Tibetexpedition pics from 1938

fusizoli · Post by **fusizoli** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 1:10 pm

Hy everybody! I was just a reader of this site at this time. As a member new here. Now start with a question about this bows, wich found on this page http://www.v-like-vintage.net/de/sucher ... xpedition/

Anyone know some datas from tham? For me looking strange and interesting. Bends like a hornbow but the materials looking some others.
Very nice bows.

Here is a link http://www.my-bow.hu/node/1768 should see some of my bows, but my first horn bow project will start just in the future, may this year. Ive been Making bows since last november. I like the distance target and flight shooting.

Cheers Zolt

KenH · Post by **KenH** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 7:20 pm

The two horse archers seem to be using pretty standard Mongol style bows with siyahs and string bridges.

The flight bows are very interesting. Simple and pretty. No riser... They seem to be bamboo or simple slat self bows that are lashed at nearly equal intervals. I would love to see the belly of one of those bows to see whether the lashings criss-cross on the belly or whether each lashing is individual. My guess is that the lashings help prevent splinters from raising as the bow is worked over and over.

fusizoli · Post by **fusizoli** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 9:08 pm

Yes I meant thos flight bows!

There is two useable pics, on the first is not so sharp but totally by side. There is clearly see how deep are the limbs and how long is the syah and something glued up from belly side there (?)
Other picture is sharper and see the front side the two part backing (?) I really dont know what could bee may just painted white? Nodus not recognise, but this two part backing is end where the casan starts. Could it be bone plate? That have to be some kind of material wich haven t got from one wide piece and have to keep tight because the glue not hold enough. Bone & horn, some boo or wood slats at the end sounds crayzy? Bone works in inuit bows but not on that draw lenght or bend like on these bows.

Other strange thing those beautifull flight arrows. Look at the point. Thats is a fantastic idea, the point is from that hedgehog (I think) and it working like an overdraw and point in one. The real arrow about 5 shorter than that point.

fusizoli · Post by **fusizoli** » Sat Nov 21, 2009 10:31 pm

No ideas? Any help would be respected.

Bede · Post by **Bede** » Sun Nov 22, 2009 9:37 am

People in South East Tibet used bamboo bows that look similar to Bhutanese bows. I have seen some pictures of tiger hunters using them within the last twenty years. They appear to be single staves of bamboo with the inside of the bamboo on the back.

I have seen the arrows referred to as flight arrows described as target arrows in Tolstoy's book of photographs from Tibet in the 1940's. I don't now if this is correct.

redhawk · Post by **redhawk** » Sun Nov 22, 2009 1:23 pm

Bede, your 1200th posting!!

Bamboo with the inside of the bamboo as the bow?s back, the Bhutanese way. I agree, that?s it.
I?ve done one of these Bhutanese bows, 2 limbs just wrapped together (lengthwise)with leather when the bow will be used.
A good performancer, but after about 400 shots it broke.
I?ve in mind that Bhutanese bowyers use very well selected bamboo from their highlands and heat- treat it.
But anyway there must be the chance of breakage, maybe they used the wrappings for to prevent it?

Michael

jack farrell · Post by **jack farrell** » Sun Nov 22, 2009 3:21 pm

Thanks for bringing these pics to our attention. Look through all of them and you will see many other hornbows being carried by equestrians. There is a guy approaching a horse target riddled with arrows.

Surely the bows in question are self bows; it could hardly be determined from this little information what type. Aren't those arrows sleek? The angle at which they are shooting does not appear to be a flight shot but a distant target. Do you suppose the thumb ring is PVC or ABS?

I include a pic from WTAF of a Bhutanese archer and bow. You can see that the Tibetans are not using this type of bow. -j-

redhawk · Post by **redhawk** » Sun Nov 22, 2009 3:30 pm

Right Jack,

these bows are still a secret....................I don?t have any further idea.....
Michael

Andrew Hall · Post by **Andrew Hall** » Sun Nov 22, 2009 3:33 pm

There are photos of similar bows on the Pitt-Rivers Museum Tibet Album site, including this one:
http://tibet.prm.ox.ac.uk/zoom.php?a=BMH.C.45.1

I assume the thickening on the belly in the outer limbs of the self-bows is a bound on stiffening strip. I doubt that they would be impressive as flight bows (too wide at tips), though the arrows certainly seem optimised for longer distance shooting.

The composites seem to be a mix on the Qing/Manchu derived bows and more Crimean-Tatar looking shapes. Some look to be in incredibly poor condition - hinges in limb, siyahs broken and string tied to remains, etc.

Andrew

PjSingh · Post by **PjSingh** » Sun Nov 22, 2009 9:51 pm

I think you might find these pictures interesting

PjSingh · Post by **PjSingh** » Sun Nov 22, 2009 9:54 pm

another

jack farrell · Post by **jack farrell** » Sun Nov 22, 2009 10:22 pm

PJ; Is this in India? Wind us a story. -j-

fusizoli · Post by **fusizoli** » Sun Nov 22, 2009 10:47 pm

Andrew Hall wrote:There are photos of similar bows on the Pitt-Rivers Museum Tibet Album site, including this one:
http://tibet.prm.ox.ac.uk/zoom.php?a=BMH.C.45.1

Andrew

Thanks this link it helps a lot if take a look of the right side man. There is the answer for some questions. The wrapping keep tight two layer wood or boo. Nodus still not visible on back, but schould be on belly.
In my link (tibetexpedition) may use two splits for back and painted it white.
Yes distant target for shure.

This tibetexpedition is full of beautifull pictures, enjoy.
Thanks the ideas for all!

PjSingh · Post by **PjSingh** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 1:28 am

HI Jack,
You hit the nail on the head,That pic is from India Ladakh to be precise,The main reason for the Indo china war in 61.The area is in present day Kashmir,although the largest population there is bhuddists pak claims it,well Ladakh is the capital with a major tibetan bhuddhism following population,if you were there you would think you were in tibet not India and as such they follow all the Tibetan festivals and one of the main festivals is held in september every year and Archery and Polo are the main sports there,The Indian gov wants the peoples support and therefore does not interfere in any of the traditional activies there and hence archery has survived as well as in nagaland.
I am trying to get my sis and brother inlaw to procure me some bows from both nagaland and leh as well as Bhutan.

mongolianarcher · Post by **mongolianarcher** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 10:19 pm

Pj, these bows used, are they resembling southern indian bamboo composites or bhutan bows?