How to Make A Survival Bow | 1 Hour Build

[@DanSantanaBows]

Complete set of build notes dansantanabows.com/how-to-make-a-survival-bow-build-notes/ If you're in a real survival situation chances are you should go find a road instead. That said, I hope you all have fun with this build and pass it on to someone else who would enjoy it too.

[@PantelevTV]

Wonderful video, as always. Like the music. It's from your cousin, isn't it?

[@richmondlandersenfells2238]

You sir are a great bowyer. From my respect, you earn my subscription!

[@qtrendsetter3853]

First thanks for your video. I've made 2 Osage bows but ive always wanted to make a green bow on the fly with what the land provides. My other option is Atlatl which I also know how to construct off the land. Green wood is easy to carve and work with. I'm wondering if I make a green bow and let it season or dry for a year will it be a stronger bow?.

[@DanSantanaBows]

@ Yes. see my video on quick drying, as well as the beginner essentials playlist. The board bow tutorial explains the bow making basics

[@slinkyman8872]

props to this guy for doing an hour long bow build in 9 minutes

[@DanSantanaBows]

And the 20 hour bow in one hour 😂

[@rmsg7504]

Clearly you've never edited a video.

[@TheFaxeKondi]

@@rmsg7504 hes just making a joke, m8 :D

[@mqwrz]

@@rmsg7504clearly you’ve never seen a joke

[@xwF4T4L1TYwx]

Hilarious. What an original comment...

[@obiwanfisher537]

I remember a conversation when I was younger, when everyone tried to tell me you need to have rubber strings for a bow, and no one believed me that the string is actually non-flexible at all and all the power comes from the wood itself

[@salguodrolyat2594]

Yes the job of the string is to spring load the bow and not to act as a spring itself.

[@kalmes]

Yes. I definitely used rubber bands. They didn't work that well, and didn't last very long

[@michalmikulasi5193]

how old were you back then?

[@obiwanfisher537]

@@michalmikulasi5193 Dunno 12 or so? People are just idiots who don't take you seriously.

[@koukoumlh]

Same buti believed my parents,if i didn't id be a master bowman by now,tryna recindle a childhood passion this is why im here

[@paulm2467]

I used to make bows as a kid, I hadn’t made one for 30 years and then my son needed one for a school play, so I went to the local forest and found a yew tree (fairly common around here) and cut a pretty straight branch, stripped the bark, dried it for a few days then notched it, bent it and strung it. He was only 8/9 so I decided to make it around 4ft and reasonably hard for him to pull, it looked great but the surprise was when I used it with a roughly made bamboo cane arrow it flew true and straight for about 50 metres, a full size yew bow is tremendously powerful.

[@aboodadmin9023]

هل يُمكن صناعة القوس بأي نوع شجر ؟

[@flaresgaming7432]

Yes and no, some woods just are way too brittle, like pine.​@@aboodadmin9023

[@קעז-מענטש]

​@@aboodadmin9023Only some, I don't know where you live so I can't tell you but you should research what kind of wood works from wherever you are.

[@davidmt23]

I make them for fun, any tree has worked for me

[@midgetman4206]

@@aboodadmin9023 Nearly. Some are more difficult than others though, and may need different methods. If you know the types of species around your area, look up how others have made a bow using them. Another insight could be by looking at how the region would historically make different kinds of bows. That only helps with native species, so keep that in mind.

[@tilengasparic6765]

would be fun to see an arrow making video :)

[@DanSantanaBows]

Ok, you got it!

[@garettcline1365]

Absolutely!!

[@lucasduncan290]

Yes please!

[@w.c.6678]

Really, even if someone made 3 arrows, in a survival situation, with firehardened tips, and grass for fletching, that even remotely worked, it would be useful. Thanks for a great video, God Bless.

[@danquaylesitsspeltpotatoe8307]

@@DanSantanaBows Then make the arrows 9all after finding the materials, then learn to shoot! then learn to hunt! Or save your energy and conserve heat, dont endanger yourself and wait to be found!

[@isaacderfoxtrot9705]

Dude this is quite possibly the best survival bow demonstration out there, it even tells you what knots to tie!

[@JoshAU44]

I used to do this as a kid, but never anything of great quality or meant to last. My son & I are just about to go out & get started on the process. Watching your video just helped get my juices flowing. Thanks!

[@DanSantanaBows]

Good luck!

[@jadrael]

This was so great! Following the instructions here, I spent the last 3 days working on a greenbow from a black locust, and I fired an arrow from it for the first time today. Amazing!

