Bow Making Course

Description

Europe had a long history of making primitive bows.  The earliest remains of bows in western Europe date back over 6000 years. Our ancestors faced the same challenges of working wood to achieve a shooting bow using only hand tools. They were able to fashion excellent hunting bows using flint knives and scrapers. To aid our students we use modern hand tools but the basic skills remain the same. in 3 days you will make a European Self Bow out of an Ash log.

DURING THE WEEKEND WE WILL:

*Bow Design and the history of bow making through the ages.

*learn how to choose and prepare wood

*use simple hand tools to produce a primitive bow from a roughly split stave

*learn to achieve a good tiller

*make Flemish twist laid in string from natural hemp

*make at least one feather fletched self knocked arrow

*learn how to finish the bow to make sure is has a the longest possible life

*learn a little about keeping edged tools fettled

*look at some self and laminated bow designs and materials

Our bow maker will guide you through the rough shaping with an axe;

carving with draw knives, spoke shaves and planes; and finishing with

rasps and scrapers. He will help you to recognise where to remove wood

and advise on how to handle any character in the wood.

The aim is that you will leave with a bow that is strung and shooting.

You will need to do some finishing after you have taken the bow away.

Duration of course 9:30am Friday until Sunday afternoon.

Max Number of Students 4

Cost £295.00 per person.

The price in includes all materials and use of tools to create your own bow and arrow to keep.

Previous students may wish to produce a bow using laminates.  This can be arranged with prior agreement.

COURSE LEADERS WAYNE JONES & DAVID SINFIELD.

David and Wayne have been making bows and arrows for the past 15 years and between them have crafted hundreds of Bows using traditional and more modern techniques to create beautiful and effective bows.  During our time experimenting with bow making using a huge variety of woods we have experienced success and had the occasional failure.  Each experience has taught us something new giving us a depth of knowledge to ensure our clients have  the best possible experience making their own bow.

Course Dates:

2024

5th – 7th July Location Amberley West Sussex

16th – 18th August Location Amberley West Sussex

27th -29th September Location Amberley West Sussex

18th – 20th October Location Amberley West Sussex

8th -10th November Location Amberley West Sussex

2025

28th February – 2nd March Location Amberley West Sussex

11th – 13th April Location Amberley West Sussex

2nd – 4th May Location Amberley West Sussex

20th – 22th June Location Amberley West Sussex

18th – 20th July Location Amberley West Sussex

8th – 10th August Location Amberley West Sussex

26th – 28th September Location Amberley West Sussex

17th – 19th October Location Amberley West Sussex

7th – 9th November Location Amberley West Sussex

Kit List.