Making The Lakota Bow, A Bow Maker's Journey

[@wiseguysoutdoors2954]

My great grandmother was a child survivor of the wounded knee massacre. She was Oglala Lakota. This is fascinating to me, because I have had a love of bows and archery and hunting with that equipment all of my life. Very nice video!!

[@baswordfish]

Did you know about this book: by laurent olivier "What happened to Wounded Knee" ? I recommanded it, f it does exist in english langage, I'm french and I read it after "Bury my heart at wounded Knee", as I'm a kind of "pro-native", I cried a lot when I read them. Us government is insane. Fake, sick and so wrong. I wish I could go back in time and protect America (all the continent) by hidding it in an another dimension :) so it could stay natural, wild and clean from invasive europeen people. I have read and seen many native movies and documentary (about AIM leaders, Indian residential school system, native's biography, abuses, stolen lands, etc). As far as I can tell, I'm not proud to be white, I feel like my heart is indian and I'm not born in the good country/century/body. I love the real indian culture (not the "kitschy" one for white people!), with a preference for Lakota people :) I feel like they where so connected to nature and so damn right about it. I really feel so sick with the actual way of life on heart, money, pollution, work, no respect for animals, no understanding, I wish humans could disappear and stop to destroy all living things on heart.

[@forevertoremain]

@Elijah Drapeau keep those stories alive. Pass them on and write them down ♥️

[@Master...deBater]

My grandmother's great grandmother was a survivor of the Dakota uprising of 1862 in Minnesota. As a child her family had to flee their farm along the Minnesota river at night in order to take refuge in New Ulm...which was later attacked by the Dakota.

[@C200michmich]

@@forevertoremain oui , c'est juste. meme en france on adore

[@Native_love]

I'm full blooded Navajo. I wish you had a series on the Discovery or another channel! You are a true historian and follow the chosen path! Thank you for the best KZbin channel on Native American and true historical techniques! You are what others should be! A living book of history and knowledge! Thank you! A ho! Wash de! Ah he hee!

[@joegrande4848]

Local powwows and find Natives at the powwow and talk to them. Learn about your people brother it's important 😊❤

[@C200michmich]

c'est trop loin l'amérique pour moi , ça restera un rève pour toujours , d'aller visiter ces peuples les Navajo et toutes ces tribus je ne connais que par un gros livre que j'ai acheté il y a bien longtemps et que j'ai ressorti il y a quelques temp. j'adore longue vie a vous .

[@markswanson3337]

Well done ! Good to see that little knife I made you get a work out on that bow, LOL :D

[@PrimitiveLifeways]

I love that knife!

[@joegrande4848]

Awesome guys 😊

[@bobsmoot2392]

Your craftsmanship, respect for the history of Native tools, and PATIENCE, are inspirig! Thank you teacher.

[@reserrvoirman]

Well done my friend. I cannot believe the power in the finished bow. I always wondered how powerful Indian bows were and I really am surprised. Great job and Thanks for the info.

[@NCWoodlandRoamer]

That bow is a real beauty. I've made many eastern woodland style self bows but have always wanted to make some of these plains styles. Your videos are inspiring me to get to it.

[@PrimitiveLifeways]

Thank you! Happy bow making

[@C200michmich]

MOI AUSSI , je débute mais ça m'a toujours passionné

[@loneranger8343]

This is great. I was grew up watching movies and comics and learning about native americans and it's really great to see something that is connected to them.

[@jimthies2893]

I like your video and have always loved the history of the native Americans. My Mother was a nurse at the Pine Ridge hospital. She started in 1948. One f her patience for 6-8 months was Nickolas Black Elk. He was at the Battle of Little Bighorn.

[@capt3662]

thanks so much for sharing this great video on bow making with us!!!!!!!!

[@Daylon91]

Hoka hey! very good man. Being Nakota myself I can really appreciate this bow. I am into Turkish/Tatar bows but gotta try a bow like this

[@PrimitiveLifeways]

Thank you so much! Happy bow making

[@foxmulder7616]

Hau kola! Dakota Lakota Nakota!