[@GTE_Channel]

When I was a kid my parents had a flower shop. We used to make bowes using bamboo and simple strings. Our arrows where light wooden sticks that you use to let your flower grow straight. The target was the pallet of bags with earth. Oh the good old times.

[@kcasto-ze3pm]

The paper visuals you made for each step are really great. Would love to see more instructions like this.

[@Oliver-2103]

I should finish my bachelor thesis but this video seems wayyyy to interesting haha Great video

[@BowtellBows]

Very nice quick bow. I am glad you mentioned para cord is not a good bow string but in a survival situation you got to use what you have. I have to try this sometime!

[@DanSantanaBows]

It really is a lot of fun making something in one sitting. Doesn’t perform like a real bow but you can’t have one of those in an hour

[@BowtellBows]

Absolutely! I kind of get that feeling when I make a pvc bow.

[@JakeJustIs]

I like this video. From a beginner's point, this is as good as it gets. It hits nearly all functional, necessary points, and it'll be great for people who have to make a quick shift in either sourcing calories, or attack/defense. The biggest problem I've found is that the nock is too small. Look back on the best bowmen of the world; thicker, often reinforced nocks. Long story short: Don't carve away your draw weight at the tips.

[@DanSantanaBows]

I would insist that these are well sized tips for a self bow. The tips carry very little draw weight and making unnecessarily big big tips is a notorious beginner mistake that costs arrow speed and leads to handshock The idea that self bows need reinforced nocks is an old timey myth caused by modern bows as well as english warbows with horn nocks. Those need the reinforcements not only because of the 100+ pounds of draw weight but because they have violated backs. I’ve built 70+ pound bows with self nocks and skinnier tips than this. Among all the good bowyers I’ve talked to Id say it’s a pretty much consensus issue that you should make the tips as light as possible as long as they’re strong enough. I even use fastflight strings on bows with no overlays and know dozens of bowyers who do so as well. Pick up the bowyers bible series of a books for some deep dives into the effect of tip mass on performance

[@joedesauteles513]

I didn't expect to learn that much in 9 minutes. Great job.

[@funkyfox7996]

thank you for providing us with instructions that don't include multi-thousand dollar equipment. i watch these videos for self-sufficiency. not a lot of self-sufficiency involved with buying a frikkin 3d printer (though that would solve so many issues)

[@thermonuclearwarhead]

Man, that's quality KZbin content man. Thanks.

[@brianmoore4299]

Those shots at the end were incredible. Such a marksman.

[@coreywright6192]

Thanks for explaining this in a very simple way! I'm turning into That guy that wants to be prepared for any & every scenario... the world of humans is getting a little carried away after all

[@herrakaarme]

I'd say it's quite remarkable you made it in an hour. But then again, that's how it goes when you have an expert doing the work.

[@nacs]

Love the calligraphy and fountain-drawn illustrations!

[@jacktorborg9862]

I have that same Mora knife, those things are insane for the price! I’ve never owned a mora I didn’t totally love.

[@Just.A.Guy444]

Very helpful. Currently working on my spear. Then, I'll get on my bow 🏹

[@jonesj26]

Thanks!

[@dannygravemann7402]

I'm ready for the book bro. For more of these survival ways.

[@Gauchooriental]

Ok now I will try to get to the show” Alone” ….. I feel much more confident!!!! As always great video and music!!!

[@DanSantanaBows]

Good luck!

[@SimonAmazingClarke]

Easy and simple to follow video. As you said, it's a survival bow, dinner for tonight and this week.

[@RokSlana]

Nice. Takes me back to my childhood. Gotta make one like this with my kids.

[@ekimovGELANN]

you have a great talent for systematizing your experience. 😊 thank you so much

[@gratengelsker7614]

Great video! Comfortable voice and music! Made it really informative and relaxing at the same time.

[@DanSantanaBows]

Thank you!

[@SmokeyBear-420]

Man, this is really good. Great craftsmanship.

[@DanSantanaBows]

Thanks and good luck with your bow!

[@marcjarvis7256]

This is better than any asmr, and educational also. 👌

[@shadowcastre]

Awesome video..! Arrow making video.. Yes please!

[@sethdelvalle]

Wish I was there....me and you should do a survival bow off lol another great video brother keep em coming and again we need to get together this summer!!!!

