Name of a type of bow

[J. Holden]

So I was watching a hunting program awhile ago now.  The group hunting was down in TX.  The gentlemen who was hosting them shot a bow he had made himself.  The bow looked like a longbow with another longbow, facing the other one and shorter, attached to the front of it.  Clear as mud?  Anyone know what I'm talking about?  Has anyone built one?  Thanks.

-Jeremy  

[Roy from Pa]

I've seen them, but can not remember the name.

[highnoonhunter]

Pnobbscott or something like that.

[R.W.]

It is a Penobscot bow.

Developed by the Natives who frequented the Eastern seaboard of what now is the US of A, and Canada.

You can change the draw weight by tightening the "back" string(s) that run from the smaller front bow to the tips of the main bow stave.

It has been called the "original" compound bow design.

I have built one from a "Rudderbows Archery" U-finish kit.

R.W.

[Pete W]

Does it look somewhat like this Penobscott?

[Pennsyltuckey pete]

If you are interested check out rudderbows.  They sell a kit for the penobscot bow.

pete

[J. Holden]

You guy's always come through for me!  That's it.  Now, another question.  What does this design offer in the way of function?  I read above it's the original compound design and the weight can be adjusted?  Really?  Anyone ever shot one?  And thanks for the heads up on Rudderbows.  I'll give them a look see.

-Jeremy  

[KellyG]

You mean that little one is not there to shoot wabbits  

[hova]

you could theoretically use either bow. the front piece is usually only tillered to move 2-3 inches.

could make that weak 30# bow you made , into a 50# monster obscenity...

i actually like em tho... if my shorty pyramid ends up too light , i might make an even shorter shorty pyramid to go on top of it....lol...

penobscott pyramid shortbow...
-hov

[Spindrift]

penobscot.. thats the native americans from the region of maine i live in.. penobscot bay.. neat-o

[SEMO_HUNTER]

Looks like a contraption that a guy like me could tear up in no time. I'm kinda handy that way.  

[CaptainJ]

I think the main idea of the Penobscot is that the design should give a higher early draw weight that levels out as the longer limbs bend and acquire more leverage providing a more plump F/D curve and storing more energy like a compound bow.
I've read that tillering and tuning them is quite complicated and has to be done very well for the bow to perform better than a good recurve at the same weight.
CJ

[Shaun]

Penobscot war bow is the name I've heard.

I have a mental image of a brave with his underweight worn or mistillered bow in hand, sitting on a log when his son came by with his kid bow. "Hey son, come here and give me that..."

It is possible to change poundage and tiller by adjusting the short strings from the front bow to the long bow tips.

[Dick in Seattle]

I gave my foster son a trip to Rudderbows for a present a few years back and that's the bow he opted to build.  Very interesting.  I shot it some and it seemed to perform fine, though I never tried the draw weight changing capability.   Unfortunately, while he has an interest in archery and history, he's never really gotten into shooting, so after it was built, it's never been out.  He has a nice collection of beautifully refinished vintage bows, but just doesn't have the time to shoot.  I had hoped when he retired, but not so...

[Grey Taylor]

There are some references that the Penobscot bow design was developed in 1900 by Frank Loring, Chief Big Thunder. Apparently he was a Penobscot NA known in the tribe as an unreserved liar and teller of tall tales.

Guy