People have asked us for a traditional bow that they can actually shootwith, and we tell them, it will be too expensive, especially if itsmade with traditional materials and methods. This is our new answer tothat question: An inexpensive, lightweight fiberglass target bow with a20 lb. draw weight decorated with genuine leather, feathers andtraditional hand strung beading. The natural leather is dyed Doeskinand has been artfully wrapped. This bow comes with two bone tipped 25"hunting arrows and two target arrows. Best to save the hand made arrowsand use the target arrows if you want to shoot with this bow. The bowmeasures 44" from tip to tip. Due to the hand made nature of ourartifacts, some variations may exist from piece to piece.

Indian warriors gained status not only from theirsuccess from battle, but also their skills in crafting weapons. Thewood for Bow and Arrows is cut during the winter when the sap is downand goes through a curing process where it is hung up to dry. TypicallyBow woods used are Ash, Black Locust, Black Cherry, Osage Orange, WhiteOak and Hickory. Arrows were made mostly from dogwood, yaupon holly,witch hazel and willow because they could be smoothed and straighteneasily. Arrow points made of noviculite and obsidian are chipped with amoose and deer antler. Youths learned that turkey or buzzard feathersmade better arrow fletching than hawk or eagle feathers because thelatter were more easily ruined by blood. Weapons gain spiritual potencyfrom the divine power of the natural materials from which they aremade, such as attaching a bears jaw bone to a metal blade to tap intothe bear's super natural might.

Bows became smaller, as short as two and a half feet insome cases, as the need for weapons that could easily be carried onhorseback increased. A few western tribes were able to craft good bowsfrom the horns of elk and bighorn sheep. Smaller bow packed less power,so warriors compensated by using them at closer range and firingfaster. Cheyenne braves were said to be able to unleash six arrows insuch rapid order that all would be in flight before the first arrowstruck its target, though claims of such skills were often exaggerated.The Western Apache used potent toxins made from deer's spleen andvarious roots and plants to increase the killing power of theirlightweight bows.

Product SKU: Item: BB-0001-246132-NC