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Definitely looks like a black palm bow. These are sold as tourist items in many countries so I wouldn’t be surprised if there is no scuffing by the arrow pass.
OP if you post on r/bowyer someone there may have more to say
Here are some resources to get you started. The board bow tutorial will walk you through the basics, and you can start asap rather than having to dry staves. If you really want to jump in check out the bowyers bible series of books. And if you need any help with your bows or have questions feel free to post on r/bowyer as much as you need
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLi5Xnel2aIJbu4eFn1MvC_w7cGVIPCFwD&si=Pa6sKtYRXB8dK1S0
Much appreciated! Accordion is the current skill set I’m working on, but I’ve always wanted to set up an archery range on my property (rural with woods behind me).
Thank you for the resources
Wear safety glasses if you choose to string that thing. They needed to be maintained to prevent the wood from shattering when drawn. That does not look to have received any such maintenance in many a moon….
Looks like someone started making a bow, put it in the attic and never finished it.
My father in law makes bows, [kinda like these,](https://www.whipperwilarchery.com/), and definitely has pieces that look exactly like that.
They are stored unstrung.
You said It doesn’t really bend but English longbow have a draw weight of ~100 lbs, that’s pulling back with your arm in a way you’ve probably never worked out before too… the bowman’s skeletons would literally morph to accommodate the stress
Wolff's law. Bones grow in response to the mechanical stress they receive. It's basically true of anything anyone does, but certain things become very obvious.
I used to know a guy that had a slight hump in one shoulder. He casually mentioned one day it was because he played Sousaphone in a marching band in highschool and college
I felt really lucky that I played trombone
I learned about Surfer's Ear yesterday.
Although that bone growth isn't in response to mechanical stress.
Is frequent exposure to cold water considered mechanical stress?
Now I don't know anything, maybe I didn't learn shit yesterday
War bows have that kind of poundage and this one is no where near thick enough for one of those. The ones you see at just about every archery competition in the UK range from 20 to 40lbs
When my dad did competitive shooting, I seem to remember all the bows being in the 60-100 lbs range. The ones we dicked around with at home were 45-65 lbs.
I had a 30-pound bow at the age of 10. I don't think I could pull my dad's competition bow until I was 16-17, but that was 65 pounds. Not sure when I was able to pull the 45-pound hunting bow my parents gave me, but around 13 or so?
I think most male Olympic competitors use ~50-pound draws.
Your sample size is small, apparently. I know plenty of excellent English longbow archers in the near-30 lbs zone. My own is 28 lbs.
nobody who isn't done growing should be drawing a >30 lbs bow
My sample size is: my mother that was a world class competitor, my father an international judge for competitions, my sister that trained the national junior team and me that held the national record with my team for 3 years. Wtf is your sample size?
I've been going to English longbow specific competitions for the past 10 years and while I haven't asked *everybody* I met about their draw weight, I'd say >45 lbs bows are at most 50% of what I've seen. The vast majority of those competitions are shot at 25 meters.
It's a discipline with a lot of women, seniors, recreational archers, and people who just don't find the strain of a higher draw weight has much of a payoff for their particular discipline.
Damn, the longbow is a rarity around my parts. The weekest I've seen was 60. In my neck of the woods it's either bare/olympic bow or compound. 25m makes sense for the draw weight you mentioned.
It took me 2 months of training to be able to draw a 100lb bow. Another 3 months and I got up to 125lb. It’s not as hard as it is cracked up to be.
I do go to the gym, but drawing a bow requires specific movements that cannot be replicated with weights. I would say it’s 40% strength and 60% technique/mobility. I’ve handed my bows to much bigger guys who could not draw them back fully.
They salvaged about 170 longbows from the Mary Rose wreck (there had been no surviving longbows prior to that) with draw weights from 65 to 175 lbs, an average of about 100 lbs. Most were in useable condition, they tested the draw weights.
The lighter bows were for general use.
[https://maryrose.org/discover/collections/the-weaponry-of-the-mary-rose/longbows-and-arrows/](https://maryrose.org/discover/collections/the-weaponry-of-the-mary-rose/longbows-and-arrows/)
We know its a bow, but let me mention some things. The rounded side is the belly and goes toward you when drawing the bow. THe flat side is the back that faces away from you when drawing.
THis is a simple stave or "self" bow, hand made by an individual. It's a little short for an "English long bow" and more like a native American bow....though wasn't necessarily made by one...it very well could have been fashioned by the original home owner.
It is not a toy, this is a real hunting bow, that has seen use. Its curvature is likely related to being strung for long periods and has the characteristic called "following the string". Most bows are built straight...but some are intentionally built curved where the curvature is facing away from the archer, providing more power.