[@DanSantanaBows]

That sounds like an awesome time. I’ll let you know when I plan on getting everyone together. A survival bow challenge would be a ton of fun

[@isatangel]

I would love to have a workshop and necessaire tools to craft bows! Looks fun and relaxing

[@Hkpirate11]

You just saw him do it with a hatchet, pocket knife, and paracord... Just add 1 step, dig a six foot trench build a fire in it, and hang your bow above it to dry it quicker. Then do what he did.

[@stevew2347]

Another excellent how-to, Dan. Really enjoy your videos.

[@DanSantanaBows]

thanks steve!

[@FireCrack83]

Thx for the informations. I am a bow building beginner and i love those simple projects to learn

[@DanSantanaBows]

Great to hear!

[@duieb]

Hi Dan. Really looking forward for that arrow making video

[@tonyminnichsoffer7401]

You're a fabulous presenter! Thanks for giving us hours of instruction in less than 10 minutes. And please do show us how to make good survival arrows. Also, have ya ever made a bundle bow--a quick and powerful bow from willow saplings?

[@markbuhler7562]

What a great job you have done teaching us very well!

[@severinevans346]

Very nice bow good work. I have made plenty of 1 day bows with whitewood I usually give a heavy heat treatment though to help dry it out and make it more resistant to tension and compression. Hickory being the personal favorite because it's much easier to find and work with here in the southeast US in Georgia.

[@DanSantanaBows]

Sure but If I properly dried the wood this would no longer be a green wood tutorial. See my quick drying and heat treating videos for my views about that. I also heat treat over coals I would say heat treating makes a bow more likely to break in tension. You’re making a trade off of brittleness for increased compression strength. For tension strong whitewoods this is a great deal, but for something like osage there’s not as much to be gained

[@severinevans346]

@@DanSantanaBows I have seen your videos I watch you quite often actually. And your right it wouldn't be a greenwood if you did that so I understand why you didn't here but I know you have in the past as I have seen you do it before. Hickory I suggest a heat treat. I wouldn't suggest it for Osage however I think it does it's best as a raw wood bow doesn't even need a backing in my opinion in most cases. But as I said I am here in the Southeast US where whitewoods like Hickory are very common to find so that's what I use and have easy access to get.

[@davidmt23]

Great film. Thanks for the tips

[@karenmurray3098]

great video that was one of the best explnations of tillering i have seen , nice grouping by the way

[@knitwit014]

Very good video and craftsmanship!

[@EricaSwallow]

This might be the best video on tillering! Lots of thoughts on how to tiller. That may be a great video idea, how to tiller, with fancy equipment or no equipment! I would definitely enjoy a tutorial on how to make an arrow. Nice teaser there, bucko.

[@DanSantanaBows]

Thanks Erica that’s a great idea! I’ve been making some notes for a video just like that

[@axeldrane]

Bonus points on an already great vid for using a Mora Robust.

[@DeborahMyers-bb4gr]

I AM SO ÉXÇÍTED , I'VE BEEN WANTING TO LEARN HOW TO MAKE MY ÓWN HUNTING BOW.THAÑK YOU SO MUCH , I HÀVE 6 SÓÑS , SO AÑY KIND OF SERVIVAL , HUNTING TÓOLS WÓULD REALLY GRÉAT , TEÀCHÍNG AND ALSO LEARNING TO LIVE , ÇÀMP, JUST SERVIVE😊😊❤❤

[@DanSantanaBows]

See my other tutorials for a good hunting bow. Check out the playlist of beginner essentials. Also see videos by swiftwood bows, clay hayes, and huntprimitive

[@aurorachacon1128]

Great video, very well explained and great drawing! The background of this video is fantastic, very relaxing. Thank you.

[@DanSantanaBows]

thank you Aurora!

[@tminefski]

Dan certainly is artistic in many facets.

[@craigadamkelly]

I just found your channel and absolutely love it me and my son made of survival bow on a campout was went on several years ago out of maple and we have truly enjoyed shooting it with the arrows we made but after about a year when we started shoot it it started making cracking sounds and now we're scared to pull on it

[@DanSantanaBows]

That’s the trouble with making green wood bows. If you retiller them when they dry out you can avoid it breaking but it’s always better to start with dry wood.

[@Banaanaphone]

Love the drawings on the notes

[@ElliLavender]

This was super interesting, thanks! Also your voice is really soothing for some reason

[@DanSantanaBows]

Oh thank you!

[@SerMattzio]

Fantastic video, well presented, relaxing and educational. Subbed!

[@Nanamowa]

I use horsetail tubes for scouring and as a desicant. I wonder if drying the bow in them would expedite the drying process.

