Hello everybody, I would like to make a bow that would be traditional to my location (Sioux Falls, SD) using local wood. I have read through both American Indian Archery and Bows & Arrows of the Native Americans books for reference for this bow. I have a very straight clean white ash stave from my back yard that I would like to use for a Sioux Indian bow. I am intrigued by the "B" shaped Sioux bows and am aiming for this design. Current dimensions are 49" tip to tip, 3/4" tips with a straight tapper to a 1.25" handle, with plans of applying a sinew backing.
After reading through some of the posts here on this site I have gathered that maybe the double hump "B" shape was the result of working the stave green and trying to add some reflex into the handle. This resulted a reflexed handle but the left the limbs to deflex. Does this design have any performance advantages? What would I most likely find in the hands of a Sioux Indian? On a performance only path I would think a deflex handle, reflex limbs would be the best route.
After reading through some of the posts here on this site I have gathered that maybe the double hump "B" shape was the result of working the stave green and trying to add some reflex into the handle. This resulted a reflexed handle but the left the limbs to deflex. Does this design have any performance advantages? What would I most likely find in the hands of a Sioux Indian? On a performance only path I would think a deflex handle, reflex limbs would be the best route.