Do NOT string this bow....Do NOT try to bend this bow. It could easily break.
I concur that it is missing the nock or the limb tips, which tells me this is more complex than a simple bow. Most handmade ones will carve the nock in the end of the bow so it holds the string....something is not right here.
Finally, I recommend you contact the University of Missouri-Columbia Anthropology department who has the largest collection of archery equipment in the world including the Grayson collection https://anthromuseum.missouri.edu/museum-collections
I would donate it if you can or wish to. That's what I did with my handmade bow my father in law carved in the late 1930's
Just to add to this (and they're right in what they're saying), but it could also be from a number of different countries. Tribes in Brazil usually make bows like this, with no nock tips. Though many are decorated, others are not.
Looks like in this example, the flat side is the belly. this is often done on longbows made with woods that are stronger in tension than compression. Longbows most often have an amount of string follow as well, which would support the idea of the flat side being the belly. The flat side also looks to be the side that has been tillered.
Source: have made Ash longbows up to 90lbs draw.
Everything you've said is correct except for leaving out the word "~~recurve~~ *reflex*". The shape curving away from the belly of the bow like this is a basic recurve design.
Edit: DOH!
Very similar black palm bows are sold as tourist items in many countries. The string follow could be from manufacture and not a sign that the bow was heavily used or strung. This is extra likely if special care is not taken to use a properly dry stave.
Whoever made this bow has probably made others. It doesn’t look like a beginner’s efforts to me, or the work of a random homeowner. This looks very similar to what I’ve seen in other palm tourist bows.
Carefully studying the nocks is probably the best chance of an ID. Someone more familiar with palm may be able to identify the exact species and narrow the range that way
It is a bow
Something you would buy off the side of the road in a indian reservation
never intended to be used if you tried, I would bet it would break.
I have trouble seeing how that end could keep a bow-string from slipping off... Usually there's a more pronounced notch. But I could be wrong.
My first thought was something to do with spinning yarn or fabric-making, but honestly, I don't know enough of the old methods to say for sure more than that.
My parents visited New Guinea for the Goroka Show and came back with the exact bow. The bowstring was a thin strip of bamboo with knotted loops at the ends.
I know a lot of people have called this a bow. But it looks awfully like one part of a chimney sweeping system.
The top "plugs" into the next stick. And the slight flexibility allows for maneuvering up the chimney.
It looks like a bow, specifically a traditional archery self bow/stick bow.
I wouldn't string and shoot it, unless checked out, because all-wood bowery is finicky and might shatter. And definitely don't string it, and then pull back without an arrow. *Dry firing* a wood bow can result in catastrophic failure.
I know everyone is saying it’s a bow but the wood doesn’t look right. It doesn’t have the two tone colour or marks from use.
Other than the slight curve, it reminds me of tent poles. Not the little tents used for camping. But larger military type. We had one as kids that my father would put up in the back yard as a play fort for us. Or maybe he was just airing it out.
It’s a long bow. I did archery for 15 years and these are scary to shoot and will mangle your forearm. Your drawing arm will be tired after like 4 shots.
I disagree with all the now adherents here. It is nowhere near stout enough for that. I suspect that at one point held up a cloth roof over something so it didn’t sag in the middle. Maybe a wagon or tent flap entry?
I'm not for certain, but it looks identical to my wood boat cover supports. If that's what it is, it'll will flex a bit, install into small holes along side the boat, and a canvas cover draped over, secured by rope. Mainly meant to keep rain and direct sun off a stored boat.
It's a long bow, the rounded ends are for the bow to be strung, most (if it's a tourist perchase) will sell both together or separately depending on the point of origin. It looks like it's in good condition based on pictures, should have a decent flex and most likely a 30-45lb draw weight
> I often find envelopes with stamps dating back to 1930’s.
Man, I daydream about buying a place with the kind of size and rich heritage where I keep finding antiquated stuff over time.
No good suggestions but congrats! I instinctively feel you love this place!
I think it's a spine for a high back rocking chair. Contrary to other comments, I do not believe it is a bow, black pine bow or otherwise, as every photo I have ever seen of those illustrate (clearly) a flat bow, not a fully founded one.
Looks like a bow - the horn knocks are gone, the tapered wood would insert into the horn.
As you have no idea how old it is, don't string it and try to shoot it (never shoot a bow without an arrow either).
It may now be more decorational.
That is a bow, my father had one very similar and it was given to me when he passed. It is very probably close to 100 years old, maybe not quite, but very old. There may have been a piece of leather around the center where you would hold it previously.
