Composite bow: design, advantages and disadvantages, photo

Composite bow is an improved version of the traditional bow. His man used to hunt and fight since ancient times. Initially, the bows were made from solid wood, but the strength and tension of the bowstring was insufficient for them. In addition, large bows were inconvenient, and small ones could not provide sufficient range of the arrow's flight.

Then, some people also came up with the idea of making onions from several components. It was done in different ways - somewhere it was simply glued in addition with a horn or harder layers of wood, somewhere in it the hilt and shoulders were separately made, and sometimes both of these methods were combined. To glue the components of onions, a special fish glue was used, which was made from bones digested for a long time.

Previously, such weapons appeared in Asia, and in Europe for a long time continued to use the usual whole. Now classical bows are made except for the sake of fun, and almost all modern have long become composite.

Advantages of composite bows

They have a number of significant advantages. The first advantage is that such a bow provides similar combat power with a much smaller size. This makes it more comfortable to wear, when hunting and in combat conditions compared to cumbersome conventional devices. Such a bow makes it easy to shoot from a horse and cart.

Another advantage is much greater power. Composite bow is able to shoot arrows much further, and they are easier to penetrate armor.

Disadvantages of composite bows

If you are planning to buy onions, then the special drawbacks of the composite bow will not be felt. However, the ancient people with them constantly had problems, because it was necessary to make such complex weapons for a very long time, and this process was extremely difficult. In addition, traditionally such bows were glued with animal glue, which in conditions of high humidity lost adhesive properties and resistance. Because of this, the onions needed to be dried constantly.

Now these shortcomings are not very relevant, as to buy a composite bow in the store will not be difficult.

Asian bows

Especially widely the composite bow, the photo of which is below, was distributed in Asia. There they were worn by archers. Such bows had a length of not more than 150 centimeters. Most often in Asia, they shot light arrows - either a canopy for a distance of about 150 meters, or sighting not farther than 50-70 meters. Heavy arrows were rarely used, but with them the bow was dangerous already at a distance of about 225 meters, which was a very serious distance for those times.

Scythian bows

A special attention deserves a composite Scythian bow. You can see his photo below. Many people heard about the existence of Scythian bows. Opponents were afraid of Scythians with such a powerful weapon. Historians say with accuracy that in those ancient times there was no weapon that could be compared with the Scythian onion in power. At the same time, many people at first glance at it even find it difficult to understand how he could shoot at all.

The design of this type of bow is strikingly interesting, however, at the same time, it is very complicated. So it will be very difficult to make a Scythian bow with your own hands - it consists of many details and is made from rather rare materials. In general, if you are not interested in directly reconstruction, then Scythian weapons are hardly necessary for you, and the traditional composite bow will completely replace it.

The length of the Scythian onion was only about 70-80 centimeters, and its arrows weighed only 15-25 grams. Because of the small size and light arrows, he could shoot only three to four dozen meters, although in principle the arrows flew away and by 100-120 meters, but already less accurately and quite weakly. It was pointless to shoot such a bow, so that before the shot the Scythians always slowed down or stopped altogether to aim better.

Modern bows

The device of the composite bow today is not really much different from its device in ancient times. Today, the romance of antiquity and the Middle Ages in people is very strong, and they are increasingly paying attention to the ancient weapons - swords and bows. However, the first for exercises necessarily require a partner, special uniforms, etc., while with a bow you can entertain yourself and alone, having only him, arrows and a set of targets.

Almost all modern bows have a composite, composite, construction. This is due to the fact that the whole is much weaker, so making them simply does not make sense. Modern bows are made of various metals and plastics, that is, modern materials resistant to moisture and external stimuli.

Of course, some craftsmen are currently making bows from wood, though using usually not fish glue, but modern adhesive materials. Such adaptations are more interesting not for athletes, but for true lovers of antiquity. Of course, they do not make Olympic bows.

Popular in the recent time and steel block bows, but they do not belong to the composite, and they should be talked about separately. Analogues in ancient times do not have such bows.

Olympic bows

Olympic, as they also call the Olympic bow - a sports projectile, the design closest to the traditional. They make them from modern materials, and to their design add interesting modern elements - stabilizers, and sometimes even sights. The modern Olympic bow is always fully understood. Its design is simple - a handle, shoulders, bowstring, stabilizer and sight. Everything can be easily put together and get a throwing cannon.

The Olympic is used in the Olympic Games, as well as in such popular sports as biathlon and field shooting. It is worth noting that the skills here from the athlete are required somewhat different than when shooting from a conventional bow, without a stabilizer and a sight, but the accuracy of the Olympic bows is much higher.

How to make a compound bow yourself

The finished composite bow is quite expensive, and not everyone can afford it. In addition, doing something with your own hands is always very pleasant, and the bow made on its own will ideally suit you in all respects, from the size to the tension of the string.

In general, if you are at least a little know how to work with wood, or at least work with your hands, then the manufacture of a composite bow is quite possible for you, and it is not necessary to resort to the services of masters and weapons shops.

Historical onion

If you want to make a bow, similar to that used by some ancient tribes, then you will have to try. The fact is that such a bow should be as close as possible to the original, that is, it should be made of wood, preferably what grew in those places, and from the horn. For braiding it is recommended to use birch bark, veins of animals and skins. Well, glue the onions will have the same fish glue - and it should be slowly digested from the fish bones for a whole day. Clay, by the way, smells awfully during cooking.

In addition, the bow will have to be done either from drawings from the Internet, or from images reconstructed by historians according to ancient descriptions. In general, the case is quite long and troublesome, but the result will be amazing.

Instructions for making onions

Make a composite bow is much more difficult than a regular bow of solid wood. For the ordinary, it is easy to choose a suitable board and branch, while the composite bow will require the manufacture of three parts and their strong connection.

To make a composite onion follows in several stages:

1. First of all, you need to cut the bow of the bow - its middle part, which you will hold your hand and where the arrow will rest. This part is cut from a single piece of very strong wood with straight fibers. It is extremely important that it is strong to bend. For additional strength this part can also be made of several layers of solid wood, previously glued together. Sometimes the handle is additionally reinforced with metal plates. Cut out the part you need from strictly dry material.
2. Then you will need to make the shoulders of the bow - two absolutely identical parts, which will be bent when pulling the bowstring. For the manufacture of shoulders, many people recommend using old skis - they are well bent and made just of solid wood. However, you can cut the shoulders separately, giving them the necessary shape. They can also be glued together from several layers of wood and reinforced with metal plates. In the shoulders will require drill grooves to put on the string.
3. Then you need to connect the handle and shoulders. This can be done with a very strong glue, or with bolts, if the appearance of the finished product is less important to you than its functionality.
4. In the end, you need to pull the bowstring. You can weave it yourself, or take a ready rope - a Kevlar climbing slings 3,5 mm thick will do.
5. Finally, the onion should be sanded again, soaked in oils, covered with wax or varnish - in general, give it a beautiful appearance and protect it from external influences.

How to shoot a composite bow

The shape of the bow must be correct, it's important, but you also have to be able to shoot it. Instructions for right-handers (left-handeders should just swap their hands):

1. Take the bow with your left hand.
2. Grab the string with your thumb, and fix it with your index finger, the palm should look outward. At this point, you already hold the arrow
3. Raise the bow above your head and sharply lower it with both hands. So you overcome the strong tension of the bowstring.
4. Aim and a half seconds and open the index finger, loosening the big one. The arrow will fly out to an astonishing distance.