Bow types

[MupKo]

Bows typology-made by beginner to be corrected by experts. Please make more detail classification.

By technology
1. Traditional bows
1.1. Selfbows (all around the World )
1.2. Backed bows (Asia, North America)
1.3. Composite bows (Ancient Egypt, Asia, eastern Europe)
1.4. Metal bows (Asia)
2. Modern bows
2.1. Recurve bows
2.2. Compound bows

By shape
1. Simple
2. Recurved tips
3. Recurved tips and set back handle

By use
1. Hunting bow (50-80#)
2. War bow (80-150#)
3. Target bow (30-50#)
4. Flight bow

[Hyarmendacil]

Just looking at "shape," it'd probably be a good idea to add decurved tips as well. And, depending on how much detail you want to put, you might want to consider the difference between reflex and recurve, as well as that between a fully reflexed bow and a deflex-reflex design. There's also an important difference between working recurves (like the flexible recurved section in modern FITA recurves) and static recurves (like the rigid ears in Manchu bows).

Last but not least, I'm not sure bow weights can be so neatly correlated with purpose, at least not across multiple cultures.

[jack farrell]

Mupko; Since metal bows are mentioned several times in the Bible, they should be also considered as Near Eastern, and as they are made of one piece of material, as a self bow.

Likewise composite bows were found all across the Near East and not just Egypt.

Backed bows may be just a New World phenomenon, and the Arctic.

See Rausing. -j-

[Stephen Selby]

Bows typology-made by beginner to be corrected by experts. Please make more detail classification.

...

Here are my thoughts:

By technology

1. Traditional bows [Comment: do you want to include crossbows?]
1.1. Selfbows (all around the World )
1.2. Backed bows (Asia, North America)
1.3. Composite bows (Ancient Egypt, Asia, eastern Europe)
1.4. Metal bows (Asia)
[1.5 Other materials (who knows?)]
[Comment: putting down a geographic or cultural source is not always helpful. I suggest concentrating on the bows and leaving the cultural affiliation for a separate exercise.]

2. Modern bows
2.1. Recurve bows
2.2. Compound bows
[2.3 other forms] (who knows?)]

By shape
1. Simple
2. Recurved tips
3. Recurved tips and set back handle
[4. Other forms.]

By use
1. Hunting bow (50-80#)
2. War bow (80-150#)
3. Target bow (30-50#)
4. Flight bow
[5. Pellet bows]

Let me add something. Chinese and Soviet archaeologists have covered thousands of pages placing items like bronze age arrowheads and swords into classifications. Has it made us any wiser? As to the purpose of the bows, you are going to have to ask the archer to find that out. Can we?

[Adam Karpowicz]

I would not put down any poundage numbers in these classifications (maybe only for war bows). A fellow who regularly shoots 150lb war bow would have a 120lb target bow. And it is very likely war bows were used for hunting Central Asian style by herding the animals, as the combat exercise (I think ithe method was called nerge by the Mongols).

Adam