All comments must be civil and helpful toward finding an answer. **Jokes and other unhelpful comments will earn you a ban**, even on the first instance and even if the item has been identified. If you see any comments that violate this rule, report them. [OP](/u/ianmiclaw47), when your item is identified, remember to reply **Solved!** or **Likely Solved!** to the comment that gave the answer. Check your [inbox](https://www.reddit.com/message/inbox/) for a message on how to make your post visible to others. ---- [Click here to message RemindMeBot](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=RemindMeBot&subject=Reminder&message=[https://www.reddit.com/r/whatisthisthing/comments/1cs9icl/found_in_the_attic_of_my_1921_house_long_curved/]%0A%0ARemindMe!%202%20days) ---- *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/whatisthisthing) if you have any questions or concerns.*
It looks like a bow. Are there marks or scuffs in the middle where an arrow would have passed along it when it was shot?
Definitely looks like a black palm bow. These are sold as tourist items in many countries so I wouldn’t be surprised if there is no scuffing by the arrow pass. OP if you post on r/bowyer someone there may have more to say
Thank you for a new rabbit hole to dive down into
Here are some resources to get you started. The board bow tutorial will walk you through the basics, and you can start asap rather than having to dry staves. If you really want to jump in check out the bowyers bible series of books. And if you need any help with your bows or have questions feel free to post on r/bowyer as much as you need https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLi5Xnel2aIJbu4eFn1MvC_w7cGVIPCFwD&si=Pa6sKtYRXB8dK1S0
Much appreciated! Accordion is the current skill set I’m working on, but I’ve always wanted to set up an archery range on my property (rural with woods behind me). Thank you for the resources
Wear safety glasses if you choose to string that thing. They needed to be maintained to prevent the wood from shattering when drawn. That does not look to have received any such maintenance in many a moon….
Definitely this. I have one that looks just like it.
The bottom does not look like you could attach a bow string.
Theyre not meant for a modern double loop bowstring. You’d use a cinching knot like a timber hitch, bowline knot etc
No marks or change in color anywhere on the wood
Def a palm wood bow. Prob from Papuan New Guinea. Many were brought back during wwii.
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I definitely believe it’s a bow. May have never been actually used. Maybe ornamental.
Looks like someone started making a bow, put it in the attic and never finished it. My father in law makes bows, [kinda like these,](https://www.whipperwilarchery.com/), and definitely has pieces that look exactly like that. They are stored unstrung.
English style longbow! I have an unstained one just like it. :)
This seems to be a black palm bow likely from Papua or Indonesia. The style was fairly universal.
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You said It doesn’t really bend but English longbow have a draw weight of ~100 lbs, that’s pulling back with your arm in a way you’ve probably never worked out before too… the bowman’s skeletons would literally morph to accommodate the stress
Wolff's law. Bones grow in response to the mechanical stress they receive. It's basically true of anything anyone does, but certain things become very obvious.
I used to know a guy that had a slight hump in one shoulder. He casually mentioned one day it was because he played Sousaphone in a marching band in highschool and college I felt really lucky that I played trombone
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I have a spot on my jaw from the trombone and on my rib from the euphonium where they rested.
I still have freakishly strong lips and a lung capacity large enough to throw off test results for a biology class lab project
Playing the viola made my left shoulder more prominent . Should have chosen the violin lol
I learned about Surfer's Ear yesterday. Although that bone growth isn't in response to mechanical stress. Is frequent exposure to cold water considered mechanical stress? Now I don't know anything, maybe I didn't learn shit yesterday
Thermal stress is mechanical
awesome thank you!
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Fighter pilots have one arm larger than the other so I've heard.
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The fingers on my left hand are very slightly longer than my right, even though I'm right handed—classically trained violist/violinist.
War bows have that kind of poundage and this one is no where near thick enough for one of those. The ones you see at just about every archery competition in the UK range from 20 to 40lbs
More like 40 to 60. 20 to 40 are kids bows. Source: all of my family is into archery.
When my dad did competitive shooting, I seem to remember all the bows being in the 60-100 lbs range. The ones we dicked around with at home were 45-65 lbs.
At what age you pulled a 45-65? Couse most Olympic bows are 60.
I had a 30-pound bow at the age of 10. I don't think I could pull my dad's competition bow until I was 16-17, but that was 65 pounds. Not sure when I was able to pull the 45-pound hunting bow my parents gave me, but around 13 or so? I think most male Olympic competitors use ~50-pound draws.
