Recurve bow

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2008 Olympic gold medallist Viktor Ruban carries two recurve bows at the 2012 Olympic Games Viktor Ruban.jpg
2008 Olympic gold medallist Viktor Ruban carries two recurve bows at the 2012 Olympic Games

In archery, a recurve bow is one of the main shapes a bow can take, with limbs that curve away from the archer when unstrung. A recurve bow stores more energy and delivers energy more efficiently than the equivalent straight-limbed bow, giving a greater amount of energy and speed to the arrow. A recurve will permit a shorter bow than the simple straight limb bow for given arrow energy, and this form was often preferred by archers in environments where long weapons could be cumbersome, such as in brush and forest terrain, or while on horseback.

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Recurved limbs also put greater stress on the materials used to make the bow, and they may make more noise with the shot. Extreme recurves make the bow unstable when being strung. An unstrung recurve bow can have a confusing shape and many Native American weapons, when separated from their original owners and cultures, were incorrectly strung backwards and destroyed when attempts were made to shoot them. [1] A test performed by Hepworth and Smith in 2002 of a preparation manufactured from bovine tendon and pearl glue and used in traditional Asiatic recurve bows showed that the composite "was found to absorb 18 MJ/m3 of energy to failure, comparable to carbon fibre composites, spring steel and butyl rubber." [2]

Historical use

Scythian archers shooting with bows, Kerch, Ukraine (antique Panticapeum, 4th century BC) Scythians shooting with bows Kertch antique Panticapeum Ukrainia 4th century BCE.jpg
Scythian archers shooting with bows, Kerch, Ukraine (antique Panticapeum, 4th century BC)

Recurve bows made out of composite materials were used by, among other groups, the Persians, Parthians, Sarmatians, Scythians, Alans, Dacians, Cumans, Hyksos, Magyars, Huns, Bulgars, Greeks, Turks, Mongols, Koreans and Chinese.

The recurve bow spread to Egypt and much of Asia in the second millennium BC.

Perhaps the most ancient written record of the use of recurved bows is found Psalm 78:57 ("They were turned aside like a deceitful bow" KJV), which is dated by most scholars to the eighth century BC. [3]

19th century Bible scholar Adam Clarke pointed out that "If a person, who is unskillful or weak, attempt to recurve and string one of these bows, if he take not great heed, it will spring back, and regain its quiescent position; and, perhaps, break his arm. And sometimes I have known it, when bent, to start aside, - regain its quiescent position, to my no small danger... this is precisely the kind of bow mentioned by Homer, Odyssey xxi, which none of Penelope's suitors could bend, called καμπυλα τοξα [kampula toxa] in the state of rest; but τοξον παλιντονον [toxon palintonon], the recurved bow when prepared for use." [4]

The standard weapon of Roman imperial archers was a composite recurve, and the stiffening laths (also called siyah in Arabic/Asian bows [5] and szarv (horns) in Hungarian bows) used to form the actual recurved ends have been found on Roman sites throughout the Empire, as far north as Bar Hill Fort on the Antonine Wall in Scotland. [6]

The Turkish archer used recurve bows, which were manufactured from laminates of wood glued with animal tissue like horn and sinew, to great destructive effect during the reign of the Ottomans. [7]

Its use by the Mongol armies allowed massed individuals on horseback to raid from the Pacific to central Europe, thanks to the relatively short length of recurve bows, with which archers could maneuver while seated on their mount. [8] [9] The rise of the Mongols can be partially attributed to the good range and power of the bows of Genghis Khan's armies. These bows were made of a bamboo core, with horn on the belly (facing towards the archer) and sinew on the back, bound together with animal glue. [10]

During the Middle Ages composite recurve bows were used in the drier European countries because the laminate glue would not moisten and thereby lose its adhesive power; the all-wooden straight longbow was the normal form in wetter areas. Recurve bows depicted in the British Isles (see illustrations in "The Great War Bow") [11] may have been composite weapons, or wooden bows with ends recurved by heat and force, or simply artistic licence.

The bows of many Indigenous North American were recurved, especially West Coast Indian bows.

Recurve bows went out of widespread use in warfare with the greater availability of effective firearms in various nations at the end of the 19th century.

In Ancient China, recurve bow had a long history in battles. During the battle between the Song dynasty and the state of Liao Jin, the utilization of recurve bows was widely recorded. During Ming Dynasty, a deeper modification was applied and named as Ming-style recurve bow. [12]

Modern use

Early 21st century recurve bow Recurve bow 0020.JPG
Early 21st century recurve bow

Self bows, composite bows, and laminated bows using the recurve form are still made and used by bowyers, amateurs, and professional archers.

