian bowyers?
Replies: 4
Views: 4556

Re: Indigenous Australian bowyers?

Can you point to any published sources? As I say above, I have done an extensive literature search and haven't found anything reliable that says bows were made on the Australian continent prior to the arrival of European.
by Nicholas George
Wed Oct 25, 2023 10:59 pm
Forum: Traditional Crafts
Topic: Indigenous Australian bowyers?
Replies: 4
Views: 4556

Re: Indigenous Australian bowyers?

That's fascinating. I have conducted an extensive literature search and have not found any references to the use of locally made bow-and-arrows in Australia prior to European contact. There are references to bows being imported in from communities in the Torres Strait but that is it. Are you aware o...
by Nicholas George
Wed Oct 18, 2023 9:04 pm
Forum: Traditional Crafts
Topic: Indigenous Australian bowyers?
Replies: 4
Views: 4556

Indigenous Australian bowyers?

Is anyone aware of any Indigenous Australian bowyers? I am curious to know if there are any people out there who use their traditional knowledge of Australian woods to make self-bows from local species.
by Nicholas George
Wed May 24, 2023 9:39 pm
Forum: Traditional Crafts
Topic: Australian bow woods.
Replies: 9
Views: 8506

Re: Australian bow woods.

Hi Daryl,

Thanks for the response. Sorry for the slow reply! I had a good look at those resources you link to. Do you have comments on the species and other information I summarize in my post? I'm keen to hear your thoughts?

Cheers

Nic
by Nicholas George
Sun Apr 30, 2023 9:53 pm
Forum: Traditional Crafts
Topic: Australian bow woods.
Replies: 9
Views: 8506

Re: Australian bow woods.

Hi Steve, Thanks for clarifying the identity of the species. Most people only refer to the common name, so it is sometimes challenging to confirm the species. Particularly given in am from the west coast and unfamiliar with many of the species people refer to. To confirm, the irritating dust you ref...
by Nicholas George
Sun Apr 30, 2023 9:55 am
Forum: Traditional Crafts
Topic: Australian bow woods.
Replies: 9
Views: 8506

Re: Australian bow woods.

Hi Jeff, Thanks for your response! I've used information from Dennis La Varenne myself on-and-off for 15 years or more. Reading through his thoughtful and insightful OzBow posts and knowing he had passed away was sad. Alphitonia excelsa certainly certainly gets mentioned a lot on OzBow. Being in WA,...
by Nicholas George
Thu Apr 27, 2023 9:28 pm
Forum: Traditional Crafts
Topic: Australian bow woods.
Replies: 9
Views: 8506

Australian bow woods.

Hi all, I original posted this in "Traditional Tackle" but just decided it might be better here. I’ve been making bows as a hobby for fifteen years or so. Originally from Western Australia, I spent years working in the U.S. and was involved in the San Francisco Bay Area Bowyers, an amateur...
by Nicholas George
Tue Apr 25, 2023 9:51 pm
Forum: Traditional Tackle
Topic: Australian bow woods.
Replies: 0
Views: 4970

Australian bow woods.

Hi all, I’ve been making bows as a hobby for fifteen years or so. Originally from Western Australia, I spent years working in the U.S. and was involved in the San Francisco Bay Area Bowyers, an amateur bowyers’ group. In this group, I learned bow-making with North American woods like Maclura pomifer...
by Nicholas George
Mon Mar 20, 2023 1:09 pm
Forum: Traditional Crafts
Topic: REMINDER: Surveys about bow making.
Replies: 0
Views: 3710

REMINDER: Surveys about bow making.

Hi all, Just a friendly reminder that I am conducting two surveys for research on bow-making. My sincere thanks to the people who have already participated! The first survey aims to understand how many bowyers are experimenting with Australian woods, what species they have used, and their experience...
by Nicholas George
Fri Feb 03, 2023 10:41 pm
Forum: Traditional Crafts
Topic: Bow-making surveys for research.
Replies: 0
Views: 4258

Bow-making surveys for research.

