12 on a coolness scale of 1-10

[the Ferret]

Monday after leaving Mojam, thanks to Dr. Chas Grayson, I had the good fortune of spending a day with Dan Glover, asst curator at the Anthropology Museum in Columbia where the Grayson archery collection is housed. (Unfortunately Dr Grayson could not be there in person.)I was doing research and taking photos for my chapter in the upcoming TBB4 to be released in the spring. Got to tell you I was like a kid in a candy store. Got to handle (of course I had to wear white cotton gloves to keep oils from contaminating the items) and photograph archery equipment from all over the world ... Africa, China, Japan, Mongolia, Egypt, Korea, Italy, England, India, South America, North America and lots more. You just can't believe how COOL some of the stuff was, and the skill level of the craftsmen from as long ago as 5000 BC. The Japanese stuff was incomparable as far as quality goes, followed by the Persians, Koreans and Chinese. Simply outstanding work, and outstanding doesn't begin to describe it but I just can't think of a more appropriate word.

For an archery junkie like me it was like being a perv and having a front row seat at a peep show...only I actually got to handle the merchandise      

Dr Grayson is bringing out a book with something like 4000 close up and concise pictures with text of many of the items. I intend to be first in line to buy one.

I can't quit thinking about it, and had to share. Gosh, it was SO cool.    

Of course we didn't get home until 1:30 AM last night and back up and on the road at 6 AM this morning  

[JC]

How about a tease shot or two Mickey? ...of the bows I mean.   :rolleyes:

[Ian johnson]

I suppose he did not let you shoot a few, bet they can still fling an arrow

[the Ferret]

JC I didn't take any bow pictures because my chapter is on arrows of the world, and the pics for the arrows are 5 meg, poster size, so they can be cropped and reduced later, so I can't even post them.

I do wish I had gotten a picture of myself with one of the cool Yumi bows (Japanese)which I got to hold, but my brain was overloaded and I forgot. DOH!

[the Ferret]

Ian..no not allowed to shoot anything. At one point I was looking at a Yumi bow (I'm fascinated with them) and Dan said "we could string it"..and I said someing like "you're kidding" and he said
"yea, we can't do that" and laughed. Oh manI about had a cow thinking I was going to get to hold a strung Yumi.

I don't see how in the world you could sting some of those Chinese bows. They form an "O" with the back being the inside of the O.

[Golden Hawk]

Sounds as if you had a very moving experience Mickey! Imagine what your brain would have done if you could have shot that Yumi! you'd have never been Right again. by the way I got my patch in my medicine bag and it seems to be working pretty well. the last couple shoots for me have been outstanding. Thank You  Buddy!

[JEFF B]

with the chinese bows you sit down and put the bow on you knees and pull both ends out and have some one else put on the string. how do i know this i saw it done once crap i sure dont know how they did it by themselves.  :eek:

[Forester]

Very Cool Mickey!        Sounds like a 12 out of 10 for sure.  I imagine your mixed emotions during the visit were something like this:  

           


We are all looking forward to your chapter.  Glad you are having some fun putting it together.

[Curtiss Cardinal]

Mickey I saw a movie once that showed on of those Chinese/Mongol horn bows being braced it took one huge mongol and two others to brace it. That was, supposedly in the movie, the heaviest bow any Mongol warrior had ever fired. The Brute but the bow acroos his lower back and pulled the limbs around by shear force and the other two fellows put the string on the ends. Then the Brute shot an arrow through a TarTar sheild. (I wish I could remember the title of the film)I was told by the guy I was watching it with it was accurate in the Asian archery details.

[R.W.]

Maybe Etzal, if he still reads here, could give the concise method that was used to string those excellent bows.  

I *think* that some of the bows were heated in a "hot box" before they were strung, and then were "balanced" while wrapped with a blanket (probably to protect the bowyer, if that sucker let go     ) Old Turkish flite bows, I think.

There is a slide show on the Korean archery page on stringing the Korean bows, too.

R.W.

[the Ferret]

Good deal LeRoy...glad you like it. Hope it brings some luck come hunting season.

I prefer my bows that I can push-pull...even if I can't shoot thru a TarTar shield ha ha

[Doc Nock]

Now, Mickey...that was TAR-TAR..not Ta ta... (as in good bye...what we YOU thinkin?)  

[John Scifres]

That is really neat Mickey.  I'm glad for you.  Definitely a rare privelege.

[ozarkcherrybow1]

Mickey, that is soooo cool!. I can't wait to read your chapter in the new TBB. By the way, your arrow that I won at OJam, has inspired me. I have been makin some canes and learning to knap, cause I can't get myself to shoot the arrow you made....Terry

[Jeff Strubberg]

The collection is definitely something to see.

The eskimo pieces are fascinating....a guy can make a bow out of anything if he needs to badly enough.

[Osagetree]

Good for you Sir!

I'm jealous!  

[the Ferret]

Terry that's great! Can't wait to see some of your work.

What can I say Mike, I LOVE archery stuff. Neatest stuff in the whole world!(and so are the people)