[@MrSorbias]

I wish I knew this when I was a kid. I was super into bows!

[@pabsmart]

I made this, I’m so proud. I chopped down a sapling in the forest and did the tillering. Wish I could put a picture, but it works really well. Would be nice to know how to make an arrow without having to use a metal bit.

[@DanSantanaBows]

@@pabsmart Hell yeah! Congrats. You don’t need to put a metal tip on the arrow but they fly better if you do. I have other arrow making vids where I use horn for the tips. Other materials work as well, especially for blunts. You can put pictures for the community on r/bowyer on reddit www.reddit.com/r/Bowyer/s/QsNqMTi6uw

[@THESPATHARIOS]

Highly informative, and nice choice of music

[@hl_crowbar]

I'm watching this hoping I can apply it to the only wood available to me (olive wood). I guess looking at hard wood bow making technique will help. This is a great intro to it tho. Thank you for the video.

[@DanSantanaBows]

@@hl_crowbar Check out my beginners essentials playlist for more basics

[@bladerazor4637]

Iceman Otzi bow , nice job!👍

[@WildBikeCamper]

Wonderful video - I am going to try and create my own bow using your instructions.

[@Rumbler357]

Great video definitely learned a valued survival process. Cheers

[@Sheepdog1314]

excellent - thank you

[@TheRealNetworkz]

Awesome subscribed thanks man Casey from Georgia 🤙

[@dragon_furygamez3468]

I know what I’m doing tomorrow

[@ethanz0mbie488]

Excellent video dude. I will come back when im ready. Thank you ✌️

[@DanSantanaBows]

@@ethanz0mbie488 Also check out the beginner essentials playlist when you’re ready to jump down the rabbit hole

[@ethanz0mbie488]

@@DanSantanaBows thank you

[@dustinthomas3799]

Let’s see that arrow video!! Sorry, not sure if you have it already, I’m new! How cool, love what you did with that green wood bow

[@dansmith9485]

Yes love to see arrow making video

[@armartin0003]

I started watching this and then remembered that one of my shoulders doesn't work anymore. Then I got depressed.

[@SwansonDoggz]

So make a throwing spear with a long blade.

[@wickedishiccy7621]

just use human kinds ultimate weapon which put us on the predator food chain, throwing the humble rock really fast and accurately.

[@SwansonDoggz]

@@wickedishiccy7621 actually that was the spear bud.

[@WilliamG09]

Make or buy an atlatl it's easier to make and you only need one shoulder.

[@leelehmann3686]

Id love to buy one of your homemade stocks , that green one looks sick

[@forrestdaniels6382]

Could I use a bowline knot for the top loop on a bowstring?

[@robertpatrick1824]

In many rural areas farmers leave masses of baling twine. The synthetic baling twine is quite strong, does not stretch much and makes decent bowstrings. 25 years ago I bought 2 big rolls that were on sale, and we use it whenever we need something strong to tie things in the garden or for anything else. We are only partway through one roll after 25 years. But you can salvage quite a bit from twine discarded off of balers. And everytime a farmer feeds with big bales they have the twine that was wrapped around the bale.

[@thatguy4305]

i'd argue that if you are anywhere close to a farmer, hay bales or baling twine, you are not actually in a survival situation. the hour it takes you to build that bow could be better invested in walking, because i highly doubt that it would take you long to figure out where that farm is.

[@robertpatrick1824]

@@thatguy4305 I appreciate that. But I carry some of that twine when I hike. I know how to spin a string from tall nettle or milkweed, but that doesn’t necessarily grow everywhere or at every time. Per

[@rodneymorris6971]

You can make string from the tree fibers as well, a tree with thin bark thats usually rather young. (Birch) About 2-3 years old. I accidentally discovered this playing around in the woods when I was young. You have to twine it yourself but its something to do while the wood dries. Its not hard to do but is time consuming and you need to make long strands when pulling off the bark otherwise it will break. Additionally you can make your own lacquer from tree sap (pine sap and cover with charcoal)

[@DanSantanaBows]

That would be perfect for someone with advanced bushcraft knowledge and skills but this tutorial is aimed for someone with zero experience. In the past such bows were made for long term living, and not for short term survival. A good natural string can be much harder to make than the bow

[@E-E.ADVENTUREGEARS]

BEAST SLAYER💪💪

[@StephenGrew]

Thanks you a great thing to aim for. Plenty of hazel near us, here in the north of England.