Hi all, Two surveys are being conducted for research on bow-making. The first aims to understand how many bowyers are experimenting with Australian woods, what species they have used, and their experiences. It is targeted at Australian bowyers but anyone can respond. You can access the survey here: ...
by Nicholas George
Thu Jul 15, 2021 9:26 am
Forum: Traditional Tackle
Topic: The Western Australian Bow Makers Group
Replies: 1
Views: 3218

The Western Australian Bow Makers Group

Hi all, we have recently started the "Western Australian Bow Makers Group". It is intended as an informal network of people from Western Australia who are interested in discussing and sharing information about making archery equipment of all types. Hopefully we can get to the point of havi...
by Nicholas George
Mon Sep 23, 2019 9:10 pm
Forum: Traditional Crafts
Topic: Sources for sinew?
Replies: 9
Views: 6682

Re: Sources for sinew?

Looks like I need to hit-up my local pet stores and butchers! Thanks all. I enjoy a challenge, but I miss the days in the US when I could order elk sinews online!
by Nicholas George
Sun Sep 22, 2019 8:04 pm
Forum: Traditional Crafts
Topic: Sources for sinew?
Replies: 9
Views: 6682

Re: Sources for sinew?

Hi Woodie,

I've seen kangaroo sinew for sale online and was thinking it might be an option, wasn't sure about the quality, though. Did you try backing a bow with it?

Cheers

Nic
by Nicholas George
Sat Sep 21, 2019 9:34 pm
Forum: Traditional Crafts
Topic: Sources for sinew?
Replies: 9
Views: 6682

Re: Sources for sinew?

Hi Tim, I was not expecting that you'd be the one to reply to me! Yes, all settled back in Australia now! Haven't done any bow-making yet, and haven't found in bowyers in my area either (Perth), but trying to get things going. I appreciate the offer of sinew from the US, unfortunately I don't think ...
by Nicholas George
Tue Sep 10, 2019 9:57 pm
Forum: Traditional Crafts
Topic: Sources for sinew?
Replies: 9
Views: 6682

Sources for sinew?

Does anyone here make sinew-backed bows? If so, where do you source the sinew?
by Nicholas George
Thu Dec 20, 2018 6:47 pm
Forum: Bowyers
Topic: Bow-makers Society of Western Australia?
Replies: 0
Views: 25727

Bow-makers Society of Western Australia?

Hi all, I've recently moved back to Western Australia after over a decade in the US. For several years I was an organizer of a Californian bow-makers group which had links to some of the original contributors to the Traditional Bowyers Bible. I now want to start a Western Australian bowyers group be...
by Nicholas George
Wed May 14, 2014 11:01 pm
Forum: Traditional Crafts
Topic: Aussie bow woods???
Replies: 8
Views: 3616

Re: Aussie bow woods???

Admittedly most failures in US woods were due to inexperience in years gone by. However some have been in well-designed bows (well-designed on paper at least) and still failed. I recall a hickory selfbow that a friend made a two years ago. It was long, wide and tillered well, and the damn thing stil...
by Nicholas George
Mon May 12, 2014 1:53 pm
Forum: Traditional Crafts
Topic: Aussie bow woods???
Replies: 8
Views: 3616

Re: Aussie bow woods???

I've made osage, ipe and hickory bows that have failed due to frets so no wood is perfect! You mention how hard it is to get bow-quality staves from Australia timbers. I believe it. Don't underestimate how hard to is to get bow-quality wood from North American species though! Things like osage and y...
by Nicholas George
Mon May 05, 2014 1:40 am
Forum: Traditional Crafts
Topic: Aussie bow woods???
Replies: 8
Views: 3616

Re: Aussie bow woods???

Hi Hamish, Thanks for your response. I have poked around here and Paleoplanet over the years to see what Australian woods folks are using. I've noticed that people talk about Eucalyptus sideroxylon , Eucalyptus maculata and Acacia harpophylla . Based on their properties many Eucalyptus and Acacia sh...
by Nicholas George
Sun Apr 27, 2014 12:48 am
Forum: Traditional Crafts
Topic: Aussie bow woods???
Replies: 8
Views: 3616

Re: Aussie bow woods???

Of course, how the wood should be rated is a good question. Sorting by density, MOE, MOR, relative strain or crushing strength gives different rankings. I've found that sorting the North American trees by MOR puts things like osage, ipe and hickory at the top, so I take that as meaning it is a reaso...
by Nicholas George
Sat Apr 26, 2014 11:59 am
Forum: Traditional Crafts
Topic: Aussie bow woods???
Replies: 8
Views: 3616

Aussie bow woods???

Hi all, First time posting here. I'm a Western Australian based in the USA and have been making selfbows for a few years. We have it lucky here, with the plethora of good native bow-woods, but I often wonder about the potential of native Australian woods for selfbows. A while back I compiled a list ...