The unqualified phrase "recurve bow" or just "a recurve" in modern archery circles usually refers to a typical modern recurve bow, as used by archers in the Olympics and many other competitive events. It employs advanced technologies and materials. The limbs are usually made from multiple layers of fibreglass, carbon and/or wood on a core of carbon foam or wood. The riser (the centre section of the bow) is generally separate and is constructed from wood, carbon, aluminium alloy or magnesium alloy. The term 'riser' is used because, in a one-piece bow, the centre section rises from the limbs in a taper to spread the stress. Several manufacturers produce risers made of carbon fibre (with metal fittings) or aluminium with carbon fibre. Risers for beginners are usually made of wood or plastic. The synthetic materials allow economic, predictable manufacture for consistent performance. The greater mass of a modern bow is in itself an aid to stability, and therefore to accuracy. However, accuracy is also related to a bow's draw weight, as well as how well an archer handles it. It is therefore imperative for an archer, particularly a beginner, never to overestimate their capabilities, and to choose a draw weight that is appropriate for their body build and level of experience. [13]

The modern recurve is the only form of bow permitted in the Olympics (though the compound bow is permitted in some categories at the Paralympic Games) and is the most widely used by European and Asian sporting archers.

There is a movement to have future Olympic Games include the compound bow in competition, due to its framework technology being more available and widespread, which would make competitive stat-tracking and testing easier. [14]

The modern Olympic-style recurve is a development of the American flatbow, with rectangular-section limbs that taper towards the limb tips. Most recurves today are "take-down" bows; that is, the limbs can be detached from the riser, for ease of transportation and storage as well as interchangeability. Older recurves and some modern hunting recurves are one-piece bows. Hunters often prefer one-piece bows over take-down bows, because the limb pockets on take-down bows can make unwanted noise while drawing.

Barebow is another type of modern recurve bow. It usually uses the same riser and limbs as a recurve, but lacks a sight, stabilizers, and clicker. While they may still look similar, it is tuned differently with a negative tiller and a different weight distribution. This is due to the archer's anchor point being on the corner of the mouth instead of below the chin.

Terminology

Diagram showing the parts of a modern recurve bow Recurve 08 fin EN.svg
Diagram showing the parts of a modern recurve bow
Arrow rest
Where the arrow rests during draw. These may be simple fixed rests or may be spring-loaded or magnetic flip rests.
Back
The face of the bow on the opposite side to the string
Belly
The face of the bow on the same side as the string
Bow sight
An aiming aid attached to the riser
Brace height
The distance between the deepest part of the grip and the string; fistmele is the traditional term, referring to the equivalent length of a closed fist with the thumb extended, indicating the proper traditional distance used between the deepest part of the grip and the string.
Grip
The part of the bow held by the bow hand
Limbs
The upper and lower working parts of the bow, which come in a variety of different poundages
Nocking point
The place on the bowstring where the arrow nock is fitted
Riser
The rigid centre section of a bow to which the limbs are attached
String
The cord that attaches to both limb tips and transforms stored energy from the limbs into kinetic energy in the arrow
Sling
A strap or cord attached to the bow handle, wrist or fingers to prevent the bow from falling from the hand
Finger tab or thumb ring
A protection for the fingers that draw the string. Can also provide a better release performance. Usually made of leather.
Tiller
The difference between the limb-string distances measured where the limbs are attached to the riser. Usually the upper distance is slightly more than the bottom one, resulting in a positive tiller. Reflects the power-balance between both limbs.

Other equipment

Archers often have many other pieces of equipment attached to their recurve bows, such as:

Clicker
a blade or wire device fitted to the riser, positioned to drop off the arrow when the archer has reached optimum draw length. Used correctly, this ensures the same cast-force each time. Many archers train themselves to shoot automatically when the clicker 'clicks' off the arrow.
Kisser
a button or nodule attached to the bowstring. The archer touches the kisser to the same spot on the face each time (usually the lips, hence the name) to give a consistent vertical reference.
Plunger button
a fine-tuning device consisting of a spring-cushioned tip inside a housing. The plunger button screws through the riser so that the tip emerges above the rest. The side of the arrow is in contact with the tip when the arrow is on the rest. The spring is tuned so that it allows a certain amount of movement of the arrow towards the riser on release, bringing the arrow to the ideal "centre shot" location. The plunger button is used to compensate for the arrow's flex since the arrow flexes as the string pushes onto it with a very high acceleration. The device is also known as a cushion plunger, pressure button, or Berger button.
Stabilizers
weight-bearing rods attached to a recurve bow to balance the bow to the archer's liking, and to dampen the effect of torque and dissipate vibration.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Archery</span> Using a bow to shoot arrows

