I was wondering if there was any interest in having a centralized location for people to post and explain different bow types they have made, kinda like the newbie vocabulary section.  I personally am especially interested in pics and specs of Native American bow styles (still not sure I understand exactly what makes a paddle bow a paddle bow?), but also primitive bows from other continents.  

This may be redundant, as there is probably a book out there with all of this, but I thought it'd be nice to have completed bows here as well.

Whadyathink?

Sounds like a good idea to me.

Thanks, but i guess we're the only ones lol!

"I let the stave tell me what it wants to be". I always get a kick out of that one. I work quite the opposite. I make the stave into the bow I want it to be. It all starts of course with picking a decent stave. If I waited for the stave to tell me, I wouldnt have a bow done yet! It is fun to say though.

Yeah, i haven't learned to hear the stave yet either    

I understand the idea behind building a bow around the stave's inherent/individual strengths and weaknesses, but like you i don't think that dictates a particular style.  Yew is a case in point.  Stiks made a beautiful/powerful yew paddle bow, then there's the good old yew ELB.  Two very different designs from the same wood.

I would like to see a showcase of traditional Cherokee, Choctaw, Sioux, Mayan, Greek, Welsh, etc. bows that have been done by people on this site.  Guess i'm just lazy and it would save me from hunting them down!

And i'll try to listen to my staves a little better   :D

I listen closely to the stave.  It says "I'm firewood" most of the time.

I would like to look at the different styles - I am new and don't know %&^%^ from &^*&^.    :D

"Indian Guy" over on PA does up some beauty authentic bows. You may find those Native American styles you mentioned.

Pearl is right on about Indian Guy, Makes some fantastic native american bows. Thanks for the reference on the paddle bow K-hat.

As far as listening to the stave.... I heard one tell me today it wanted to be a two piece      

It wasn't in english though it said..... POW! with a hint of a crunch sound mingled in. Sure sounded like two piece to me    

I went last saturday and veiwed exactly what you are talking about. There is a museum near me with a collection of bow from around the world. Most are authentic as well. There were bows from different time periods too. Search the internet for the dr. Grayson collection in columbia, mo.

Thanks for the references!  I'll look'em up, maybe plan a vacation to MO in the near future!

Sorry to hear about your bow Stiks, I've had a couple yell at me too not long ago;)

There are two volumes of Native Americans bows, arrows and quivers by Jim Hamm. They are full of pics and dimensions on all the different tribes.

(still not sure I understand exactly what makes a paddle bow a paddle bow?),
A paddle bow is a style of bow,that is widest at midlimb,for a short section and gracefully narrows in both directions,toward the grip and nock.Where the term originated,im not shure,but it is my understanding,that it originated,due to its resemblance of a Kayak "Paddle".