V splice. When was it introduced ?

[Lord Ruthven]

Hello everybody. I have a question.
When was the V splice first introduced, according to what findings we have ?
And where ?

[Bede]

I think the "v" or fishtail splice was introduced for the grip to arm junction first. I have seen some in Central Asia from around the Tsaidam Basin from the 12th century, but that is certainly not the earliest.

[jack farrell]

There is some, not entirely secure evidence from the second half of the first millennium from Turkic types of Xinjiang (Mazer Tagh). This was a very slow concept to catch on. Possibly folks had a lot invested in their current technology; had perfectly excellent working hornbows, and were reluctant to abandon their methods for something new.

Serindia has posted bows, Uygur for one, which preceded the Mongol bows which are clearly V spliced. Mongols of the 1200s proceeded with their old Hunnic type bows before adapting Turkic type bows.

I think it can be safely said that some of their troops, like Buryats, retained the older technology and never did change.

[Peter Dekker]

I think it can be safely said that some of their troops, like Buryats, retained the older technology and never did change.

How are these bows made, was it a one-piece core with bent tips?

[jack farrell]

Peter; When looking at a Siberian wood bow with slightly recurved tips and pillow type bridges, it is easy to see that if the bow was reflexed a little more and had horn belly and sinew back, one would have a Buryat type bow. Buryat bows also have bone siyah belly plates, sometimes have siyah side plates, horn or bone.

I do not think it could be ruled out that some have grip core splices.