Archery is the sport, practice, or skill of using a bow to shoot arrows. The word comes from the Latin arcus, meaning bow. Historically, archery has been used for hunting and combat. In modern times, it is mainly a competitive sport and recreational activity. A person who practices archery is typically called an archer, bowman, or toxophilite.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arrow</span> Shafted projectile that is shot with a bow

An arrow is a fin-stabilized projectile launched by a bow. A typical arrow usually consists of a long, stiff, straight shaft with a weighty arrowhead attached to the front end, multiple fin-like stabilizers called fletchings mounted near the rear, and a slot at the rear end called a nock for engaging the bowstring. A container or bag carrying additional arrows for convenient reloading is called a quiver.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Compound bow</span> Type of bow for archery

In modern archery, a compound bow is a bow that uses a levering system, usually of cables and pulleys, to bend the limbs. The compound bow was first developed in 1966 by Holless Wilbur Allen in North Kansas City, Missouri, and a US patent was granted in 1969. Compound bows are widely used in target practice and hunting.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bow and arrow</span> Pre-gunpowder ranged weapon system

The bow and arrow is a ranged weapon system consisting of an elastic launching device (bow) and long-shafted projectiles (arrows). Humans used bows and arrows for hunting and aggression long before recorded history, and the practice was common to many prehistoric cultures. They were important weapons of war from ancient history until the early modern period, where they were rendered increasingly obsolete by the development of the more powerful and accurate firearms. Today, bows and arrows are mostly used for hunting and sports.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bow shape</span> Important aspect of archery

In archery, the shape of the bow is usually taken to be the view from the side. It is the product of the complex relationship of material stresses, designed by a bowyer. This shape, viewing the limbs, is designed to take into account the construction materials, the performance required, and the intended use of the bow.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Composite bow</span> Bow made from horn, wood, and sinew laminated together

A composite bow is a traditional bow made from horn, wood, and sinew laminated together, a form of laminated bow. The horn is on the belly, facing the archer, and sinew on the outer side of a wooden core. When the bow is drawn, the sinew and horn store more energy than wood for the same length of bow. The strength can be made similar to that of all-wood "self" bows, with similar draw-length and therefore a similar amount of energy delivered to the arrow from a much shorter bow. However, making a composite bow requires more varieties of material than a self bow, its construction takes much more time, and the finished bow is more sensitive to moisture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fletching</span> Aerodynamic stabilization of arrows, etc.

Fletching is the fin-shaped aerodynamic stabilization device attached on arrows, bolts, darts, or javelins, and are typically made from light semi-flexible materials such as feathers or bark. Each piece of such fin is a fletch, also known as a flight or feather. A fletcher is a person who attaches fletchings to the shaft of arrows.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gakgung</span>

The Korean Bow is a water buffalo horn-based composite reflex bow, standardized centuries ago from a variety of similar weapons in earlier use. Due to its long use by Koreans, it is also known as Guk Gung. The Korean bow utilizes a thumb draw and therefore employing the use of a thumb ring is quite common. The Korean thumb ring is somewhat different from the Manchu, Mongol, or the Turkic Thumb Ring, as it comes in two styles, male and female. Male thumb rings are shaped with a small protrusion that sticks out that the bowstring hooks behind, while the female thumb ring simply covers the front joint of the thumb as protection from getting blisters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bowyer</span> History of the trade of bowmaking

A bowyer is a master-craftsman who makes bows. Though this was once a widespread profession, the importance of bowyers and of bows was diminished by the introduction of gunpowder weaponry. However, the trade has survived and many bowyers continue to produce high-end bows.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mongol bow</span> Type of bow and arrow developed in Mongolia

The Mongol bow is a type of recurved composite bow historically used in Mongolia, and by the horse archers of the Mongol Empire. "Mongol bow" can refer to two types of bow. From the 17th century onward, most of the traditional bows in Mongolia were replaced with the similar Manchu bow which is primarily distinguished by larger siyahs and the presence of prominent string bridges.

