My first Mongolian bow...

Temujin · Post by **Temujin** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 10:21 pm

Hello all,
I have been an avid reader of this forum and have now decided to get involved.

I am absolutely entranced by the beauty of the Mongolian/Chinese/Tibetan bow.

I suppose an important factor in buying a bow is the aesthetics, you have got to think your bow is beautiful right?
So where am I in terms of performance, I have a bow which can be summed up under a few titles but I can't establish what the difference is between them all. I have learnt since searching this forum that it is a mix of different areas that has given birth to the style of the (modern) Mongolian bow.

1) For starters, what is different about a Mongolian, Chinese and Tibetan bow?
For as far as I have read and observed I cannot see no great difference between them all.

2) I am a beginner to the world of archery. I have read that a composite bow with low pull weights (30# etc) would not implement the materials effectively enough to make it worthwhile.

3) If I was to buy a traditional Mongolian bow from Mongolia, made by a Mongolian bowyer, would I be making a silly decision for I have not seen or used the bow I have paid for ($850). Could I really expect value for money?

4) I am this close

to getting a Grozer 'Old Mongolian bow' aka 'Mongol/Chinese Bow', does anyone use that bow? How have you found it?

5) And finally, if you could give me one piece of advice about buying a Mongolian bow, what would it be?

Thankyou very much for your time.
.....Temujin.....

Stephen Selby · Post by **Stephen Selby** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 2:09 am

1) For starters, what is different about a Mongolian, Chinese and Tibetan bow? For as far as I have read and observed I cannot see no great difference between them all.

Three traditional bows are used in Mongolia: Gung, Khagas (Buryat) and Uryankhai (Western region). The bows that you have most likely seen are 'Gung'. The word is actually Chinese, and refers to the Mongolian adaptation of the Manchu bows of the Qing Dynasty. The Mongols shape the siyahs a bit differently: Manchu have rectangular cross-section siyahs while Mongol have oval. The string bridges are also designed differently. As Mongolians have a problem getting buffalo horn, they usually use Moufflon (mountain goat) horn.

2) I am a beginner to the world of archery. I have read that a composite bow with low pull weights (30# etc) would not implement the materials effectively enough to make it worthwhile.

Personally, I agree. For a bow the size of the Mongolian 'gung', 45# or over is preferable. However, children's bows of a smaller size can be made. There is also a smaller bow-size designed for women.

3) If I was to buy a traditional Mongolian bow from Mongolia, made by a Mongolian bowyer, would I be making a silly decision for I have not seen or used the bow I have paid for ($850). Could I really expect value for money?

Mongolian craftsmen-made bows are good. The price at US$850 would be rather high. US$350-500 should be enough.

4) I am this close to getting a Grozer 'Old Mongolian bow' aka 'Mongol/Chinese Bow', does anyone use that bow? How have you found it?

Grozer's 'TRH' Mongilan bow is better than the leather-covered one. They are good bows for learning. We have bought a large number for training purposes.

5) And finally, if you could give me one piece of advice about buying a Mongolian bow, what would it be?

Use a fiberglass bow with a #35 draw weight until you have mastered the technique, then buy a horn bow.

Temujin · Post by **Temujin** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 8:06 am

Well thankyou Stephen for your quick response.

I was happy to learn that I am after a 'Gung', however I seem to have had problems finding a bow within the price range you think is reasonable.

I have recently made further enquiries, so hopefully I will get replies, with a better price.
Would it be possible to PM me with a bowyer you could recommend?
I understand that it will be a good while before I get the bow, but if I knew where to get the bow I'm after and the price, I'm a happy man.

Thankyou once again.
.....Temujin.....

Stephen Selby · Post by **Stephen Selby** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 8:29 am

Nearly all bows in Mongolia are being made by Sukhebaatar of Dulankhaan. But I don't know how to contact him.