[@Bryan-uw1ny]

Wow. This was so interesting, it felt like a 10 minute video. Can't wait to try this

[@chamaramendis7505]

Very nice work and you're very good teacher the way you explain is very interesting, thanks, im from sri lanka 🇱🇰

[@colinmatthews7442]

Nice! The speed is impressive

[@keithfinnell7505]

Back in the sixty's I was taught to use my legs to string a bow. I'm not sure I can still do it. I've got my old bow from the sixty's or seventies (I don't remember) and my grandson Love's it. I haven't taken it out of my closet for him to see yet but he always goes to my closet and checks on it every time he spends the night. I'll probably give it to him when he's older (he's 10).

[@tarragonadreamin]

This is a brilliant video! I couldn't quite get my head around the following a consistant single growth ring to avoid weakness, but I will have to watch again. ,-) Fascinating. Thanks

[@michaelpalla4573]

You’re incredible, thanks for making such detailed videos. A true inspiration

[@SamRoxxJDM]

Found this channel today and I'm absolutely in love with this information and work, please keep it up

[@robertsmith9756]

I'm on this path and grateful that I have these incredible videos to guide me, It is not Easy, but I love the challenge! Thank you!

[@errolstanding8483]

I enjoyed this video very much,well worth the wait. Currently attempting to make a version of this design. The sinew in this design was critical considering the Lakota mainly used ash and chokecherry.

[@PrimitiveLifeways]

Thank you!

[@laurencelance586]

The material use is very interesting. I'll have to look up the properties of both ash and chokecherry as relates to bows. My woodworking bench is ash. It's tough and hard but I have no idea how that would function for a bow.

[@makisp.1428]

You have a great skill set!! I'm envious! Thank you for bringing back my old interest in making bows. Well Done!!

[@stevedriscoll2539]

That is an incredible little bow. You have great skills and great patience 👍

[@leanderkippenberg9931]

I love this video and this bow!!! Thank you for sharing and inspiring us

[@PrimitiveLifeways]

Thank you!

[@A_Madden]

Excellent. I have seen the Osage Orange tree and read about how a fine bow made of Osage Orange wood was worth a horse with a blanket in trade. The wood is so very strong and dense. This was fun to watch. Thank you for demonstrating the firing.

[@wayneslaven9608]

Thank you for making such a great video, I look forward to seeing more like this one in the future.

[@PrimitiveLifeways]

Thanks! More to come

[@cheddarpepperprepper57]

Thank you for sharing your Widsom, and creating such a wonderful bow. God Bless you, and good hunting!

[@joegrande4848]

Sadly I don't really know the species of wood. Plus I'd have to watch this video a few times to fully understand how this is done. Never the less awesome video 😊❤️

[@johnjriggsarchery2457]

You do really wonderful detail work. I'd add just one thing though; thoughts on the tips. We tend to think as string grooves as having two angled grooves made with a small round rasp but the actual bows had larger less angled or non angled grooves that look like they were made with knives and on the upper limb usually only on one side, oriented so they could be strung and unstrung easily on horseback. A lot of them look like the upper groove on the side that would make them easier to handle if the bottom limb was pushed against the horse and the back was toward the archer when stringing, pulling the handle. The tips and how the originals were strung and unstrung on horseback may seem like a small detail but everything is important.

[@wildhairedwildman3279]

Thank you for this ... finally ready to try ... great tutorial.......

[@blizte3]

Love this bows look

[@grantwithington2513]

Thoroughly enjoyed this. Many thanks.

[@darrylrecollet6506]

This is so cool, man... I am going to search in my region for suitable wood and make a bow as this is what I absolutely love to learn and a way to keep it old school, making these primitive weapons invigorates the soul and a sense of skill and accomplishment... thank you so very much for this class. we must learn from anyone willing to teach!

[@charleswilson1063]

Best video yet on bows.

[@darrellbowen1582]

Wow what an amazing bow and bow build ! Love it

[@PrimitiveLifeways]

Thanks for watching!

[@kikevanegazz325]

What a wonderful work you have done. 🎉

[@chanhnguyenha54]

Thanks for share the video, great work!!

[@nathanpattee1629]

It shoots very fast! Seems to hit the target right after you release!