[@ryanpetersen9736]

Amazing! Wonderful job on the editing, music and narration. 👍👏🤯

[@ParanXGaming]

I watched this because of my science project tysm

[@garettcline1365]

Currently steam bending some bow limbs, and was excited to see a new video of yours pop up to pass the time with! What do you think the longevity of a greenwood bow like that would be?

[@DanSantanaBows]

Could be indefinite if the tiller is good and the bow is designed for the draw weight it will have when it dries out. But bending green will cause a lot of set compared to using properly dried wood so the bow will always be sluggish compared to something well made

[@mattsteffens]

You could try clamping the entire bow to a 2×4 with or without recurve and heat treating the belly to remove some of the set but it would need retillering at that point.

[@bagaming4843]

I have my gcse tomorrow but I’m watching thus

[@belikepraj]

If a zombie apocalypse ever happens and i happen to survive. It'll be cuz of this guy

[@TheWolfalpino]

Very nice! You are doing the same I was years ago, but better! And I had no idea about filming

[@johnsmith-rs2vk]

Excellent Vid. Very informative .

[@handazhang182]

Great stuff, would be great to see how to make bow strings

[@DanSantanaBows]

See my board bow tutorial, there’s a chapter on strings. Clay hayes also has some good videos

[@Shooterpirat]

Really nice video and nice drawings 😊

[@chriscoats262]

Very Good tutorial. Most other bow tutorials ive seen are more or less ASMR with no real spoken or illustrated instructions. Just 'watch me do a thing in the woods, with bad angles, at a distance, in 420p.' :D

[@DanSantanaBows]

“Survival” bow videos are considered a red flag in the bowyer community. This was my attempt to steal from that audience while still teaching some real bow making concepts. For much better instructions check out my board bow tutorial. Clay Hayes and Swiftwood bows also have some excellent step by step tutorials

[@Molusckoll]

Awesome stuff dude. Keep it up! Greetings from Brazil!

[@timothyherring8475]

Well done Sir. 👍🏹

[@ThirdLawPair]

Next time I take my daughter camping, we are going to do this for a fun activity.

[@justryingmybest]

Thank you for this incredible tutorial!

[@ilijabosnjak76]

Mora knife and paracord,pick and size the branch or young tree,I like Oak and just make the Bow,that's easy part but finding some straight arrows is another story,green tree bow last about 3-5 days but it depends on weather and humidity...This gave me an idea to make handmade arrows,sell them and make some money...

[@sbdiaries]

That sure was a very good 👍 demonstration ❤, very well presented, congratulations 🎊 on your final working bow ❤❤❤

[@atomicburrito]

Did you make a video for creating the arrows as well?

[@marcelorezende5788]

Nice video guy, never stop.

[@DanSantanaBows]

Sure thing! Up next-Tillering, Explained, and then a video all about drawknives

[@John-210]

This was very informative and interesting you earned a subscriber

[@rogermabry2816]

Really great video . Thanks for making it . Roger

[@toddgeorge1569]

Love to see how you make arrows… Great video

[@DanSantanaBows]

I have a couple arrow tutorials out. Still working on one for survival arrows though!

[@anzerupnik1442]

Timberhitch is an interesting choice for a bow string knot.

[@DanSantanaBows]

Very common choice for bowyers. I’ve never seen one of my own slip

[@anzerupnik1442]

@@DanSantanaBows thank for your answer. I learned something new today. :)

[@Malva597]

Damn, that maple carves like you're peeling potatoes

[@TaylorsAuthenticTraditions]

Siyo! @8:58, looks like some super tight grouping you have going on there. Awesome channel and excellent presentation! Sgi unali'i

[@jimmyhardin6366]

The first video I have seen of your's I would love to see the arrow build too

[@reasonmattersmost]

Nice video. Is there a reason you didn't use the "guts" of the paracord rather than the whole thing? I have found the thinner string works much better.

[@Kl-ora]

Very nice Video Bro 😊💪

[@MeowfaceMusic]

6:53 How about propping bow somehow in bent position (maybe bent over log with ends pinned down with other logs or big rocks) and shaving it down form there? We could see instant, gradual feedback per shave, especially getting to stand back a bit to clearly see its evolving profile. Yeah yeah? Never made a bow. Just spitballin'.

[@DanSantanaBows]

It’s a lot harder on the wood keeping it constantly bent. I wouldn’t do it that way

[@MeowfaceMusic]

Makes sense. 👍🏻@@DanSantanaBows