Bows From Persia

[hcspng]

Here I'll put pics of bows that i've measured in Iran museums:

The first one is an steel bow from Qajar dynasty (1794-1925 A.D)
Does any one knows that they really use this kind of bows?
Sorry for dark pictures.

[hcspng]

Here is some more pics:

[Jos?Dom]

Thanks for pictures and info, I didn't know Persian used steel bows. In same way it reminds me of the Indian steel bows.

[mstk]

I've always wondered; steel bow?? what the heck?! more importantly why the heck?!

I really curious about why and how these type of bow is used.

I have some ridiculous ideas but i would like to hear facts.

[hcspng]

Thank you for your post i just think these for ceremonial use only not hunting and....
because it's steel must be like spring like thhe steel crossbow prod if they make it a little stiff it will blow up like a generade!
Does any one know anything about their usage?

[hcspng]

Thank you for your post i just think these for ceremonial use only not hunting and....
because it's steel must be like spring like thhe steel crossbow prod if they make it a little stiff it will blow up like a generade!
all of it's limb is about 1.5 mm!
Does any one know anything about their usage?

[hcspng]

The second bow is a hornbow from Qajar dynasty again:
Does any one know anything about this like how many peices is this because i wasn't able to CT Scan them!

Handle: 8"*1.5"*1"
Siyah: 30cm*2cm*1.7cm
Nock Groove: 10mm*10mm
Limb+Siyah:63cm
The widest part of Siyah:3.5cm
Tip reinforced with some material like horn.

Here it is:

[hcspng]

Here is some more pics:

[jkekoni]

I think steel bows were also used in target archery in 1940-1950 before glassfibre came.

They were more sure not to break than wooden bows.

[Jos?Dom]

Thanks again for the pictures. This is one of the best decorated hornbows that I have seen. The details are exquisite. About the overall profile, is this the standard Persian profile?. It kinda looks like a crab bow in some way. I'm not familiar with Persian bows.

[jack farrell]

Steel bows were not so uncommon in the Mughal period. These were made in special steel working towns famous for this work in modern India and Pakistan. They mostly took apart in the handle as does the one illustrated.

In those days all weapons were decorated. This one, however is carved deeply into the limb which would seem to be detrimental to the working of such a weapon. On others, the surface was prepared and then silver and gold wire was hammered into the surface, not damascene, where a groove was chisel cut but, koftgari, as described above.

This Tehran bow also has taken a severe set. Mughal bows of this type are straighter..

The advantage of a steel bow is that it is not affected by weather, rain or cold. Well made ones will not snap and can be strung indefinitely. They are high prestige goods but inferior to horn bows in cast.

Early references to metal bows include multiple statements in the Bible. They have long historic use. There may be some religious/philosophical meaning. -j-

[hcspng]

Thank you jkekoni and Jack for your help.
I'm sorry Jos?Dom but i don't know exactly if it is a standard Persian bow because here there are many kind of diffrent bow from diffrent dynasty!

Thank You

[hcspng]

Here is pics from a Zand period (1750-1794 A.D.) bow:

Does anyone know what is the metal on the limb?

[hcspng]

More pics:

[Anda]

Thanks for sharing the photos. I really like the artwork on the steel bow.