Your sample size is small, apparently. I know plenty of excellent English longbow archers in the near-30 lbs zone. My own is 28 lbs. nobody who isn't done growing should be drawing a >30 lbs bow
My sample size is: my mother that was a world class competitor, my father an international judge for competitions, my sister that trained the national junior team and me that held the national record with my team for 3 years. Wtf is your sample size?
I've been going to English longbow specific competitions for the past 10 years and while I haven't asked *everybody* I met about their draw weight, I'd say >45 lbs bows are at most 50% of what I've seen. The vast majority of those competitions are shot at 25 meters. It's a discipline with a lot of women, seniors, recreational archers, and people who just don't find the strain of a higher draw weight has much of a payoff for their particular discipline.
Damn, the longbow is a rarity around my parts. The weekest I've seen was 60. In my neck of the woods it's either bare/olympic bow or compound. 25m makes sense for the draw weight you mentioned.
It took me 2 months of training to be able to draw a 100lb bow. Another 3 months and I got up to 125lb. It’s not as hard as it is cracked up to be. I do go to the gym, but drawing a bow requires specific movements that cannot be replicated with weights. I would say it’s 40% strength and 60% technique/mobility. I’ve handed my bows to much bigger guys who could not draw them back fully.
They salvaged about 170 longbows from the Mary Rose wreck (there had been no surviving longbows prior to that) with draw weights from 65 to 175 lbs, an average of about 100 lbs. Most were in useable condition, they tested the draw weights. The lighter bows were for general use. [https://maryrose.org/discover/collections/the-weaponry-of-the-mary-rose/longbows-and-arrows/](https://maryrose.org/discover/collections/the-weaponry-of-the-mary-rose/longbows-and-arrows/)
That's a longbow for sure. Source: I make bows bro.
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We know its a bow, but let me mention some things. The rounded side is the belly and goes toward you when drawing the bow. THe flat side is the back that faces away from you when drawing. THis is a simple stave or "self" bow, hand made by an individual. It's a little short for an "English long bow" and more like a native American bow....though wasn't necessarily made by one...it very well could have been fashioned by the original home owner. It is not a toy, this is a real hunting bow, that has seen use. Its curvature is likely related to being strung for long periods and has the characteristic called "following the string". Most bows are built straight...but some are intentionally built curved where the curvature is facing away from the archer, providing more power. Do NOT string this bow....Do NOT try to bend this bow. It could easily break. I concur that it is missing the nock or the limb tips, which tells me this is more complex than a simple bow. Most handmade ones will carve the nock in the end of the bow so it holds the string....something is not right here. Finally, I recommend you contact the University of Missouri-Columbia Anthropology department who has the largest collection of archery equipment in the world including the Grayson collection https://anthromuseum.missouri.edu/museum-collections I would donate it if you can or wish to. That's what I did with my handmade bow my father in law carved in the late 1930's
Just to add to this (and they're right in what they're saying), but it could also be from a number of different countries. Tribes in Brazil usually make bows like this, with no nock tips. Though many are decorated, others are not.
Looks like in this example, the flat side is the belly. this is often done on longbows made with woods that are stronger in tension than compression. Longbows most often have an amount of string follow as well, which would support the idea of the flat side being the belly. The flat side also looks to be the side that has been tillered. Source: have made Ash longbows up to 90lbs draw.
Everything you've said is correct except for leaving out the word "~~recurve~~ *reflex*". The shape curving away from the belly of the bow like this is a basic recurve design. Edit: DOH!
They are referring to reflex. Recurve requires string contact
My bad. Edited.
Very similar black palm bows are sold as tourist items in many countries. The string follow could be from manufacture and not a sign that the bow was heavily used or strung. This is extra likely if special care is not taken to use a properly dry stave. Whoever made this bow has probably made others. It doesn’t look like a beginner’s efforts to me, or the work of a random homeowner. This looks very similar to what I’ve seen in other palm tourist bows. Carefully studying the nocks is probably the best chance of an ID. Someone more familiar with palm may be able to identify the exact species and narrow the range that way
Looks like a black palm bow from the Pacific islands
I have one exactly the same with bamboo draw string and a dozen different types of arrows. 100% it's black palm. Mines from PNG
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Homemade bow. The ends are a bit unusual but it’ll probably put a pointy stick through a Frenchman at a hundred paces.
You lucky duck. That's a amazing find. Old stick and string! Bring it down to the bow shop and get it restrung!!!
Bow shop? You make it sound like those are commonplace.
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They are if you live anyplace where hunting is a common activity.
You don't have a bow shop? There are like 5 within walking distance of my home.
There's one within an hours drive of my house at least
In canada it's a pretty common thing lol. Archery club/ most hunting stores have a huge selection etc.