[@mike-yp1uk]

Much appreciated to see the details of such a fine product

[@BillyJ244]

Beautiful bow. Extremely well done!

[@waltergigandet6715]

Nice job in explaining you method of tillering

[@Twitch37yt]

I enjoyed your video, very instructional and helpful. Do you have the step by step process documented, along with the materials and tools needed to construct a bow?

[@poulpalmer1581]

I met indian Joe early 70s hung with him for yrs good guy taught me survival skills .I use what I've learned from to this day

[@jamesburnett7085]

I very much appreciate your explaining how such small bows had killing power. I am used to English longbows, which make Indian bows too small. I have a seven foot piece of Osage Orange, that has been aging in my garage for twenty years. I cut it from a thicket where it had been forced to grow tall and straight in low light, with slow growth producing fine grain. It still has the bark on, but I can tell it has a lot of small knots. I always intended to use it for at least one bow, but I have grown old and have too much arthritis to do the work, not to mention shooting a strong bow. I wish I knew a bowmaker to give it to. Michigan, USA, near Detroit.

[@lyndonreddick1888]

Great vid, like your tips and technique. Glad you mentioned the file name. Working on a Yew bow now I think Osage is slightly easier to work with. Have made a couple but never a backed bow. Need sinew. 😏 Nice, it even sounds like an Am Indian bow. 😗

[@TheZippy65]

What a wonderful video and beautiful bow

[@freddiestubblefield8526]

You Are The Man!

[@robsmithadventures1537]

I'm impressed at how fast that arrow went!

[@makisp.1428]

Me too!! I would be interested to know how they make measurements of the capabilities of a bow.

[@Daylon91]

​@@makisp.1428a chronograph measures the speed

[@freddiestubblefield8526]

Excelent, I appreciate your precise experience

[@jessestrong7269]

Annnnnd subscribed. Absolutely beautiful work.

[@foxmulder7616]

Awesome!!!! I'm from this tribe!

[@oso8146]

Aww man that is awesome bow Jeff

[@PrimitiveLifeways]

Thanks!

[@QueenofArgyle2525]

A true thing of Beauty!

[@Panther_heart]

Would be very interesting to see how Native Tribes made this bow without iron blade tools. They only had stone and flint tools, it's very impressive.

[@jburdine1956]

Not wanting to be argumentative but steel, and iron tools were available as early as white immigrants to the Americas. Not that stone tools were not used to make bows, but Trade good axes, knives, chisels, scrapers, and awls from European trash and trade goods. I've seen period arrow heads cut from wagon rims and curled from think sheet metal, a scraper from a ruined gun barrel among others. Indigenous peoples were quick to see the value of the materials brought by European invaders and made use of them. According to Laubin, and others the bows of native peoples were longer before the Spanish brought the horse.

[@crazyhorse23]

Awesomely said

[@TheOddmartini]

I've done it with glass flint and sandstone. Process is surprisingly similar - chasing the ring by slow scraping with a flint (or glass) scraper, then roughing the belly with a heavy flint chopper. Tillering was done with a rough sandstone rasp and finishing with a glass or flint scraper. Takes about the same length of time - around 6 months went through about 6 scrapers and 4 sandstone rasps. I felt the glass scrapers were 'cheating' but so easy to make from a smashed wine or beer bottles knapped to shape.

[@MrTechmoore]

@@TheOddmartini that glass would be Obsidian.

[@robertstephens9194]

Flint or obsidian with sandstone to sand it down. Cooked Pine sap as glue to often times back the bows in snake skin

[@karlleidner5439]

Thank you for this film! Wen I was a young boy, I tried to build a Bow that way, but it broke. Now I know why. May be, I'll give a new try to it! 😊

[@branmcg9844]

Fascinating, What a patient mans endeavor.

[@Taocat1]

I really like your videos, but I do have a suggestion. You seem to like making these bows out of osage orange, but I'm sure that it wasn't always available. I'd be particularly interested in seeing one made out of cedar. I've been doing some reading on the Apache and would like to see an Apache style bow. I'd also like you to make this a series, making bows from other tribes. Thanks!

[@stephanmenzel9457]

Wow. Hat off and congratulations.