A flatbow is a bow with non-recurved, flat, relatively wide limbs that are approximately rectangular in cross-section. Because the limbs are relatively wide, flatbows will usually narrow and become deeper at the handle, with a rounded, non-bending handle for easier grip. This design differs from that of a longbow, which has rounded limbs that are circular or D-shaped in cross-section, and is usually widest at the handle. A flatbow can be just as long as a longbow, but can also be very short. Typical lengths would be 68–70 inches (172.5–178 cm) for a flatbow, 70–72 inches (178–183 cm) for an English longbow, and 72–76 inches (183–193 cm) for a warbow-weight English longbow; but these styles may easily overlap each other. Traditional flatbows are usually wooden self bows, though laminated and composite flatbows have been made in ancient and modern times. Modern flatbows commonly use fiberglass.

A longbow is a type of tall bow that makes a fairly long draw possible. A longbow is not significantly recurved. Its limbs are relatively narrow and are circular or D-shaped in cross section. Flatbows can be just as long, but in cross-section, a flatbow has limbs that are approximately rectangular.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Turkish archery</span> Tradition of archery which became highly developed in the Ottoman Empire

Turkish archery is a tradition of archery which became highly developed in the Ottoman Empire, although its origins date back to the Eurasian Steppe in the second millennium BC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Archer's paradox</span> Phenomenon in archery

The archer's paradox is the phenomenon of an arrow traveling in the direction it is pointed at full draw, when it seems that the arrow would have to pass through the starting position it was in before being drawn, where it was pointed to the side of the target.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Self bow</span> Type of archery bow

A self bow or simple bow is a bow made from a single piece of wood. Extra material such as horn nocks on the ends, or built-up handles, would normally be accepted as part of a self bow. Some modern authorities would also accept a bow spliced together in the handle from two pieces of wood.

A laminated bow is an archery bow in which different materials are laminated together to form the bow stave itself. Traditional composite bows are normally not included, although their construction with horn, wood, and sinew might bring them within the above definition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bowstring</span> String joining the two ends of a bow stave

A bowstring joins the two ends of the bow stave and launches the arrow. Desirable properties include light weight, strength, resistance to abrasion, and resistance to water. Mass has most effect at the center of the string; one gram (0.035 oz) of extra mass in the middle of the string slows the arrow about as much as 3.5 grams (0.12 oz) at the ends.

This is a list of archery terms, including both the equipment and the practice. A brief description for each word or phrase is also included.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Takedown bow</span> Bow assembled out of a riser and two limbs

A takedown bow is a bow assembled out of a riser and two limbs to make a working bow when strung.

Traditional Inuit hunters lack the more elastic timbers used to make bows in temperate and tropical parts of the world. Using sinew cords for the back of the bow, and spruce timber or antler for the belly, however, they build very effective weapons. When hunting polar bears, the bows used are powerful enough, if they do not hit bone, to penetrate completely through the body of the bear.

References

  1. American Indian Archery. Reginald Laubin, Gladys Laubin. University of Oklahoma Press 1980. ISBN   0-8061-1467-3 ISBN   978-0-8061-1467-5
  2. Hepworth, D.G.; Smith, J.P. (2002). "The mechanical properties of composites manufactured from tendon fibres and pearl glue (Animal glue)". Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing. 33 (6): 797–803. doi:10.1016/S1359-835X(02)00025-8.
  3. W. Stewart McCullough, The Interpreter's Bible, Volume IV, 1955, Parthenon Press, Nashville, 51-12276, p. 415
  4. Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible, 1831, Emory and Waugh, NY, volume III p. 244
  5. R.P.Elmer 'Target Archery'
  6. Coulston JC. 'Roman Archery Equipment', in M.C. Bishop (ed.), The Production and Distribution of Roman Military Equipment. Proceedings of the Second Roman Military Equipment Seminar, BAR International Series 275, Oxford, 1985, 220-366.
  7. Klopsteg, Paul E. (1987). "Turkish Archery And The Composite Bow". No. 3rd. Manchester: Simon Archery Foundation.
  8. Martin, H. Desmond. "The Mongol Army." Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland, no. 1 (1943): 46-85. Accessed January 7, 2021. http://www.jstor.org/stable/25221891.
  9. NHNZ: "How the Silk Road Made the World" (film, 2019)
  10. John C Halpin, Halpin C Halpin, Primer on Composite Materials Analysis, CRC Press, Apr 15, 1992, ISBN   0-87762-754-1
  11. The Great War Bow. Hardy R, Strickland M. Sutton Publishing 2005. ISBN   0-7509-3167-1 ISBN   978-0-7509-3167-0
  12. "弓友不可不知的传统弓常识:明式小稍弓与射法". 13 March 2017.
  13. Recurve bow draw weight chart
  14. Cirino, Erica. "Compound Archery Shoots for Olympic Inclusion". Scientific American. Retrieved 2020-03-12.

Further reading