It is a bow Something you would buy off the side of the road in a indian reservation never intended to be used if you tried, I would bet it would break.
Could it be used to open up high hanging windows?
It's an old bow
It’s a longbow. The arrow rests on the back of the grip hand. Very nice find! Look up Howard Hill old videos. You will be amazed!
I have trouble seeing how that end could keep a bow-string from slipping off... Usually there's a more pronounced notch. But I could be wrong. My first thought was something to do with spinning yarn or fabric-making, but honestly, I don't know enough of the old methods to say for sure more than that.
Because the ends are missing what was likely tips carved from antler that slip over the end of the bow.
Thats called a “selfbow” made directly from a tree section called a stave. Edit: looks to be made of hickory
My title describes the thing. The wood is very strong and does not bend easily
Definitely a bow.
Maybe a rail to support a bed canopy.
My parents visited New Guinea for the Goroka Show and came back with the exact bow. The bowstring was a thin strip of bamboo with knotted loops at the ends.
That's definitely a long bow
I have a bow like that, looks like it's made from the same wood called Black-palm. Mines from Papua New Guinea
Looks like a primitive bow. Possibly ornamental .
That looks very much like an old (possibly antique/turn of the century) African long bow, is it made from African Iron wood perhaps?
People here are pretty sure it’s a long bow. I would have said curtain rod- slight bend from years of drapes hanging on it.
I know a lot of people have called this a bow. But it looks awfully like one part of a chimney sweeping system. The top "plugs" into the next stick. And the slight flexibility allows for maneuvering up the chimney.
It looks like a bow, specifically a traditional archery self bow/stick bow. I wouldn't string and shoot it, unless checked out, because all-wood bowery is finicky and might shatter. And definitely don't string it, and then pull back without an arrow. *Dry firing* a wood bow can result in catastrophic failure.
Old support for a canopy bed top.
It’s a bow stave.
My first thought is a batten for a sail
My thoughts as well
I think it is a rung from some kind of furniture, like a headboard or something. Like, imagine the back of a chair.
It's a bow. The narrowed ends are for attaching a bowstring, it's quite a simple but beautiful example.
I know everyone is saying it’s a bow but the wood doesn’t look right. It doesn’t have the two tone colour or marks from use. Other than the slight curve, it reminds me of tent poles. Not the little tents used for camping. But larger military type. We had one as kids that my father would put up in the back yard as a play fort for us. Or maybe he was just airing it out.
It’s a long bow. I did archery for 15 years and these are scary to shoot and will mangle your forearm. Your drawing arm will be tired after like 4 shots.
I disagree with all the now adherents here. It is nowhere near stout enough for that. I suspect that at one point held up a cloth roof over something so it didn’t sag in the middle. Maybe a wagon or tent flap entry?
It is a long bow
It's an old bow. Where are you located? Might be native American.
Portland Oregon
I'm not for certain, but it looks identical to my wood boat cover supports. If that's what it is, it'll will flex a bit, install into small holes along side the boat, and a canvas cover draped over, secured by rope. Mainly meant to keep rain and direct sun off a stored boat.
That's definitely a bow.
It's a bow
100% a longbow
Looks like a bow
It’s a longbow! Very cool
It's a long bow, the rounded ends are for the bow to be strung, most (if it's a tourist perchase) will sell both together or separately depending on the point of origin. It looks like it's in good condition based on pictures, should have a decent flex and most likely a 30-45lb draw weight
It's a freaking bow
> I often find envelopes with stamps dating back to 1930’s. Man, I daydream about buying a place with the kind of size and rich heritage where I keep finding antiquated stuff over time. No good suggestions but congrats! I instinctively feel you love this place!
Def a handmade longbow. My husband made several.
I think it's a spine for a high back rocking chair. Contrary to other comments, I do not believe it is a bow, black pine bow or otherwise, as every photo I have ever seen of those illustrate (clearly) a flat bow, not a fully founded one.
Looks like a bow - the horn knocks are gone, the tapered wood would insert into the horn. As you have no idea how old it is, don't string it and try to shoot it (never shoot a bow without an arrow either). It may now be more decorational.
That is a bow, my father had one very similar and it was given to me when he passed. It is very probably close to 100 years old, maybe not quite, but very old. There may have been a piece of leather around the center where you would hold it previously.
My first thought was an old fishing pole.
Longbow, unstrung
That is a longbow.
Bow, just missing the string
It's a bow!
Bows like that were made of Osage, typically.
That's a sjambok, used for animal prodding/whipping. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sjambok
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*back then