Old Bow I.D. Help Please....

[Bob Walker]

A short while ago I happened to be in a local antique shop and noticed this in a barrel labeled "Walking Sticks". There were some fairly intricate walking canes in the barrel as well as plain ones, but this clearly did not belong. If anyone can help me figure out just exactly what I have here it would be greatly appreciated. Sorry about the crappy background in the pics.

The bow is approx. 43 1/2" long and 1 1/4" at the widest point. All of the pics are of the back except for the last 2 which are belly side.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[PAPALAPIN]

WOW!!!

That bow could range from a bow made by ISHI to one hacked out by a teenager in his back yard.  It could be worth a fortune, or that and a quarter might get you a cup of coffee.  With no documentation it could run the gambit.

KQQL find though.  I would hang on to it as a keeper in any case.

If it appears to be really old, I would not take a chance of stringing it.  If it is really dried out it could crack up.

[Sal]

Its made of black palm, and its short size means is highly likely from South America.  I've seen bows like that in antique stores in Peru.  

There are other cultures from the tropical belt that use black palm, but the shorter ones are more common in South America.

Those bows turn up now and then, they're not always old and are not valued highly. Many of the natives make them for the tourist trade.

The arrows that sometimes come with those plain bows are fantastic pieces of craftsmanship.

[PAPALAPIN]

Like I said.  A keeper.

[Blackhawk]

Looks like good kindling to me.   :D

[Bob Walker]

Thanks guys for the comments! I really wasn't sure what I had but for $9.60 I didn't get hurt. Like Lon said, I could always start a campfire with it