The Archer
A Complete Introduction into Bow-Making Course
In the bow, our ancestors created a simple yet very effective hunting tool and this 3 -day course aims to give you a complete introduction to becoming a Bowyer. There are many bow designs from history, but in essence the wooden self-bow (as it is known) is probably the most widespread due to the simplicity and effectiveness of its construction. Join us to learn how to handcraft one with simple hand tools in a beautiful, secluded woodland camp.
It is said that a bow ‘’is just a stick 9/10 broken’’, but the secret to its construction is in the finer details of how to remove just the right 9/10ths! From the roughing out of the air-dried stave to the fine tillering of the completed bow, we’ll guide you every step of the way as you carefully and methodically liberate the bow from the stave. There few crafts as satisfying as making your own wooden bow using knowledge and skills which are thousands of years old.
What Will We Cover in this Bow-Making Course?
We’ll walk you through different designs from history and advise on good designs for the beginner bow maker. We will focus largely on stone age European bow designs but there are options to make a shorter North American flat bow, traditional longbow or even have a play with a few of the design variables to create a bow design unique to you!
They also say that its harder to make a good arrow than a good bow… so this course will also teach you how to make arrows well matched to you and your new bow. A complete introduction for the beginner bow maker.
The Archer Course Syllabus Includes:
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Wood selection, storing and seasoning
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Bows from history, their designs and function
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Choosing a bow design
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Tool choice and sharpening
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Marking out
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Rouging out the stave with an axe
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Tillering
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Fine tillering and draw weights
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Final finishing and maintenance
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String making
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Arrow-making, primitive and modern methods
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Finger and arm guards
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Shooting practice!
An archer takes aim, now a confident bowyer!
**This course requires the use of an axe. You must either bring a carving axe of your own, or we can rent one to you for a £15 supplement**
Bow Making Course Details
This course is run from a spectacular ancient oak wood nestled by the banks of the River Tay close to Aberfeldy in Highland Perthshire, Scotland. The site is quiet and secluded with great camping spots and opportunities to swim in the river. The wood is full of wildlife and we are truly privileged to be able to run our courses from this special site.
Full joining instructions will be sent out in advance of the course.
This site is easily accessible from the A9 and we are only 1.5hrs from both Edinburgh and Glasgow. We are well served by train too, with a station at Dunkeld. We offer a complimentary train pick up service from Dunkeld station for up to 4 clients per course on a first come-first serve basis. There is also a bus service from Dunkeld train station which stops right at the meeting point in Grandtully village.
