Sukuma Bow Build Along

[Minnesota Bill]

Different angle

 

Jon shooting one of the bows
 
 

Some better shots of the string and nocks

 
 

Notice how he set up the string to the left- not to make it center shot but to put the string in the middle of the handle area

 

 

Now a little bit about the bows: Hamisi said that the bows are rubbed with goat fat.  The goat fat does not turn rancid like cow fat.
These bows turned out to be around 20# pull, around 42 inches long.  I asked what animals were hunted with a bow like this.  He answered grouse, hare and rodents.  I asked about larger game and he said people would use a bow like this for even large game.  When asked if he meant this pound bow and he said yes if the arrows are poisoned.  I was shocked.  I asked if he knew how to make the poison and he said no but you can buy it from people in the village.  The knowledge is passed down from father to son.  

I asked if he hunted with a bow and he said not much, a slingshot in his pocket is easier to carry when working in the fields.  They shoot all kinds of birds for the dinner table.

Well need to sign off for the night, post more tomorrow.

[JEFF B]

thank you this is cool  

[DVSHUNTER]

Awesome build. Thanks for sharing.

[wood carver 2]

Thank you for sharing. It's a real learning experience to see how bows are built and used in different cultures.
Dave.

[rmorris]

That is cool! Thanks for sharing.

[rmorris]

Bill, did that board on the ground serve any purpose other than a place to cut things? Kinda looks like some of the tillering trees I have seen on here...

[red hill]

Thanks, Bill. That was a very good exchange.

[bigbob2]

enjoyed the whole build. always good to see how other cultures go about things.

[Osagetree]

We owe you one for this thread.

It was so awesome, I'll have to return from time to time just to enjoy it again!

Thank you!


I did want to ask about how long did this take? Maybe I missed the timeline,,, one day, two days?

[Minnesota Bill]

To answer some questions and add a little more:
Ralph- "Bill, did that board on the ground serve any purpose other than a place to cut things?"

No it was just a cutting board.

Osagetree, Hamisi built the three bows in about 5 hours time.  We did help a little by stripping bark and wasting his time by asking question.  It really was something to see.

Now the story of my trip continues:

On our way back to Dan's home in Shadi I asked him if he knew of where I could get an adult bow to take back with me.  He did not know but later talked with our friend Paulo, Pastor at the Church in Sweya.  Paulo lines up our hunting permits and goes with us as we hunt.  Paulo had some connections with some people who still make and apparently still use these bows to hunt with.  He made the arrangements to get 3 hunting bows 15 arrows and 3 quivers made.  These did cost us some money but was well with it.  The cost was 45,000 Tanzania Schillings- about $25.00 US.  When we returned from our hunting trip the following Wednesday we drove to the place and picked them up.  The most interesting part was as we were meeting this man on the side of the rode at 11pm looking at what I had purchased, The man said "Be careful of the arrows in that quiver, they are the  POISON ones".   I did not get pictures over there of the equipment but did take some of the ones I brought home.  I was to leave 1 bow and quiver with Dan, one set to give to my other son in Iowa and one for me.  Two of the bows were too long to fit in my case so I left two bows with Dan.  Jon, my other son, got a bow that Hamisi made as well as a quiver with 5 arrows.  I have 1 of the bows I bought, a quiver with the 5 poison arrows and the other children s bow Hamisi made.

Anyway here are some pics:

Bow is 48" long with about a 3 inch brace height

   
 
 

Compared to the other bows

 

I do not know the draw weight is but it has to be at least 60 pounds at 20 inches.  They do not draw very far.  They use a 2 finger draw- one above and one below.  The bows stay strung all the time and with the set there is almost no weight on the string at brace height.

[Minnesota Bill]

Now the arrows and quiver:

 

It is cow hide, rawhide with hair left on.  It is very stiff but there is a stiffening rod on it as well.  A cap to cover the opening made from the same hide.

 

And the arrows,  They are three fletch with the feathers glued on over a winding to support the self nock.

 
 

The fletching go all the way to the end of the nock,  maybe due to the low brace height?

 

Compared to the other arrows

 

[Minnesota Bill]

Now the business end

 

The black tar like stuff between the barbs and the arrow shaft is the poison.

 

The shanks of the broadheads are much longer than the others.  Because they are from slightly different areas or due to the poison?

 


There is a lot more to say about our trip over there but I am pretty much done with the build along, unless to answer your questions.  I think it is great to be able to share with you guys, I get so much from Tradgang that I just had to try and give some back.  Thanks for your interest.

Bill

[KellyG]

That is pretty cool. Man if that full size does not look like an osage D bow.

[Roy from Pa]

Very cool, Bill.

[D]

Thanks that was awsome

[SportHunter]

Great finish Bill, thanks!!!

[bigbob2]

Very interesting all round, but sure be careful with the poison arrows. they seem to be really lethal and wouldn't do for someone to be having a eyeball at them and cut themselves!

[burnt]

wow

[Greg Szalewski]

Thanks for taking the time to post the build. Very intersting. I am glad to see that it is still part of their culture. Seems like at least a few of the young folk were interested as well.

[DEATHMASTER]

That was great pictures