Magyar 45#

robinhoodfromhun · Post by **robinhoodfromhun** » Mon Jul 20, 2015 12:29 pm

Hi All! This is my new Hungarian/Magyar bow.
I used cattle tendon, hungarian grey cattle horn, hide glue,ash wood (willow for the ears) and deer antlers for plates of the ears.
Sinew is colored and varnished with shell lacquer (no cover).
I hope you like it!

Sándor Nagy

robinhoodfromhun · Post by **robinhoodfromhun** » Mon Jul 20, 2015 12:33 pm

one more pic.

PAZUZU · Post by **PAZUZU** » Mon Jul 20, 2015 8:47 pm

congratulations! very beautiful bow!

Hitokkohitori · Post by **Hitokkohitori** » Tue Jul 21, 2015 7:23 am

Really cool bow. I like the way you covered the sinew.

robinhoodfromhun · Post by **robinhoodfromhun** » Tue Jul 21, 2015 8:38 am

Thank you Pazuzu and Hitokkohitori!

PAZUZU · Post by **PAZUZU** » Tue Jul 21, 2015 9:27 pm

one question: what kind of willow used for the ears?

mikekeswick · Post by **mikekeswick** » Wed Jul 22, 2015 7:18 am

Excellent bow. Willow eh?! Now who would have thought that!

robinhoodfromhun · Post by **robinhoodfromhun** » Wed Jul 22, 2015 10:08 am

I'm not really sure, but I think it's Salix alba. I choosed It because of weight (0,48 g/cm3) (ash: 0,69g/cm3,maple:0,64g/cm3). Total mass of the bow right now 458g (with bone plates).
I bended it after1 week of soaking and 2 hours of cooking. If you chose a wrong willow you will realize it when you try to bend it so you won't waste your ready bow.

lurz · Post by **lurz** » Wed Jul 22, 2015 12:43 pm

Nice bow!
About the shell lacquer, just dissolved in alcohol? Any other additives? Any cracks from bending?

robinhoodfromhun · Post by **robinhoodfromhun** » Thu Jul 23, 2015 1:03 pm

Thanks Lurz!
I didn't use any additive. It's a new bow. There is no cracks yet. Maybe It will be. I have an other bow with shell lacquer, that has cracks. I haven't heard about any useful additives. If you know let me know. Do you think honey or glycerin would work? Those work in glue.

lurz · Post by **lurz** » Thu Jul 23, 2015 6:10 pm

Sorry, no idea there.
I have used a (commercial) varnish of linseed oil and tung oil. That do not seem to crack.
Some years ago I painted directly on the sinew backing on a American Indian bow with egg/oil tempera . It has hairline cracks, but do not flake off.

mikekeswick · Post by **mikekeswick** » Fri Jul 24, 2015 7:04 am

Yes i've used it for arrows. I made a few and thought well these probably won't last too long....I was wrong! It's very durable wood. It is also used for cricket bats.

robinhoodfromhun · Post by **robinhoodfromhun** » Mon Jul 27, 2015 7:41 am

Yes. It's soft but tough and It's between antler plates. Kind of composite ears. It's as heavy with (very thin)antler plates as safe ash ears without plates.
You could ask that, what is the reason to use bone plates? For us beauty and authenticity, for our ancestors I think something sacral reason. Deer was a symbol for them.