[@Tossdart]

Great video. I hope you have hunting with it videos

[@tonykaczmarek278]

Well done.very beautiful bow.enjoyed this video alot.

[@PrimitiveLifeways]

Thanks for watching

[@RedmanOutdoors366]

All I can say is Wow 😮

[@erwocoolis9451]

Dream Theater tattoo, nice, metal and bow shooting go well together :D

[@teemusavikurki1285]

Superb! Beautiful Bow.

[@serendip369]

Truly excellent , sir .... Well done .

[@miguelbinha]

This was beautiful

[@ReasonAboveEverything]

Beautiful bow. I wonder if sinew works better on some woods. I am undecided if I should back a 1m/ 40 inch rowan bow with rawhide or should I finally try my hands on sinew backing.

[@blondknight99]

I used to make 40-45" Hickory sinew backed bows. Ofcourse the sinew prevented any from ever breaking but it never induced a reflex or maintained a double curve. And being hickory they all followed the string a bit. So Im pretty sure the performance of sinew is better on some bow woods more than others.

[@Theshadow38ish]

Awesome stuff! Thank you for this video, I just got my hands on some Osage orange staves. They are not ideal, but I will make them work.

[@PrimitiveLifeways]

Osage is a fantastic wood. Enjoy!

[@Skoden_lures]

SHINTO RASP! I love mine

[@DocTravelerr]

Great job, a work of art, impressive skills, thanks

[@Soviless99]

i was just in sedona on a family trip! i would of loved to meet ya! i was hiking and trying to learn all the stuff used for bow making! i was happy to find some red osier dogwood ( with indian sandpaper next to it) along oak creek!!! arizona is gorgeous

[@PrimitiveLifeways]

Awesome. Let me know when you are out this way

[@Soviless99]

@@PrimitiveLifeways i will definitely. i loved sedona a lot.

[@sunvi77lody7]

Beautiful bow man !👍👍👍👍👊👊👊👊👊

[@matthewmaxcy1574]

Imagine lining the belly with Buffalo horn also 😳that be a BEAST of a BOW... ,very nice and well done video thank-you.

[@robertbrandywine]

I think horn bows have the horn on the back of the bow, not the belly. I'm not sure why.

[@andrewgibbons5954]

do you guys sell bows you make, because i would love to get my hands on a lakota bow just like the one you made since i perfer traditional bows like my mongolian horse bow

[@saberwork]

This is very nicely done. As you were tillering the bow I wondered if there is an objective shape you are looking for at each draw length that could be drawn on a background to provide a more precise matching of the bow shape to the objective shape you are working toward? If there is, does that objective shape have a mathematical formula combining inputs such as bow length, draw length, draw weight, limb thickness, material type(s), etc.?

[@makisp.1428]

I have no knowledge of bows. But being an engineer, I would very much be interested in the mathematics of it.

[@DrBaldhead]

Incredible vid

[@stamm2366]

Thank you

[@TedHouk]

Years of saving sinew in qt jars to save from moths, learning exactly where the Osage orange in my Maryland territory, or cousin Mulberry. Black Locust works too. Dang! Thanks again. Hide glue needed…

[@olflatlander9380]

Thank you for showing this. I had a fiberglass long bow but the tips started to fray. My family gave me a compound bow to replace it. I don't like the compound bow. It seems to me that I had a oneness with the old bow that just isn't there with the compound bow. Does that make sense? At any rate thank you.

[@stevedriscoll2539]

If you make a bow you will feel that oneness even more

[@markhuckercelticcrossbows7887]

that is gorgeous, you never see those in eurpoe.

[@Lou8430]

I live in Central Virginia what type of woods in my area would be good to try to make a bow out of. And I applaud you on a wonderful demonstration very encouraging

[@DennisMathias]

This won't be the first time you'll hear this: what if I wanted to buy a bow like that. I'm a little older and I don't think I have the skills to craft something like this. And I certainly don't have the time in the cosmic sense. Being from the plains, the plains indian flute is the best I've done. No, didn't make it but I can play it! I so much enjoyed this. The music and the sounds of you scraping. Anyway, if you know of a reliable contact for purchasing an Osage Orange bow, let me know.

