I was reading the latest "wilderness Way" magazine and they had an article on the Otzi bow. You know, the frozen caveman found in the Italian alps in 1992. No, not the Geico caveman either. Anyhow, the article was describing Otzi's bow and called it an "inside out" style bow. Basically the log was split down the middle and the flat split was the back of the bow. Interesting article if you want to check it out, but since I hadn't heard of this "inside out" approach before I was wondering if there was any of you super Gurus have made or heard of this type bow before. Coule be real easy to try, so I just might.
Semper Fi,
Mike
Mike,
I have been in Bozen some years ago and had a look at Ötzi and his belongings. It was only a "sidestep" on an university excursion. Me being only the Assistent and my Professor being the Chef! I was not able to get (I begged!) more then an hour for all of us to visit the museum. Unfortunately they opend half an hour late that morning which left just the second half for us ...
I am not sure if it was the original stave which was presented there! It looked somehow to "new" or bearly untouched by the ages to me. It was an unfinished stave. WAY to strong and to long for Ötzi himself. This poor little fellow was laying in a fridge and you were allowed to have a look through a small window. I recall him very skinny (obviously :-). I mean slim and a very short person too, not over 160cm to 165cm tall.
That yew stave would have been at least 80# when finished and maybe 76". No proper working combo for Ötzi I suppose.
As far as the "inside out" style goes, yes thats know from the neolithic times. Look into the TBB for example, and you can read some about it.
I was not able to determine the grain back then. Because along with my short visit the light conditions in the exhibition rooms were pretty poor.
I can't find my field notes from that excursion! I've been looking right now, but nowhere ...! Dang!