Bowyers Bible

[gokartjon]

Is there a difference in the different volumes of the bowyers bible? And if so, is one version better than the others?

Jon

[John Scifres]

Lots of differences.  Start with Vol 1 if you want to make selfbows.

[gokartjon]

Any other recommendations for an aspiring bowyer?

My son is wanting to make his own selfbow..

Thanks,

Jon

[Kris]

Chapter III of Volume I by Tim Baker is particularly good Re: making self bows.  Any chapters by Tim Baker are really good IMO, as well as Jim Hamm plus others.    

The reading and concepts do advance through the four volumes, so they ARE different in that regard.  I read them all, often.  Good winter reading and food for thought.

If you are into this sort of thing, you'll own all of them anyway.

It is an infectious hobby.

Kris

[sweeney3]

Vol I is the way to start.  That will allow you to learn to make a functional bow (though not overnight, by any means).  After that, Vol 4 is actually the next most important and useful, as they revisit several areas where another decade plus of experience and learning have helped.  Vols 2 and 3 are interesting, but mostly very specific esoteric subjects about certain types of archery throughout history.  Well worth getting and learning, but much more limited in scope.  Highly recommend start with I, progress to IV, then fill in the other two.  That said, Vol III does have a very good chapter on tools, their selection, and uses, but I and IV are more valuable.

[Stumpkiller]

I don't build bows but collect old broadheads so I found Vol. II the most interesting (Chapters on Recurves, Strings and Steel Points).  They are all worth having and in sequence makes the most sense.

[hickstick]

it also depends on what type of bow you're planning to make....Dean Torges' Hunting the Osage Bow is invaluable too.

there are also videos that will help.

[Sidmand]

so, from what I am reading, if I wanted to pick these books up for myself, with my interest being strictly in making selfbows (including sinew and heat treating) then Volumes 1 and 4 are the ones I want to start with?

[PEARL DRUMS]

Get all four, you will NEVER regret the purchase.

[Fritz]

Originally posted by PEARL DRUMS:
Get all four, you will NEVER regret the purchase.

X 2! Hunting the Osage Bow and Gary Davis Dvd. Some good tutorials on utube by Ranger B, as well.

[nineworlds9]

All four- x3!  Super reads

[Pat B]

Another excellent book is "The Art Of Making Selfbows" by Stem Wilcox. Stem takes a step by step process for building selfbows with great descriptions and lots of pics.
 If you will be using whitewood primarily Paul Comstock's "The Bent Stick" is a must.

[Beau J]

A friend of mine let me borrow his to read, I Immediately ordered all four after I read his. They are all fantastic. Beau

[Bjorn]

Lotsa' differences look at the "table of contents"..

[scrub-buster]

Gary Davis has a wonderful DVD called Rattlestick.  He walks you through making an osage bow from tree to finished bow.  It would still be helpful if you are using other woods besides osage.  I wish I had that DVD when I first got started.

[Hud]

Dean Torges, "Hunting the Osage Bow", also comes in a DVD. Not just about building, but finding the right tree, drying, bending, shaping, tillering, to hunting stories.

Check the books, etc on Traditional Bowhunter, Primitive Archer, at Kustom King, and 3Rivers.  

[Don Batten]

I have them all but if you never made a bow and want to. I'd get "the bent stick by paul comstock" That was what finally got me a shooter instead of firewood back in the day when it was important to me.

[hawk4570]

I built a osage bow with Gare in 06 at the Tn classic and I would say you can do no better I want to do it again

[T Callahan]

I have read all four of the TBB's. You won't regret it. Helps you learn how a bow works instead of just giving you a quick "how too"