[@PrimitiveLifeways]

I have one for sale on my website. Not exactly the same but take a look primitivelifeways.com/product/lakota-replica-sinew-backed-bow/

[@LuisC7]

@@PrimitiveLifeways hey, you ship to Europe? Even with this great tutorial I have a hard time understanding what to do :(

[@Longwinger]

Have you ever fire hardened a bow like this made of a white wood? I'm making one like this from Ash. I'm at floor tillering stage right now and debating fire hardening the belly before sinew backing. I thought the fire hardening might help retain a little more reflex once finished.

[@davidmichael8105]

I have used heat treatment on ash, hickory , maple on the belly only .It helps in compression. I found the sapling bows 3to 4 inch diameter worked best. I usually like to collect the saplings in late spring and the bark peeled easier. Would clamp them up to dry. I also found that sweet gum was a wood that heat treated well and was literally unbreakable.

[@a_mustache_of_great_repute]

I have a yew stave with this exact reflex naturally. I hope it dries with no checks

[@traildog6339]

Great video. Do you keep the stave oriented the way it grew, with the root end down and the branches end up?

[@chriswood7165]

great info, good job

[@erico5865]

The Spirits of Lakota warriors are smiling on you.

[@jamesgraves1639]

Nice bow!

[@JelMain]

As a better tool still within reach of the early technology, you could build a steam chest to work the entire bow. It's just a wooden bough, carved out to fit around the ends, with a lid on, tied by sinew., and with holes in to allow the steam in.

[@radagast6682]

Good information on making a bow. I noticed you said calvary when you meant to say cavalry. Please look up calvary.

[@larryadams2184]

Nicely done very nice bow I'm very interested in getting into making some cell phones like this and some Lakota Indian bows and Cheyenne bows I shoot a renegade longbow right now . If I can get some information from you would be great thanks again man keep making them

[@jensrasmussen928]

Hi, what kind of glue are you using for applying the snake skin? Wonderful video, thaks. Jens from Denmark

[@mad_archviz6478]

How did they do this with their traditional tools?? Must have taken twice as long

[@eastcoastlithics]

If I was to use sugar maple how would I change this design if I still want it short? Make the limbs wider possibly?

[@UncleDanBand64]

Nice work sir👍

[@Tradbow85]

Loved the video! Was worth the wait. How much reflex did it hold? Also love the quiver.

[@PrimitiveLifeways]

Thanks! About 4"

[@Tradbow85]

@@PrimitiveLifeways wow, great looking bow. I'm going tk copy the build on my next one.

[@robertbrandywine]

Tillering sounds very difficult. I imagine anyone taking up this craft screws up many times before getting it down.

[@janrobertbos]

NICE!!!😀

[@laurencelance586]

I could imagine these being produced with obsidian

[@richardcardinale7152]

There is a way to get faster bow by curving or narrowed the tips more or anything ?

[@frankhanzlicek6550]

Danke für diese Videos! Mich würde interessieren wie stark waren diese Bögen? Welche Durchschlagskraft hatten die Pfeile?

[@E-E.ADVENTUREGEARS]

Could you write the dimensions in the description please It'll help me understand or grasp it better

[@KingoftheJiangl]

Hello, excellent video i learned a lot I have a few questions. The dry heat i have learned makes the wood harder, better in taking compressive force but worse at elastic force, aka it becomes more brittle. Is this considered when applying heat gun to the bow? Also i am interested in the asian laminate bows with similar material, i believe is bamboo sinew and the material water buffalo horn on the belly for compressive force. Like the bow you are showing here, it shoots above its weight than a self bow. The drawback is that there is neccesary preparatory to warm up the bow, like stringing it and straightening it since it would warp. Otherwise, pulling it to some draw length and as a warm up for the laminate limbs is also necessary so it doesn't just snap. Sometimes this is done multiple days before the bow is to be used to prepare for shooting. Is this process necessary for this bow to some extent? I'm thinking perhaps to a much lesser extent because the Asian bow uses many more pieces and v splices, so it's more likely to warp. What is your view on this? What is your opinion on adding horn to the belly of this bow? I would like to learn more and possibly build a hybrid bow and would like your thoughts on this